Essay Technique: Constructing an Argument

One of the ways in which it is possible to get a high mark for AO3 without using too much contrived context is to construct a clear argument which you should lay out in the introduction and then follow through the rest of the essay; this is especially useful as it means that you can get the awkward little "made them an individual in society" line in early - and again in the conclusion - and then go on to write an actual decent essay, only alluding to this bizarre and awkward point throughout.

The arguments I have constructed for the themes stipulated as potentials by the exam board are below, and I shall post a full essay plan, including an introduction, next in order to illustrate this further.

Sample Arguments

Mental instability
The mental difficulties of both protagonists isolate them further and are used to illustrate the means which lead to their crimes

INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY HIGHLIGHTED BY: Isolation

Parents and children
Restrictive societies and restrictive parents lead characters to rebel

INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY HIGHLIGHTED BY: Rebellion against the norm

Sexual Ethics
Individualism presented through defiance of social conventions in this matter

INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY HIGHLIGHTED BY: Obvious ;)

Self Awareness
Pivotal to plots of both plays, especially in the cases of 'antagonists', Dysart and Iago

INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY HIGHLIGHTED BY: unique degrees of self awareness presented

Deception
Leads to the ends of both plays, catalysing the resolutions. The role of dramatic irony differentiates each play.

INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY HIGHLIGHTED BY: the true selves characters are hiding

Courage
Dysart and Othello presented as courageous; Iago and Alan aren't

INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY HIGHLIGHTED BY: difficult decisions characters make, and the ways they subvert the stereotypical views of these descriptions

Religion
Protagonists crimes presented as religiously motivated and justified; religious presentation through their own eyes and those of others

INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY HIGHLIGHTED BY: ways in which their perceptions of religion are twisted

Family
The protagonists' families shape them; Desdemona's family helps shape Othello and Dysart's family shapes his uneasiness

INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY HIGHLIGHTED BY: attitudes of families and the ways in which they isolate the characters of Othello, Desdemona, Alan and Dysart

Jealousy
Deliberately cultivated to isolate in 'Othello'; occurs accidentally to the same ends in 'Equus'

INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY HIGHLIGHTED BY: Isolation

Hoping that helps. I'm so tired today that I really can't take much more revision! :(

- HistGrrl xx