Cassio - Tragic Victim Flashcards
(12 cards)
Act 2, Scene 1
*‘He hath achieved a maid that paragons description and wild fame essential vesture of creation, one that excels the quirks of blazoning pens’ ‘Divine Desdemona’
RELIGIOUS HYPERBOLIC IMAGERY + ARTISTIC METAPHOR captures Cassio’s respect and interest in Desdemona recognising her beauty but he would never dream of being with her as this would disrespect Othello - indicative of his good character and nature
Act 2, Scene 1
‘Hail to thee lady of grace and heaven’
Cassio is very open and honest when he is in her presence or not, suggests he is authentic and the opposite of Iago, Cassio is naturally charming
Act 2, Scene 3
‘An inviting eye, yet me thinks she is modest’
Cassio not falling for Iago’s trap, shows his earnest nature
Act 2, Scene 3
‘Well heavens above all there be souls that must be saved and there are souls must not be saved’
-Cassio’s drunk talking reveals his religious outlook on life reminding us that Cassio is innately a good person equipped with faithful and respectful morals, serves as a FOIL to Iago
-charactersies Iago as a MACHIAVELLIAN as he is purposefully causing the downfall of a level reasonable and kid person → audience begin to view Cassio as a victim
-Iago is blurring the boundary of what is considered evil and good
Act 2, Scene 3
‘You must not think i’m drunk’
-Cassio worrying that others aren’t taking him seriously, his reputation and perception by others if of high importance, he wants all those around him to know his generous and good nature
Act 2, Scene 3
‘Zounds! You rogue! You rascal!’
-Iago has stirred Cassio making him so provoked he is turning to blasphemy
Act 2, Scene 3
‘I pray you pardon me, I cannot speak’
-shamed and drunk unable to speak meaning that Iago will be left to retell the events on Cassio’s behalf - he will manipulate the reality of the situation
Act 2, Scene 3
‘Reputation! Reputation! Reputation!’
-EPIZEUXIS (same word repeated with no breaks) emphasises how the reality of the situation has hit him all at once, and it is materialising in Cassio’s mind that his reputation is ruined
-MINOR SENTENCES puts emphasis on his despair and inability to think and express himself logically with composure in this moment
-FRAGMENTED SYNTAX shows he deeply cares for how others perceive him and therefore, the breakdown of his reputation is essentially breaking Cassio himself robbing him of his ability to express himself and orate
Act 2, Scene 3
‘I have lost this immortal part of myself’
-METAPHOR used to liken his reputation to his soul
-portrays the soul as a thing that can physically be tarnished like losing his reputation is losing the ordered and tamed humanity, this has all been lost linking back to faith
Act 3, Scene 1
‘give me advantage of some brief discourse with Desdemona alone’
-DRAMATIC IRONY falling into Iago’s trap whilst trying trying to regain his reputation but this act is in fact perpetuating his own downfall - TRAGIC VICTIM
Act 3, Scene 4
‘sweet love’
-intimate EPITHETS indicate Cassio sees Bianca as more than a prostitute
Act 3, Scene 4
‘nor my wish to have him see me womaned’
-Cassio doesn’t want Othello to see him with a woman who may be a prostitute due to his reputation
-valuing his reputation so highly is his HAMARTIA as his secretive nature with Bianca will only further fuel Othello’s suspicions of Cassio being with Desdemona, so his decision to keep her a secret seals his FATE
