Othello A01/A02 Flashcards
Knowledge + application (75 cards)
Iago speech
O, sir, content you;
1: I follow him to serve my turn upon him:
We cannot all be masters, nor all masters
Cannot be truly follow’d. You shall mark
Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave,
That, doting on his own obsequious bondage,
Wears out his time, much like his master’s ass,
For nought but provender, and when he’s old, cashier’d:
.2: Whip me such honest knaves. Others there are
Who, trimm’d in forms and visages of duty,
Keep yet their 3:. hearts attending on themselves,
And, throwing but shows of service on their lords,
Do well thrive by them and when they have lined
their coats
Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul;
And such a one do I profess myself. For, sir,
It is as sure as you are Roderigo,
Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago:
In following him, I follow but myself;
4:. Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,
But seeming so, for my peculiar end:
For when my outward action doth demonstrate
The native act and figure of my heart
In compliment extern, ‘tis not long after
5:.But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
For daws to peck at: 6:. I am not what I am.
(Iago Act 1 Scene 1)
‘Its long so just mostly remember this part ‘But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve // For daws to peck at: I am not what I am.’
(Iago, Act 1 Scene 1)’
1: This is as a result of Othello giving position to “one Michael Cassio”. Iago wants to take advantage of Othello’s virtues and turn them against him.
4: Religious language ironic because behaviour of Iago juxtaposes teachings of Christianity.
5: Also promises to show the audience who he truly is which he does throughout the play with his trickery.
6: Contradiction of statement establishes Iago’s duplicity early in drama: how he appears in play = different from reality of his beliefs and motives.
Establishes his demonic nature of character - outward appearance = there to conceal his true self.
“thicklips”
(Roderigo Act 1 Scene 1)
Race:
Emphasises how despite Othello’s military successes he is viewed only by his race.
1.Zounds, sir, you’re robb’d; for shame, put on your gown; Your heart is burst, you have 2. lost half your soul; Even now, now, very now, 3.an old black ram Is topping your white ewe. (Iago Act 1 Scene 1)
1: her daughter is stolen, Othello a thief.
2: Uses religious imagery when his actions will contradict it, and the gives the notion that Othello = Devil. Almost like Desdemona = angel has had a fall from grace.
3: Reinforcing Othello’s age and race, suggesting he is only with her because of sexual lust. Also Desdemona = presented as domesticated and elegant also innocent and symbol of purity where as Othello = brutish and savage. Animalistic imagery.
O treason of the blood!
(Brabantio Act 1 Scene 1)
Gone against social norms. Inter-racial marriage = frowned upon by Elizabethan society. Also shows partiarchal expectations - How Desdemona is owned by her father through their blood.
my daughter is not for thee
(Brabantio Act 1 Scene 1)
emphasised “my” = property: fathers picked who their daughters married
My services which I have done the Signiory/ Shall out-tongue his complaints
I fetch my life and being/ From men of royal siege
1. My parts, my title, and my perfect soul
(Othello Act 1 Scene 2)
Othello introduces himself to audience as noble character and a man who believes he deserves respect. Proud of his “royal” background and he craves the regard of the Venetian nobility.
Believes he will be judged on his merits.
Word choices - “parts”, “title”, and “perfect soul” = self confidence = flaw in Othello’s character because = arrogant and his belief that men are judged by their actions and reputation.
Reputation = important to him hence why he kills Desdemona: cares about what will happen to his reputation
Similar to Iago - “I know myself I know my worth” - Othello and Iago = mirror images of each other
1. characteristic idiom = dignified, measured in blank verse. believes things listed will protect him but shows his hubris
Inspiration for Othello = Leo’s A Geographical Historie of Africa 1600, both men = honest and proud
boarded a land carrack
(Iago Act 1 Scene 2)
Objectifies women and sees them as something to be won - a “prize”
stowed, apprehend, discover him
(Brabantio Act 1)
Extend metaphor of thief = emphasises how Othello does not belong in this society
Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see: She has deceived her father, and may thee.
(Brabantio Act 1 Scene 3)
Prophetic but ironic warning. Warns that Desdemona may not be as virtuous as she seems - because she questioned the patriarchy her virtues are called into question.
Ironically, Brabantio refers to Othello using his “eyes to see”, which is how Othello judges people and situations . However, when he judges Desdemona, he is twisted by Iago’s lies and unable to see truth.
My life upon her faith
(Othello Act 1 Scene 3)
Declaration of trust = loaded with irony. After listening to Iago, Othello gives his life for what he believes is her lack of “faith”
Complete devotion to Desdemona that Iago is able to undermine by tapping into Othello’s insecurities - social and racial.
Othello Epithets:
“the warlike Moor, “brave Othello”, “the lusty Moor”, “my lord”, “noble Moor” à “devil”, “murderous coxcomb”
Desdemona Epithets:
“the divine Desdemona”, “virtuous Desdemona”, “O my fair warrior” à “public commoner” “devil” “strumpet” “fair devil” ‘sweet mistress’
Iago Epithets:
“honest creature” “honest Iago” à “demi-devil” “hellish villain”
Iago’s use of Animal Imagery:
Iago uses animal imagery to insult people, which Othello later comes to mimic. “black ram is tupping your white ewe”, “I had rather be a toad”, “as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys”
“To love The Moor”
(By Iago?) Act 1, scene 1
Othello isn’t named until later on he is merely defined and referenced by the colour of his skin alone.
Handkerchief Symbolism:
“That handkerchief Did an Egyptian to my mother give…”
The detailed description imbues the handkerchief with exotic and symbolic importance, representing trust and fidelity
Iago’s Soliloquy: “I am not what I am.”
The paradox reveals Iago’s duplicity and sets the tone for his manipulative nature throughout the play.
Jealousy Language:
“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.” (Iago, Act 3 Scene 3)
- The vivid metaphor personifies jealousy as a destructive force, foreshadowing Othello’s downfall.
Iago says this to Othello, pretending to warn him against becoming jealous — while ironically planting the seeds of jealousy in his mind
Desdemona: “I do perceive here a divided duty.”
Her conflicted language underscores her innocence and loyalty, highlighting the tragic tension in her relationship with Othello.
Final Scene – Othello’s Death:
Key Plot Point: After killing Desdemona, Othello learns the truth and takes his own life, saying:
“I kissed thee ere I killed thee: no way but this, killing myself, to die upon a kiss.”
Othello’s trust quote:
‘Certain men should be what they seem’
Othello, Act 3 scene 3
‘Rude I am in my speech, and little blessed with the soft phrase of speech’
Othello Act 1 scene 3
Symbol of pride - not well versed with in the venetian language because he has been too busy defending the nation on the battlefield
‘I fetch my life and being from men of royal siege, and my demerits may speak unbonneted to as proud a fortune as this that I have reached.’
Othello Act 1 scene 2
Does not need to prove or impress anyone as he is also from royal blood
‘For since these arms of mine had seven years’ pith
Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used Their dearest action in the tented field,’
- Othello Act 1, Scene 3
Shows that Othello is only used to life on the battlefield and that because of this he may be more vunerable to a weapon he has not learnt to fight against - the lies of man.