Othello Flashcards
Iago feels like he was overlooked for the position of lieutenant despite the fact that
‘three great ones of the city, in personal suit’ to give the position to Iago, it was bestowed upon the ‘bookish theoric’ Michael Cassio. He feels nepotism is at play.
In what ways does iago feel the system of promotion is biased?
Preferment goes by letter and affection not the old gradation
What shows that jealous accusations lack substance?
‘Trifles light as air are to the jealous confirmations strong as proofs of holy writ’
How is the corrosive nature of jealousy described?
‘Dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons’, corrosive nature of jealousy
What suggests that othello is overcome by unprecedented jealousy, from which he cannot return?
‘my bloody thoughts with violent pace shall never look back.’
Desdemona believes Othello is free from jealousy because
‘my noble Moor is true of mind and made of no such baseness as jealous creatures are.’
Suggests jealous people lack moral principles, dichotomy between such passionate emotions and nobility
How is othello referred to at the beginning of the play?
In the beginning of the play Othello is not referred by his name, only as the ‘Moor’. This alienates him and emphasises his position as an outsider in Venetian society.
How does Rodrigo employ crude imagery to tell Brabantio of his daughter’s union with othello?
- ‘An old black ram is tupping your white ewe’. Use of animalistic imagery dehumanizes Othello and perpetuates crude stereotypes.
- ‘You’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse, you’ll have your nephews neigh to you…’
How does Brabantio view their marriage?
As a ‘treason of the blood’
How does Brabantio speak of his daughter in terms of treasure?
Othello is a ‘foul thief’ says ‘where has thou stowed my daughter, damned as thou art, thou hast enchanted her.’ ‘Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom of such a thing as thou’, dehumanises him. (1,2)
Brabantio plays on stereotypes and othello’s position as the outsider to explain their marriage when he says
‘that thou hast practised on her with foul charms, abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals.’
Suggests Brabantio’s views are representative of widespread society:
‘mines not an idle cause. The duke himself, or any of my brothers of the state, cannot but feel this wrong as ‘twere their own, for if such actions may have passage free, bondslaves and pagans shall our statesmen be.’ Use of pagans suggests heretical.
What suggests their marriage is unnatural?
‘for nature so preposterously to err, being not deficient blind or lame of sense, sans witchcraft could not.’
How does Iago convince Roderigo that Desdemona will leave Othello eventually due to him lacking desirable qualities:
‘loveliness in favour, sympathy in years, manners and beauties; all which the moor is defective in.’
How is Othello and Desdemona’s marriage portrayed as unnatural, against all social conditioning:
‘and yet how nature erring from itself.’ ‘not to affect many proposed matches of her own clime, complexion and degree, whereto we see in all things nature tends.’
How is marriage viewed as circumscribing one’s freedom?
‘for I know Iago but that I love the gentle Desdemona, I would not my unhoused free condition put into circumscription and confine for the sea’s worth’
In what ways does Othello and Desdemona’s marriage evidence a deeper emotional connection between the two. Love not lust?
she gave me for my pains a world of sighs’ and ‘she loved me for the dangers I had passes and I loved her that she did pity them.’
How is Desdemona’s love for Othello seem to be genuine?
I saw Othello’s visage in his mind and to his honours and his valiant parts did I my soul and fortunes consecrate.’ Desdemona fell in love with the valiant brave qualities of Othello, shows genuine love.
Iago dismisses Roderigo’s infatuation with Desdemona by saying…
Iago dismisses Rodrigo’s infatuation with Desdemona as lust. Suggests he is overcome by passion, loss of reason: ‘We have reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal stings, our unbitted lusts; whereof I take this, that you call love.’
What suggests people who are in love act for nobility, what they think is right:
if thou be’st valiant, as they say base men being in love have then a nobility in their natures more than is native to them.’
What suggests Desdemona has taken Othello into her sway, strong influence over him?
‘Our general’s wife is now the general, he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark and denotement of her parts and graces’
What are the two types of servants according to Iago?
Iago professes there to be two types of servants, submissive and subversive who follow their masters loyally at great personal cost, or those who are ‘trimmed in forms of visage and duty’. The second type ‘keep their hearts attending on themselves, …and when they have lined their coats, do themselves homage.’
Why does Iago leave Roderigo and brabantio?
Iago leaves Roderigo and Brabantio as he must project an image of loyalty towards Othello, self preservation ‘It seems not meet nor wholesome to my place to be produced as if I stay I shall against the Moor
How can Iago’s manipulation techniques be best described?
Iago gives insight into his manipulation techniques, warps the truth so people accept what they already fear: ‘with as little as a web as this I will ensnare as great a fly as Cassio’
What suggests that Iago actively intends on breaking apart their marriage?
‘O, you are well tuned now But I’ll set down the pegs that make this music as honest as I am’
Iago pretends to support Cassio by saying…
‘I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth than it should do offence to Michael Cassio’
How does Iago argue that he does not appear to be a villain on account of his honest and helpful advice:
‘who’s to say I’m a villain when the advice is free I give and honest, probal to thinking’
