Act 1, Scene 3 - Key Ideas Flashcards
What does Othello’s speech to his “reverend signiors” allow him to do? How does he concede himself?
Suggest modesty
“Rude am I in my speech”
What is Othello “bless’d” with? What does Othello promise to tell the Duke?
“With the soft phrase of peace”
“An unvarnish’d tale… on the whole course of love”
Where does Othello ask for Desdemona? What does Othello tell before this?
“Send for the lady to the Sagittary”
“Battles, sieges and fortunes” he has valiantly experienced
How did Desdemona listen to Othello? How would she take in his stories?
With a “greedy ear”
She would “devour up” the stories
How does Othello summarise his and Desdemona’s love? What does this subvert?
“She loved me for the dangers I had passed/”I loved her that she did pity them”
Brabantio’s accusations
How does Othello appear in this scene? What does this contrast?
An eloquent soldier
Brabantio’s view of him
What is the Duke impressed by? What does he say about his daughter?
Othello’s tale
It would “win” his daughter too
How does Desdemona reject social norms? What did she fall in love with?
She “saw Othello’s visage in her mind”
His “valiant parts”
What does Iago say to Roderigo about men in love? What animal does he compare women to?
“Never found a man that knew how to love himself”
“Guinea-hens”
How is Iago’s depraved mortality presented?
“Blood and baseness/raging motions”
“Carnal stings”
How does Desdemona defend her elopement? What has she violated to be with Othello?
She compares it to “downright violence… a storm of fortunes”
Social norms
What does Desdemona foreshadow?
Future violence of her marriage
What is the final warning Brabantio issues to Othello? What does he suggest about his own daughter?
“She has deceived her father… and may thee”
She will make a promiscuous wife
What is Iago’s soliloquy central in setting up?
Tragedy
What does Iago intend to abuse about Othello? What will he manipulate?
“Othello’s ear”
His “free and open nature by hell and night”
