Act 4 Flashcards
“To kiss in private?” - Iago
Shakespeare immediately heightens the tension through Iago’s questioning which is taunting Othello.
“The raven” “infected house” “he had my handkerchief” - Othello
Raven’s are a symbol and omen of death. Foreshadowing of the impending deaths that occur in act 5.
“Lie with her? Lie on her?” “Handkerchief - confessions - handkerchiefs” - Othello
Othello is corrupted by Iago’s idiom. Fractured sense of self is reflected through the lexis and syntax. Disjointed prose rather than measured verse.
“my medicine” - Iago
Linguistically manipulates the common noun “medicine” by subverting the common conventions of healing into a tangible object that slowly corrupts Othello’s mind - causing him to fall into a fit.
“Now he denies it faintly” - Othello
Othello’s myopia has blinded him to the truth, catalyses his tragic downfall. On stage he is seen to be hiding behind a pillar or underneath a table shows his physical degradation. Contrast to his heroic status at the beginning of the play.
“I will chop her into messes” - Othello
Graphic ruminations. The verb has methodical undertones reflect direct actions, which shows how his violent intentions have evolved with Iago’s manipulations as before he stated if he found her to be unfaithful he would simply “let her down the wind” (3.3).
“I have not deserved this” - Desdemona
She remains the embodiment of total innocence. Declarative sentence. Desdemona’s knowledge of her downfall challenges Samuel Johnson’s view of Desdemona. He said that Desdemona has a “slowness to suspect she is being suspected”, which indicates that she would be unaware that she is ‘suspected’ until she dies.
“should not be believed in Venice” - Lodovico
Lodovico’s statement highlights the discrepancy between Othello’s public image as a respected military leader and his private actions as a jealous and vengeful husband. It serves as a poignant commentary on the characters’ perceptions and the corrosive effects of jealousy and mistrust.
“You are welcome sir to Cyprus. Goats and Monkeys!” - Othello
Zoomorphism reflects how Iago’s idiom has corrupted Othello’s once measured and assured speech. Welcoming to ‘Cyprus’ followed by animalsitic imagery reflects the typical characterisation of Cyprus as this is where the conflict occurs. Exclamative.
“I durst my lord, to wager she is honest” - Emilia
Reitterates the choric function that Emilia plays with in the play. We see her loyalties shift from her husband to Desdemona. She commands respect from the audience here, speaking the truth where many other characters don’t. Yet the tragedy is heightened where Othello is already too corrupted by Iago’s manpiluations that he doesn’t process the truth in Emilia’s words. Assertive tone. Voice of reason that the audience are desperate to hear.
“Subtle whore” O “Your wife my lord, your true and loyal wife” - Dedemona
Act 4 Scene 2 Othello: Throughout the play there are regular exploitations of women, despite Emilia’s and Desdemona’s innocence they are still being depicted as the opposite. Othello’s language has completely changed he is not only under the influence and control of Iago but he has not begun to speak and act like him. He no longer believes anyone is as they appear to be using such vulgarities “whore” and “villainous” to describe his wife. This further heightens the tragedy for the audience as he is finally addressing the situation on his own, but tragically is no longer able to discriminate the truth from lies.
