OTHELLO ACT 4 SCENE 1 Flashcards
Summary
- Iago continues to provoke Othello’s jealousy
- Othello strikes Desdemona, horrifying Lodovico
Themes
- Deception
- Jealousy
- Anger
- Marriage
Links to tragedy
- Setting
- Treatment of women
Importance
- we see how evil iago is
- Othello is on a downward spiral
How does Act 4 scene 1 mirror Act 1 Scene 1
STARTS IN MEDIAS RES
- manipulation goes outside of the play in a constant never ending web of lies
How could the scene starting in media res affect the audience
- creates pathos and empathy because othello is being so heavily manipulated
- puts audience in same position- his villainy transcends the constraints of the play
Significance of Othello repeating Iago’s phrases
- “Will you think so.” “Think so Iago”
- Repeating his words and acting like his puppet
“To kiss in private… or to be naked with her friend in bed”
- Manipulation: his suggestions become more progressively explicit
How does Iago play Devil’s advocate in this scene and why does he do it?
“She may, I think, bestow’t on any man” - he’s saying the things Othello doesn’t want to hear- tempting Othello further into madness and jealousy
Foreshadowing of Death
- “the raven o’er the infected house.” - raven is symbol of death (foreboding)
“Lie-“ Finish this exchange and explain the significance
- O: “With her?”
- I: “With her, on her, what you will”
- He is manipulating Othello- letting him come to his conclusions- makes the outcome more violent
Why is it significant that Othello;s speech changes before he falls into a trance
- He begins to speak in prose instead of blank verse
- His language and mind has detoriated because of his jealousy
KEY IAGO QUOTE HERE
- Work on my medicine work!
- Twisted metaphor for the work he’s doing
- Imperatives: CONTROLLING THE SITUATION
Example of Othello being embarassed he’s being cuckolded
- “A horned man’s a monster and a beast.”
- Guilt- men were meant to control their wives, one who can’t is a joke
Why is important to see that Iago is mocking Othello to his face
Iago’s power is increasing and he doesn’t need to decieve Othello- he is too blinded by jealousy and rage to notice
Juxta in Iago’s speech
“As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad.” AMORALITY
What is interesting about Cassio and Bianca’s relationship
“How now, my sweet Bianca!”- does Cassio truly have feelings for her?
How do we know Othello has truly shifted
“How shall I murder him Iago?” - full of violent intent, his downfall is becoming apparent
2 Key Othello quote that shows his downfall is underway
- “I would have him nine years a-killing. A fine woman, a fair woman, a sweet woman.”
- “I will chop her into messes.”
Why is it significant that Iago tells Othello how to kill Desdemona?
- “strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated.”
- He doesn’t even need to hide his villainy- Othello is too blinded by revenge
What dramatic service does Lodovico serve
- none.
- He represents civilised society of venice who now completely contrast unhinged Othello
“this would not be believ’d in venice.”
- after othello strikes Desdemona, Lodovico says this
- Demonstrates how far Othello has fallen and that the purity of Othello and Desdemona’s love has vanished
“Goats and monkeys.”
- obsessing over Desdemona’s supposed infidelity
- Othello’s passion is breaking through his self-control
“I am sorry that I am deciev’d in him”
- Disappointed in Othello- he’s not who he thought he was
- This is exactly what Iago wants
