OTHELLO ACT 5 SCENE 2 Flashcards
(38 cards)
Summary
- Othello murders Desdemona
- Emilia figures out Iago’s plan and is then murdered by him
- Othello dies after stabbing Iago
- Iago is arrested
Themes
- Death
- Purity
- Anger
- Love
Importance
- Last scene- tragic ending
- Deaths of major characters
- Resolution?
Links to tragedy
- Anagnorisis
- Ending
Significance of stage directions
- “Enter Othello, with a light, and Desdemona in bed.”
- instantly sets up power dynamic- Othello appears to be like a hysterical hunter while Desdemona is entirely passive and innocent
Symbol of fate + inevitability
“You chaste stars.”
Othello fixating on Desdemona’s skin
- “that whiter skin of hers than snow/And smooth as monumental alabaster.”
- Saying how pure and beautiful she is - can’t destroy it
- Her being white is cause of his jealousy (hamartia)
What is Othello’s justification for murdering Desdemona?
- “Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men.”
- think’s he’s doing a service to mankind
“Put out the light, and then put out the light.”
- Light: represents Desdemona life
- He believes by killing her, this will salvage his tarnished status in being supposedly cuckolded
How does Shakespeare show Othello is feeling conflicted
- “Thou cunning’st pattern of excelling nature.”
- Torn between her beauty and thinking she needs to die
- Everything about her, to him, is deceptive
“Justice to break her sword!”
- Links to Reputation: she deserves to be killed because she tarnished his reputation and he is doing the right thing
Significance of Othello asking if she has prayed
- “Have your prayed tonight Desdemon?” “I would not kill thy unprepared spirit.” - creates ominous tone
- Making her repent- forcing her to be guilty
2 quotations that amplify Desdemona’s innocence
- “Then heaven have mercy on me!”
- “I fear you.”
How does Shakespeare demonstrate Desdemona’s devotion to Othello remains?
- “Some bloody passion shakes your very frame.” - she can see how Othello has physically deteriorated
- she is trying to keep calm and controlled despite fear
Juxtaposition in Othello’s speech
“Sweet soul, take heed, take heed of perjury.
Thou art on thy deathbed” - typically loving language juxtaposed by reality of events.
Semantic field of religion
- Othello uses this throughout (I say amen)
- Links to his desperation to be an insider in appropriating Christian language despite exotic heritage
How does Othello incriminate himself?
- “is he dead.” (D)
- “Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge/Had stomach for them all.” (O)
- Saying he was consumed by rage
What is the significance of Desdemona’s line and Emilia’s straight after?
“O Lord, Lord, Lord!” and “My lord, my lord.” - foreshadows Emilia’s fate as well
Significance of patriarchy
Significance of Desdemona’s last line
- “Nobody. I myself. Farewell. Commend me to my kind lord. Oh, farewell!”
-Could be seen 2 ways: her deflecting blame away from Othello due to unconditional love - or acknowledging her own role in her death by attempting to break societal expectations
KEY LIGHT AND DARK QUOTE
- “O, the more angel she, and you the blacker devil!”
- Juxtaposition: othello forever an outside
Why is Emilia’s repeated line significant
- “My husband.”- realising what Iago has done
- Disbelief- conveys extent of Iago’s act because she was oblivious
“Honest, honest Iago.”
Repetition: Othello desperately trying to convince himself of I’s honesty
Emilia damning her own husband
“May his pernicious soul/Rot half a grain a day”
Emilia once again challenging gender stereotypes
- “I care not for thy sword, I’ll make thee known” “The Moor has killed my mistress.”
- Empowered, assertive
- Othello:Moor again- dehumanised
