“Texts explore many aspects of power and lack of power including the potential of the individual or groups to use this power to enrich or challenge other people, communities or ideologies.” To what extent is this true of the texts you have studied? In your response, refer to your prescribed drama text, one poem and one other related text.??A sense of power can emerge in many forms. Within Shakespeare’s "Othello," Browning’s? "My Last Duchess" and O’Connor’s "The Block" many aspects of power are explored extensively, including the power through language to manipulate other people, the power of emotion to influence one’s behavior and the power of authority to demonstrate the social construct of an individual. These aspects of power establish each character’s potential to use their supremacy to enrich or challenge other people, communities or ideologies. Shakespeare manifests these aspects of power in a comprehensive way in order to convey the differing uses of power to a wider audience.? ?Shakespeare authenticates the power of language to manipulate people. This is particularly evident through the characterization of Iago. Iago’s deceptive motives are introduced in the beginning of the play “I am not what I am." Iago cryptically suggests that he's not what he appears to be. The monosyllabic and truncated structure in which these words are spoken emphasizes the fact that Iago never reveals his true identity to anyone. Here, he tells Rodrigo that he’ll never allow his “outward actions” to show the true denotation of his intent, as it would leave him vulnerable and challenge his self-endorsed ideologies. Shakespeare reiterates the power of language to manipulate through Iago’s ability to challenge Rodrigo with his wisdom.?? Also, through Iago’s metaphoric speech “To be led by the nose as asses are” Shakespeare uses bestial imagery to denote Iago’s perception of Othello’s place in the hierarchy. This is also used to shape Iago’s portrayal of Othello’s character. This demonstrates the potential of his power through language to challenge Othello’s trusting and sensitive nature, and becomes the main weapon used in the pursuit of his evil and malicious plan. The satanic motives of Iago continue through the use of synecdoche, carefully manipulating Othello without any real evidence that Desdemona has been unfaithful. “I’ll pour pestilence into his ear”. Through the referral to Othello’s ‘ear’, Shakespeare suggests that using a focal point to target Othello conjures up the monstrous image of Desdemona’s adultery in Othello’s mind and challenges his thoughts, thus directly relating to the power of language to manipulate.??Shakespeare uses Iago’s soliloquy to outline his in-depth understanding of each character’s psyche. It is also used to demonstrate the first crucial step to ruin Othello, being to eliminate Cassio in reference to becoming intoxicated. Iago sends Rodrigo to start a fight with him in order to use him to his advantage. Shakespeare suggests Iago is successful in