Deception (and betrayal) Flashcards
(55 cards)
the setting of act one scene 1
it is at night - establishing the key theme of deception and the mysterious intentions of Iago. it allows him to mask the truth in the dark - idea of seeing vs not seeing.
We are introduced to Iago and Roderigo first – rather than Othello himself, creating anticipation, but also altering the audience’s perception of Othello as the dangerous, aggressive Moor. Reflects the larger disparity between appearance and reality in the play.
‘That thou, Iago, who has had my purse’ Roderigo to Iago
Immediately characterises him as deceptive and untrustworthy – Iago is spending Roderigo’s money. The fact the play opens with deception is heavy foreshadowing
heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty, But seeming so, for my peculiar end’ Iago
Creates a disparity between appearance and reality – doesn’t explicitly say his on reasons – inscrutable. He dirves the narrative
‘I am not what I am’ Iago
Establishes deception as an integral part of his character. Iago is conscious that he is playing a role, and the audience is forced to question appearance vs reality from the very beginning of the play.
The contradiction of this statement establishes Iago’s duplicity and the demonic nature of his character – his outward appearance is merely to conceal his true self
Iago: ‘Do, with like timorous accent and dire yell, As when by night and negligence the fire’
it is perhaps significant that he even tries to devise brabantio to actually get his attention.
Disrupting sleep of Brabantio, authority figure – symbolises Iago’s rtole as a disruptor to the social order
‘Even now, now, very now, and old black ram is tupping your white ewe’
Iago attempts to DECIEVE others about Othello:
Creates a sense of urgency and panic.
Reflects contemporary stereotypes of old black men as more sexually threatening – also reflecting the idea of the January May romance. He lays the ground emotionally, then moves to explicitly offensive sexual imagery which is often tied to animalistic imagery, reflecting racism. He attempts to provoke Brabantio. Contrast in colour reflects racial difference and characterises Desdemona as with pure Venetian innocence. Desdemona presented as dominated by her animalistic husband (Othello is the subject and she is the object). The bestial language used to describe Othello would have resonated with the Shakesperean audience – great chain of being wa s ahierarchical Christian structure which places animals lower than even the lowest of humans – demonstrating Iago’s belief that Moors are lowlier than Europeans. The colour black allows Iago to emphasise othello’s apparent evil nature
‘you’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse’
Crude sexual animalistic imagery. Deliberate attempts to provoke and inflame.
Rorderigo:’ an extravagant and wheeling stranger’
establishes Othello as an unstable and untrustworthy Other
‘Enter Brabantio in his night-gown’
Vulnerable state – vulnerable authority to iago’s manipulation
Iago ‘I lack iniquity’
Ironic, duplicity
Othello and Iago’s language at the beginning of the play
- Othello speaks in blank verse in this scene – a sign of noble intentions. Iago moves between poetry and prose, reflecting his Machiavellian intentions, depending on what is most expedient for him
Brabantio: ‘she is abused, stolen from me and corrupted by spells and medicines’
Dutiful love always bound with ownership
Othello has deceived brabantion, stealing his daughter
‘I won his daughter’
She chooses him – giving desdemona agency. Contrasts with Brabantio
However it is also the possessive language of objectification.
Desdemona: ‘I am hitherto your daughter. But here’s my husband’
Assertive, controlled in command of her thoughts. She both subverts and accepts male authority
She betrays her father
Brabantio: ‘Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see: she has deceived her father, and may thee’
Final words to the couple is a warning. Foreshdawoing
This is the first time he is encouraged to suspect her =- B claims that the foundations of their love are built on betrayal/
Ironic – refers to eyes to see- he is so manipulated by iago that he cannot ‘see’ properly either
Iago ‘a frail vow betwixt an erring Barbarian and a super-subtle Venetian’
Iago intends to deceive the other characters into thinking that this is what O and D are
Iago: ‘with little a web as this I will ensnare as great a fly as Cassio’
Predatory image – uses Cassio’s courteous strength against him. Allows audience to visualise his role in the play – and also this image of him as a spider attributes to him a degree of authority over the plot – he has the power to make decisions that affect other characters
Iago: ‘O, you are well tuned now: but I’ll set down the pegs that make this music’
Imagery of a musical instrument – describes their rhythm and harmony together. He suggests he will interrupt this harmony
Cassio: ‘Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial’
Cassio is distraught at ruining his reputation – highlights its importance within the play. Iago’s manipulations are able to ruin the reputations of cassio, desdemona and Othello, whilst he builds up his false reputation of honsrty.
Iago: ‘I’ll pour this pestilence into his ear’
Repeated poison imagery – soliloquies establish him as a villain in control. Expolitin the intimate trusting vulnerability of Othello
‘so will I turn her irtue into pitch and out of her own goodness make the net that shall enmesh them all’
Modal verbs reflect iago’s cponfiodence. Imagery of entrapment – he uses his goodness against her to corrupt hr reputation
Iago: ‘Well, my good Lord, I’ll do it’
Iago plays the role of both the good and the duplicitous servant – Greek. Reinforces his control of perception
Iago” ‘No, sure, I cannot think it that he would steal away so guilty-like seeing you coming’
Deliberately gives a false version od events.
Iago: ‘Honest, my lord?’ Othello: ‘Honest? Ay, honest’
Deliberate mirroring of speech – as the play progresses, Othello begins to speak more like Iago – losing his eloquence
