Act 5, Scene 2

Question 1

Why is the setting significant?

Answer 1

Takes place in personal space of marriage bed but the events are very public

Question 2

He says he’s going to murder des but not she’s blood

Answer 2

“Yet I’ll not shut her blood nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow”

Question 3

His justification of killing des

Answer 3

“She must die, else she’ll betray more men”

Question 4

Evidence othello still loves Des

Answer 4

“I will kill thee and love thee after…[he kisses her{“

Question 5

He asks Des if she’s prayed ? Why?

Answer 5

“Have you prayed tonight”

So she doesn’t go to hell

Question 6

Othello thinks she gave handkerchief to Cassio

Answer 6

“That handkerchief which I do love and gave thee, thou gav’st cassio”

Question 7

Desdemina defending her self

Answer 7

“No by my life and soul! Send for the man, and ask him”

“Never loves cassio… I never gave him token”

Question 8

He kills desd

Answer 8

[he smothers her]

Question 9

Othellos changed language / violence

Answer 9

“Murders out of tune, and sweet revenge grows harsh”

Question 10

Des takes the blame .

Answer 10

“Nobody I myself”

Devoted to her husband / loyal / innocent / passive

Question 11

What does othello describe the handkerchief as ?

Answer 11

“Antique token “

Question 12

Emilias revelation of the handkerchief

Answer 12

“I found by fortune and did give my husband… he begged of me to steal it”

Question 13

Emilia calls othello a fool

Answer 13

“What should such a fool do with so good a wife?”

Question 14

Emilia devotion to des

Answer 14

“Lay me by my mistress’ side”

Question 15

Othello wants to suffer in hell

Answer 15

“Whip me, ye devils… blow me about in winds, roast me in sulphur”

Question 16

Othello wants to end suffering

Answer 16

“‘Tis happiness to die”

Question 17

Lodovico reminds us of othellos greatness

Answer 17

“Othello, that wert once so good”

Othello then calls himself an “honourable murder”

Question 18

Othello alliteration / trapped victim

Answer 18

“Demand that Demi devil why he hath thus ensnared my souls and body?”

Question 19

Iago still maintains control

Answer 19

“I never will speak word”

Silence

Ironic because previously his words were his weapon

Question 20

Othello recognises stupidity

Answer 20

“O fool, fool, fool”

Question 21

Othellos Pride / self worth

Answer 21

“ I have done the state some service and they know’t”

Question 22

Othellos tragic flaw

Answer 22

“One that loved not wisely but too well”

“Threw a Pearl away”

Question 23

Othellos Own punishment

Answer 23

“I took by th’throat the circumcised dog”

“Killing myself to die upon a kiss”

Redeems himself by killing himself

Or

Is he escaping punishment

Question 24

Cassios final words about othell

Answer 24

“For he was great of heart”

Question 25

What does the bedroom symbolise earlier in the play?

Answer 25

The consummation of othello and desdeminas marriage act2,scene3

By act5,scene2 it has become a place of death / despair just as desdemona anticipated in 4,3

Question 26

What does the private setting of the scene illustrate ?

Answer 26

Emphases that desdemonas and othellos relationship has been played out in public.

Privacy as been exploited. Reinforced but the killing in their marriage

Question 27

How does the setting seem claustrophobic?

Answer 27

One room, many characters

Intensifies the drama

Curtains around the bed focus audience even more closely to events on the bed

Question 28

How does othello justify his actions about des’s death

Answer 28

Honourable murder she must be killed for her crime of adultery.

Restore honour or else she will betray more men.

Restore des glory- if she is dead she can’t sin anymore and can be remembered for her beauty / innocence.

Killing her is the only way to ensure their love survives - paradox “I will kill thee and love thee after”

Question 29

How can we distinguish that the couples love has failed through their language ?

Answer 29

Beginning of the scene their lines run into each other. Interrupt each other.
Contrasts to 2,1 when the harmony of their language meant they finished each other’s lines.

Iago has destroyed this

Question 30

How is des death tragic ?

Answer 30

She truly did love him.

Even at the end when othello kills her she defends him.

She says “I myself”
Forgives her killer

Loyalty/ passive but also the love that iago destroyed

Othello still loves des and he’s compelled to kill her

Question 31

Emilias redemption

Answer 31

She gave iago the handkerchief.

She reveals iagos deception/ confesses and dies next to her mistress

She stands up to both iago and othello

Question 32

Religion

Answer 32

Othello associates himself to a Christian god
Asks des if she’s prayed he doesn’t want to damn her soul

Emilia calls her an angel who is “heavenly true”
She calls othello a “devil.

Othello calls iago a “Demi- devil”

Iago doesn’t die

Question 33

Did Othello gain nobility ?

Answer 33

Atones for crimes by ending his own life

reminder of his greatness

Question 34

Othello remained self centred

Answer 34

Speaks about himself in third persons “one, not easily jealous”
Unwilling to accept blame

Focused on himself not des.

Preoccupied with the state and mending reputation

Question 35

How does this scene contrast with 5,1

Answer 35

This scene is calm and peaceful.
Shakespeare wants to show signicant of des death.
Pathos.