Act 1 Flashcards
“I know my price, I am worth no worse a place” - Iago Scene 1
slows the speech down with caesura and dramatic punctuation. The use if ‘I’ shoes Iago’s self-involvement as he deems himself better than where he presently is, introducing the theme of reputation and how valued it was.
“bookish theoric” - Iago about Cassio scene 1
Your worth as a person accumulates, according to Iago, from what you have experienced, he can not see why someone without any physical practice would be any good. Reputation and self-value are also implied by Iago thinking he has proved his worth and not been acknowledged, causing the audience to sympathise with his frustration.
“I follow him to serve my turn upon him” Iago scene 1
Shakespeare sets up dramatic irony. Audience are informed of Iago’s duplicitous nature from the outset of the play.
“I am not what I am” - Iago scene 1
This declarative sentence shows the audience, very early on in the text, that Iago is not who he says he is. But, he says this in a context that almost conceals the fact that he is a fraud. The diacope of ‘I am’ is reflective of Iago being more than one person: the first ‘I am’ is one person he is, the second ‘I am’ is another person he is. This represents that he is more than one person, which links to the idea that he is ‘not’ what he is.
“Thick lips” - Rogerigo scene 1
We first hear about Othello through derogative, racist language.
“an old black ram is tupping your white ewe” Iago scene 1
The juxtaposition that Shakespeare has used between ‘black’ and ‘white’ is indicative of the difference between Othello and Desdemona’s races, but also between their supposed difference in nobility – Othello is “evil” and Desdemona is “innocent”. In addition, the negative imagery of an ‘old black ram’ reinforces Iago’s dislike of Othello, and the zoomorphic imagery of ‘ram’, then juxtaposed with ‘ewe’ (a female sheep) furthermore shows that Iago does not believe that they should be together. The dynamic verb ‘tupping’ is another pun that Shakespeare has used, as the double entendre of the verb – one meaning being “another word for a ram” and the other being slang for “having sex with” – to reiterate to the audience, and Brabantio, that there is a relationship occurring where there ‘”shouldn’t be”, socially speaking.
“This is Venice” Brabantio act 1
Venice is presented as a civilised society in comparison to Cyprus. As a setting, Venice serves Shakespeare’s needs of a place where a non-European, and potentially non-Christian, man could both hold significant authority but still be distrusted. Venice had a reputation of of a city of wealth and sophistication, but was also persevered as a place of loose morals.
“My parts, my title, and my perfect soul” othello scene 2
This quote reveals a total belief in himself and what he has become, however it does reveal some negative aspects in Othello’s character. The fact that he repeats “my” reinforces the fact that he is extremely arrogant and self-obsessed. Can link to his tragic fall/hamartia. Othello commands the stage and perhaps the audience’s admiration.
“keep up your bright swords for the dew will rust them” othello scene 2
Metaphor, measured verse. Such eloquent and sophisticated speeches come in stark contrast to the crude and vulgar imagery that was used to describe him. Othello is telling Brabantio that he will not need his weapons as he has no intention of fighting. Instead, he offers some advice: they should put their swords away, as they will not be needed and keeping them out will only lead to them being rusted. He is polar opposite to Iago who seems to revel in conflict whereas Othello seeks to avoid it.
“Valient Othello” Duke scene 3
Duke addresses Othello before Brabantio. Affirmative adjective. Reflects Othello’s status. Shakespeare uses the senators to counteract Iago’s attempts to defame Othello, by having them refer to the general as ‘valiant’ (reminding us of his exploits in the field). The Duke has more interest to employ Othello against the general enemy Ottoman than listen to Brabantio’s claims of sorcery
“she is abused, stolen from me, and corrupted” Brabantio scene 3
syndetic list of harsh dynamic verbs “abused”, “stolen” and “corrupted” = Brabantio views Desdemona as vulnerable, Othello must have used violence against Desdemona
declarative mood = only way Desdemona would ever go with Othello is if he forced her, no arguments
concrete nouns “spells” and “medicines” = racial stereotypes that black people are associated with magic
“let your sentence fall even upon my life” othello scene 3
Relationship built on the foundations of trust and equality - subversive. Othello shows his bravery and love for Desdemona by allowing her to speak for him in his defence, and allowing the Duke and Brabantio to kill him if she says that she doesn’t love him (Megalopsychia)
“And so much duty as my mother showed to you, preferring you before her father” - Desdemona 1.3
Clear, unsentimental and calmly confident.
“your son-in-law is far more fair than black” duke 1.3
Paradoxical couplet. No matter how ‘fair’ Othello appears in this scene, the final word ‘black’ reminds the audience of his interpreted otherness which is at the root of his insecurity.
“she has deceived her father, and may thee” Brabantio 1.3
Prophetic warning. Sews seeds of Desdemona as unfaithful.
