Othello.

Question 1

What is the plot of Othello?

Answer 1

Shakespeare sets the play in Venice. Othello, a moor meaning he is black and is one of Venice’s most trusted general secretly marries Desdemona who is the daughter of senator called Brabantio.

Question 2

Who are the characters in Othello?

Answer 2

• Duke of Venice.
• Brabantio: a senator, father of Desdemona.
• Gratiano: brother of Brabantio.
• Lodovico: kinsman of Brabantio.
• Montano: former governor of Cyprus.
• Othello: a moor, general in the service of Venice.
• Cassio: his lieutenant.
• Iago: his ancient.
• Roderigo: a gentleman of Venice.
• Clown: a servant of Othello.
• Desdemona: daughter of Brabantio and wife of Othello.
• Emilia: wife of Iago.
• Bianca: mistress of Casio.

Question 3

Othello

Answer 3

Act 1 Scene 1:

• He is referred to as the ‘moor’: prejudice: race affects respect received.
• Known Iago a long time.
• Forced to love Othello: “whether I in any just term am affined to love the moor”: obliged to like him.
• Respected.
• Envied by Roderigo and Iago.
• Confident: suggestion of arrogance: spills over.
• General army.
• Married to a white woman: without fathers consent.

Question 4

Michael Cassio.

Answer 4

Act 1 scene 1:

• Successful: from Florence.
• Iago is jealous.
• No real experience: ‘bookish’: educated.
• Close to Othello due to him being his Lieutenant.
• Respected/trusted.
• Cultured.

Question 5

Roderigo.

Answer 5

Act 1 scene 1:

• Confidante of Iago.
• Controlled by Iago.
• Iago: confides in him.
• Racist.
• Compliant.
• From Venice: gentleman: wealthy.

Question 6

Iago.

Answer 6

Act 1 scene 1:

• Dominates/controls.
• Feels hard done by: Jealous of Cassio’s success.
• Thinks highly of himself: ‘self interested.
• Bitter/vengeful, spiteful, deceitful.
• Liar.
• Known Othello for a while.

Question 7

How did blacks find themselves in Elizabethan London?

Answer 7

They found themselves in London because of the slave trade.

Question 8

How were Africans presented in London at the time?

Answer 8

They were presented negatively and those that went to watch them equated them with cannibalism, cruelty and animal sexuality.

Question 9

What happens in Act one?

Answer 9

• Iago talks to Roderigo about his hatred for Cassio and Othello. Roderigo has been paying Iago to help him seduce Desdemona but she has secretly married Othello.
  Iago persuades Roderigo to tell Desdemona’s father Brabantio about the marriage. ]
• Brabantio finds Othello and accuses him of stealing his daughter.
• Brabantio and Othello go to see the Duke. The Duke summons Desdemona who says that he loves Othello. As a result, Brabantio disowns his daughter.
• The Duke sends Othello to defend Cyprus against the Turks. Othello agrees to let Desdemona go with him but he asks Iago’s wife, Emilia to look after her.
• Iago tells Roderigo to come to Cyprus. Iago then reveals his plan to convince Othello that Desdemona is sleeping with Cassio.

Question 10

What happens in Act two?

Answer 10

• On the voyage to Cyprus, there is a huge storm which destroys the Turkish fleet. All of the Venetians arrive safely.
• Iago tells Roderigo that Cassio is another love rival and persuades him to start a fight with Cassio.
• After Iago persuades Cassio to drink, Cassio gets into a drunken fight with Cassio. During the fight, he stabs Montano, the governor of Cyprus. Othello removes him from his position.
• Iago tells him that he should ask Desdemona to speak to Othello about getting his job back.

Question 11

What happens in Act 3?

Answer 11

• Desdemona asks Othello to reinstate Cassio. Iago encourages him to think that Casio and Desdemona are having an affair. At first, Othello refuses to believe it but Iago convinces him that its true.
• Othello claims that he’s sick. Desdemona dabs Othello’s forehead but accidentally drops her handkerchief.
• Emilia picks up the handkerchief and gives it to Iago. Iago plans to put the handkerchief in Cassio’s lodgings.
• Othello asks Iago for proof of Desdemona’s infidelity.

Question 12

What happens in Act 4?

Answer 12

• Iago continues to convince Othello of Desdemona’s affair.
• Othello’s madness becomes more severe and he falls into a fit.
• Iago persuades Othello to eavesdrop on Cassio.

Question 13

What happens in Act five?

Answer 13

• In a fight organised by Iago, Roderigo tries to stab Cassio but misses and Cassio injures Roderigo instead. Iago secretly stabs Cassio and leaves.
• The other characters find Roderigo and Cassio bleeding. Iago pretends to help but secretly stabs and kills Roderigo so that he can’t reveal the truth.
• Iago blames Bianca.
• Othello kills Desdemona.
• Iago kills Emilia.

Question 14

Desdemona.

Answer 14

• Desdemona is a loving daughter and wife. She is Brabantio’s beautiful young daughter and she goes against her father’s wishes by marrying Othello, a black man rather than one of her Venetian suitors.
• Desdemona sees that her marriage has given her a “divided duty” but stands by her decision to marry Othello.
• She promises to be faithful to Othello and she is an obedient and loving wife.
• She is a complex character. At times she appears independent but at others she appears submissive.
• In Elizabethan society, marrying outside your race would have been unusual and scandalous.

Question 15

Cassio

Answer 15

• Cassio is Othello’s second in command.

- He can be easily led and trusting which is why he’s an easy victim of Iago’s plans.

Question 16

Jealously

Answer 16

Jealously is a powerful and destructive force and drives most of the action in Othello. Iago’s jealously prompts him to ruin Cassio’s career and Othello’s happiness and Othello’s jealously causes him to destroy causes him to destroy his marriage and kill his wife.
- “I know my price, i am worth no worse a place”.

Question 17

Gender and sexuality.

Answer 17

Gender played an important role in Elizabethan society. In Elizabethan times, men held most of the power both in society and in their relationships with women. Society was patriarchal. Brabantio is shocked that Desdemona s gone against his wishes and married Othello. Men in Othello try to control women. Women are repeatedly referred to as if they are the ‘property’ of the male characters.

Question 18

Love and war.

Answer 18

• The male characters define themselves as soldiers. Othello has been a soldier since the age of seven and defines himself by his “dearest action” on the battlefield. It elevates his status in Venetian society.
• Love is a powerful force in Othello. Othello is a domestic tragedy so the focus is on personal relationships rather than the politics of war.

Question 19

Race.

Answer 19

• Elizabethan society had negative views of black people. Othello is described as a “moor” but it’s not clear what race he is. Racial prejudices existed in Elizabethan England. Moors were generally viewed as savages and treated as slaves.
• Brabantio describes Othello’s “sooty bosom” implying that his colour makes him dirty. He also describes Othello as a “thing” showing that he doesn’t see him as human.
• At the start of the play, Othello uses his race and ‘otherness’ as a positive quality. When Brabantio accuses him of ‘stealing’ Desdemona, he responds eloquently recognizing that his exotic history made Desdemona love him.

Question 20

Honesty and Deception.

Answer 20

• Truth and honor are important in Othello. In Shakespeare’s time, the word ‘honest’ had several meanings. The characters use the words “honest” and “honesty” frequently.
• Deception and self-deception are common. As well as Iago’s obvious series of deceptions, Desdemona deceives her father by marrying Othello and Emilia deceives Desdemona when she steals the handkerchief. However, Desdemona and Emilia’s deceptive actions are motivated by love.
• Appearances can be deceptive.

Question 21

Performing Othello.

Answer 21

• The play’s themes challenge modern directors. Othello is a popular play with modern directors because it deals with race and gender issues that are relevant today.

Question 22

Form and structure.

Answer 22

Othello shares similarities with domestic tragedy.

• The play opens as if it will be a political tragedy.
• However, the political situation becomes a backdrop to the personal tragedy that unfolds.
• This links to ‘domestic tragedy’.
• The themes in Othello are personal ones.

Othello has two settings:

• Act 1`is set in Venice but from Act 2 the play is set in Cyprus.
• The two locations are very different.

Venice:

• Seen as a civilised, lawful place.
• Venetians had a liberal attitude towards sex.

Cyprus:

• Cyprus is isolated. The island has associations with hostility and conflict.
• The move from ‘civilised’ Christian Venice to warlike, wild Cyorus removes the characters from their normal environment creating disorder and isolation.

Question 23

Dramatic language.

Answer 23

Shakespeare uses blank verse to imitate the rhythm of natural speech.

Question 24

Irony and double meanings.

Answer 24

Verbal irony helps to establish Iago’s character.

Oxymorons and paradoxes keep opposities close together: Othello is a play of opposites. The colours black abd white aare used to convey contrasting symbolic ideas - black is conventionally associated with evil, sin and hell while white is linked to linked to goodness, purity and innocence.

• Bianca means ‘white’. The fact she is a prostitute undermines usual associations of white with ‘purity’.
• Othello the ‘black ram’ embodies the opposition of good and evil in the play.

Question 25

Key quotes.

Answer 25

Important quotes:
Iago:
- “In following him, i follow but myself.
- “Thus do i ever make my fool my purse”.

Cassio:
- “Reputation, reputation, reputation! O i have lost my reputation, i have lost the immortal part of myself - and what remains in bestial”.

Othello:
- “Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore, be sure of it, give me the ocular proof”.

Iago:
- “He hath a daily beauty in his life, that makes me ugly”.

Desdemona and Emilia:

• Desdemona: “A gutless death i die”.
• Emilia: “O who hath done/this deed?
• Desdemona: “Nobody, I myself.

Question 26

Quotes on Jealously.

Answer 26

Emilia: “They are not ever jealous for the cause, but jealous for they’re jealous”.

Iago: “Is thought abroad that twixt my sheets/he’s done my office. I know not if’t be true”.

Othello: “Of one not easily jealous, but, being wrought,/perplexed in the extreme.

Question 27

Quotes on Gender and Sexuality.

Answer 27

Iago: “Your daughter and the moor are now making the beast with two backs”.

Brabantio: “A maiden never bold/of spirit so still and quiet”.

Iago: “You rise to play and go to bed to work”.

Question 28

Quotes on love and war.

Answer 28

Othello: “She loved me for the dangers i had passed/ and i loved her that she did pity them”.

Question 29

Quotes on race.

Answer 29

Iago: “An old black ram is tupping your white ewe.

Othello: “Haply for I am black and have not those soft parts of conversation.

Duke: “Your son in law is more fair than black.

Question 30

Quotes on honesty and deception.

Answer 30

Iago: “The moor is of a free and open nature”

Othello: “I think my wife to be honest, and think she is not, i think that thou art just, and think thou art not”.

Iago: “I am not what i am”.

Question 31

Act 1, Scene 1.

Answer 31

Iago and Roderigo discuss Othello:

• Roderigo has paid Iago to help him win Desdemona’s love. Roderigo’s angry because she’s married Othello.
• Iago tells Roderigo that he hates Othello for promoting Cassio to lieutenant ahead of him.
• They wake up Desdemona’s father, Brabantio and tell him about her secret marriage to Othello.
• Brabantio is furious when he discovers that she’s run away. He goes with Roderigo to confront Othello.

The scene sets a tone of confusion and conflict for the rest of the play:

1} Scene 1 begins mid-conversation - the audience has no idea what Iago and Roderigo are talking about. They discuss Othello in crude and critical terms but they never use his name, which increases the audience’s confusion.

2} The sense of uncertainty is emphasised as the action takes place at night - Iago tells Roderigo to “rouse” Brabantio from his sleep. The darkness links to a metaphorical difficulty in seeing.

Iago is deceptive and manipulative:
Shakespreare suggests that Iago will be the play’s antagonist.

This scene introduces key themes:
- Jealously, sexuality, honesty and deception and racism.

Question 32

Act 1, scene 2.

Answer 32

Brabantio accuses Othello of stealing his daughter:

• Iago warns Othello that his secret marriage to Desdemona has been discovered.
• Othello is summoned to see the Duke to discuss the situation in Cyprus.
• Brabantio enters and accuses Othello. Brabantio decides to bring the case before the Duke.

Othello is very different from how he’s described:

• He’s described as:
• “loving his own pride and purposes”.
• “lascivious”.
• “an old black ram”.
• “a foul thief”.

In the scene he is:

• aware and proud of the service hee has done for Venice.
• In love with Desdemona.
• Controlled.
• Open about his actions.

Brabantio presents Othello and Desdemona’s love as unnatural:
- The marriage of a black man and a white woman was seen as unnatural in Elizabethan England - people were expected to marry someone of the same race and class. Shakespeare explores this through Brabantio’s objections:
1} Brabantio’s main objection is othello’s race - he usea racist language, describing Othello’s sooty bosom and dehumanising him by calling him a “thing”.
2} Brabantio accuses othello of binding Desdemona in “chains of magic”.

Question 33

Act 1, scene 3.

Answer 33

Othello and Desdemona explain how they fell in love:

• The Duke is discussing the military situation in Cyrpus with his senators. They tell Othello to prepare for war.
• Brabantio accuses Othello of stealing Desdemona from him.
• Iago convinces Roderigo to raise more money.
• In a soliloquy, Iago plans to get revenge on Othello by convincing him that his wife is ungaithful.

In the scene, there are hints about what will happen later in the play:
1} Brabantio’s final words are a warning to Othello.
2} Othello’s response to Brabantio: “my life upon her faith” is later shown to be ironic.

Shakespeare explores Othello and Desdemona’s relationship:
- Different characters voice their varying opinions about the marriage:
1} Brabantio continues to be critical of the marriage and forces Desdemona to choose between himself and Othello. Brabantio sees Desdemona as his property - he describes her as a “jewel”. He also echoes Iago’s accusation that Othello is a thief by claiming that she has been stolen from him.

Racism exists in Venetian society:
- This scene demomstrates that there is racism in Venetian society.

Question 34

Act 1, Scene 3.

Answer 34

Othello tries to separate the roles of husband and soldier:

• Before Othello marries Desdemona, his identity as a soldier is clear and defines himself through his military successes.
• His reputation is very important to him.

Iago develops his evil plot:

• Through Iago’s soliloquy, Shakespeare anticipates his increasingly evil plans.
• Iago suggests various motives for his plotting.
• Shakespeare demonstrates that Iago is skilled at thinking on his feet.

Question 35

Act 2, scene 1.

Answer 35

The action moves to Cyprus:

• A storm has destroyed the Turkish flert and separated the Venetian ships.
• Othello’s ship finally arrives and Desdemona is very relieved.

The change in setting isn’t just a change in location - it’s also a symbolic transition:
- The main characters travel from their homes in peaceful civilised Venice to a unfamiliar “warlike isle”. Cyprus is a place of conflict and disorder.

The storm is important to the plot:
- The storm is significant because it quickly gets rid of the threat of war by destroying the Turkish fleet. The threat of war conveniently moves the main characters to Cyprus and the destruction of the fleet allows the play to focus solely on the disintegration of Othello and Desdemona’s marriage.

Question 36

Act 2, scenes 1-2.

Answer 36

Othello and Desdemona are deeply in love:
- Othello’s reunion with Desdemona highlights their mutual love and affection. They finish each other’s lines which demonstrates how close they are. Desdemona calls him “my dear Othello”. ]

Iago plans to manipulate events in order to upset their happiness.

Iago’s motivation isn’t clear:

• In his soliloquy, Iago gives three reasons for his plot.
• Othello’s slept with Emilia.
• He’s in love with Desdemona.
• Cassio’s slept with Emilia.

A Herald announces a celebration.

Question 37

Act 2, scene 3.

Answer 37

The celebrations are interrupted by a fight:

• Othello leaves Cassio to keep order on the island as he and Desdemona go to consumate their marriage.
• Iago tries to make Cassio admit that he has feelings for Desdemona.
• Roderigo provokes Cassio who chases him.
• Cassio wounds Montano.

Question 38

Act 3, scenes 1-2.

Answer 38

Act 3, scene 1: Cassio tries to win back Othello’s favour.

• Cassio arranges for some musicians to play to Othello and Desdemona but Othello pays them to leave.
• Emilia agrees to help Cassio talk to Desdemona, He hopes that Desdemona will defend him to Othello.

This short scene provides some light-hearted comedy before the focus shifts back to Iago’s main plot.

Act 3, scene 2: Othello turns to military matters

• Othello asks Iago to pay his respects to the council and then joins him as he inspects the island’s fortifications.
• This scene adds to the dramatic irony - the audience knows that Iago wanted to draw the Moor apart to give Cassio a chance to plead with Desdemona.

Question 39

Act 3, scene 3.

Answer 39

Iago persuades Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful:

• Desdemona kindly agrees to talk to Othello on Cassio’s behalf. She begs Othello to reinstate Cassio as his lieutenant but Othello asks her to leave.
• Once Iago and Othello are alone, Iago starts to persuade Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful. She drops her handkerchief.
• Emilia takes the handkerchief and gives it to Iago. Iago plans to plant it in Cassio’s lodgings.
• Iago’s stories convince Othello of the affair and he asks Iago to kill Cassio.
• Othello plans to kill Desdemona.

This scene is a turning point for Othello as i
Iago persuades him to give in compleetely to jealously.

Iago and Desdemona use different methods to persuade Othello.

Question 40

Act 3, scene 3.

Answer 40

Honesty is a major theme in this scene.
- A key reason for Iago’s success in manipulating Othello is that he is percieved as a man of exceeding honesty. Its irobic that Othello believes Iago is truthful when he accuses Desdemona of dishonesty and Cassio of lacking honesty.

Iago starts to replace Desdemona in Othello’s affections.

• Iago increasingly takes her place in Othello’s mind.
• Iago’s influence over Othello is evident in Othello’s changing language. In previous scenes, Othello’s language is measured and controlled but in this scee it begins to deteriorate and reflect Iago’s own vocabulary.

Shakespeare develops the theme of jealously.
- Othello’s insecurities makes him susceptible to Iago’s suggestions.

Question 41

Act 3, scene 4.

Answer 41

Iago’s plan starts to produce results.

• Desdemona makes Othello angry by asking him once again to reinstate Cassio.
• Othello asks to borrow her handkerchief and gets even angrier when she can’t produce it.
• Emilia suggests that Othello is jealous, but Desdemona thinks it must be something else.
• Cassio gives the handkerchief to Bianca and asks her to make a copy of it. she thinks its from another woman.

Othello becomes obsessed with the handkerchief.
- The handkerchief seems to possess almost magical properties for Othello.

The women in the play contrast with each other.

Question 42

Act 4, scene 1.

Answer 42

Othello seems to be completely under Iago’s power.

• Iago continues to torture Othello by talking about Desdemona and Cassio’s alleged affair.
• Iago persuades Othello to eavesdrop on a conversation between himself and Cassio. Iago asks Cassio about Bianca but Othello thinks they’re talking about Desdemona.
• Lodovico delivers a letter summoning Othello back to Venice and appointing Cassio as his replacement as governor of Cyprus. Othello mistakes Desdemona’s happiness as affection for Cassio so he hits her.

Iago never leaves the stage in this scene and he is in complete control.

• He continues to use innuendo and suggestion to manipulate Othello.
• Othello starts to mimic Iago’s language.
• Iago manipulates situations as well as characters.

Othello has completely changed

• Othello’s transformation has completely changed which took place in Act 3 scene 3. Othello loses control of his actions and speech.
• He loses his nobility and becomes more savage.
• He loses his role as a leader and becomes a follower.
• He acts like a husband and more like a soldier.

The female characters are treated badly.

Question 43

Act 4, scene 2.

Answer 43

Emilia defends Desdemona’s innocence but Othello isn’t convinced.

• Othello asks Emilia about Desdemona and Cassio’s supposed affair. She assures him that they’re innocent.
• Othello interrogates Desdemona. She defends herself but Othello thinks she’s lying.
• Roderigo confronts Iago because his attempts to woo Desdemona have come to nothing.

The scene is full of religious imagery.

• Both Othello and Desdemona associate themselves with Christianity in this scene.
• Othello refers to Christianity and heacen in an attempt to regain his sense of honour and morality.
• Othello’s language makes Desdemona’s percieved betrayal take on a spiritual significance.

Emilia takes on the opposite role to Iago

• Emilia is the only character to realise that Othello has been manipulated by “some eternal villain”.
• As Othello quizzes Emilia about Desdemona’s fidelity, she replies with definite answers.
• Unlike Iago, Emilia provides real evidence for Desdemona’s fidelity and shows the strength of her loyalty to her mistress when she says she would “lay down her soul”.

Iago constantly changes his role.

• Despite advising Othello to “strangle her in her bed” in the previous scene, Iago now acts symathetically towards Desdemona.
• When Roderigo enters, Iago has to display a different persona.

Question 44

Act 4 scene 3.

Answer 44

Emilia and Desdemona confide in each other.

• Othello orders Desdemona to go to bed and tells her to dismiss Emilia.
• Desdemona tells Emilia the story of her mother’s maid, Barbary and sings her willow song.
• Desdemona and Emilia discuss their different views on infidelity and marriage.

The relationship between Desdemona and Emilisa shown in this scene contrasts with the male relationships in Othello.

• Male relationships in Othello are hierarchial.
• However, at times their relationship parallels that of their husbands more closely.

Different omens foreshadow Desdemona’s death.

• Desdemona asks Emilia to “shroud” her in her “wedding sheets”.
• The willow song also forehadows Desdemona’s death.

Emilia’s speech challenges gender inequality.
- Emilia’s speech about marriage and adultery has been used by feminist critics as evidence that in Othello, Shakespeare was challenging the Elizabethan patriarchy.

Question 45

Act 5, scene 1.

Answer 45

Roderigo and Iago attack Cassio in the daark.

• Roderigo attaacks Cassio but is unsuccessful. Cassio injures Roderigo, then Iago stabs Cassio and exits.
• Othello hears Cassio calling out in pain and thinks Iago has killed him. Othello leaves to murder Desdemona.
• Iago returns and feigns ignorance of what has happened. He then stabs and kills Roderigo.
• Bianca is distraught to see Cassio injured. Iago accuses her of being involved in the attack on Cassio.

The scene is reminiscent of the fight between Roderigo and Cassio in Act 2, scene 3.

• The darkness again causes confusion. Iago adopts the role of the confused bystander that Othello took in Act 2, scene 3.
• In Act 2, scene 3, Othello steps in to stop the fight between Montano and Cassio but in Act 5, scene 1, he stands back to watch the chaos. He has lost his previous nobility - he’s actively involved in the plot to kill Cassio.

Iago still seems to be in control.

• This scene is the last time that any character looks to Iago for guidance.
• Roderigo is willing to kill Cassio.

But his plans are starting to unravel.

• Iago realises that he is in a precarious position and that his fortunes are becoming increasingly uncertain.
• Iago’s failure to orchestrate Cassio’s death suggests his luck is running out.
• Roderigo is the first character to finally see Iago as he really is.

Question 46

Act 5, scene 2.

Answer 46

Othello kills Desdemona and then commits suicide.

• Othello tells Desdemona he’s going to kill her. She begs for her life but he smothers her on her bed.
• Emilia discovers the murder and tells Othello that Desdemona was innocent.
• Iago kills Emilia and runs away.
• Othello commits suicide. Cassio is given responsibility for torturing Iago.

The setting of Othello and Desdemona’s bedroom is significant.

Othello tries to justify his actions.

• His language indicates that honoyr is actually at the forefront of his mind.
• Othello hopes to restore Desdemona to her former glory.

The tragedy of Desdemona’s death is heightened.
- Desdemona still defends Othello.