Act 5 Extra Points

Question 1

Who come to attend to wounded Cassio?

Answer 1

Ludovico and Gratiano

Question 2

When Iago os finished with Roderigo he says that “he must die” explore

Answer 2

Iago’s ruthlessness and lack of respect for human life prepares us for the violence and brutality of Act V.

Question 3

Cassio “hath a daily beauty in his life/That makes me ugly”- Iago
explore

Answer 3

Iago cannot bear human virtue in any form and seeks to destroy it, this is a psychological motive for his intention to kill Cassio. Iago’s professional jealousy is exposed here as even as late as Act 5 he is still clearly motivated by jealous thoughts about Cassio.

Question 4

In Act V scene 1, Othello is little more than an automaton, an onlooker who fails to see the truth, what is this?

Answer 4

used in similes and comparisons to refer to a person who seems to act in a mechanical or unemotional way:

Question 5

Othello does not take responsibility for his actions, claiming that it is Desdemona’s ‘unblest fate’ that he is fulfilling. What does Othello’s melodramatic speech style thus detracts from his heroism but reminds the audience of what?

Answer 5

of how completely his mind has been corrupted by Iago

Question 6

Roderigo is first to recognise Iago’s villainy, “O inhuman dog!” what does this tell us about Iago?

Answer 6

that his inhumanity has dehumanised Othello; and foreshadows the fact that alike Roderigo, Othello will discover his villainy too late

Question 7

Othello’s death is what two things?

Answer 7

retribution and rehabilitation, Othello is destroying the villain he has proved to be, while at the same time trying to resurrect his reputation

Question 8

How does emilia describe marriage (quote)

Answer 8

as a “filthy bargain”

Question 9

Why must Desdemona and Emilia die?

Answer 9

as only in death can they be absolved of their accusations and prove their honesty.

Question 10

Othello attempts to almost legalise his killing, asking Desdemona if she “deny each article” of his accusations highlighting the extent to his insanity by this point. When understanding the truth, Othello takes justice by killing himself- what is this?

Answer 10

this is poetic justice as he uses the sword he used to kill enemies of the Venetian state; dying as a social outsider and restoring the social norm of this society.

Question 11

The tragedy of Desdemona’s death is heightened by references to light and religion; these allusions are ominous in the first part of the scene 1 and emphasises the enormity of Othello’s crime. What does Othello enter carrying?why is this ironic?

Answer 11

a light, which ironically makes him seem like a protest officiating at a religious ritual; Othello speaks about the “heavenly”” sorrow he feels, suggesting he is reluctant to begin the ceremony of death. He repeats the word “light” several times as he prepares to kill “once put out thy light”.

Question 12

How can the words Othello use to describe Desdemona’s body be linked to imagery?

Answer 12

because of the light of her paleness which suggests her innocent purity.

Question 13

How is it clear that Othello remains obsessed with his masculine reputation?

Answer 13

as he wants to be “an honourable murderer” through allowing Desdemona to pray before he kills her as he would not “kill thy unprepared spirit”

Question 14

Othello becomes tortured by what he has done and recognises his guilt, using religious imagery to invite God’s punishment. Othello believes he deserves the torments of hell and cried “Whip me, __ _____”

Answer 14

ye devils

Question 15

What is significant of the fact that Iago gloats “Demand me nothing. What you know, you know./From this time forth I never will speak word”

Answer 15

Iago’s silence remains as cruel as his poisonous words which are in keeping with his villainous egotism

Question 16

What does not allow Othello to let Desdemona live, even though he weeps as he smothers her?

Answer 16

his excessive self love and pride (his hubris)

Question 17

It is appropriate that “honest” Iago was destroyed by his wife’s real honesty. The act of stabbing her in the back reflects what?

Answer 17

his unnatural cowardice which is the perfect physical expression of his own values as yet again he abuses a woman to preserve his own honour; he is evasive and selfish.

Question 18

What is the role of Emilia in scene 2?

Answer 18

to give a voice to the audience’s outrage at Desdemona’s murder and Iago’s almost successful plot. She speaks plainly and passionately, defending Desdemona and guiding our responses to the heroine’s death. Her righteous anger moves Othello towards the recognition of his crime.

Question 19

What is the role of Gratiano and Montano in scene 2?

Answer 19

they provide a sense of closure at the end of the scene, reasserting common sense, masculine values of the Venetian state and insisting that wicked deeds are to be punished. They treat him alike a common criminal evident from Othello’s disarmament, which is symbolic of his reduction from both a husband and soldier. Pathos is evoked at this point, as while Iago’s plot has been discovered; his destruction of Othello was successful, this inevitable outcome creates a sense of injustice and sorrow for Othello who was victim to Iago’s powerful manipulation.

Question 20

What quote demonstrates that Othello wants to be remembered from his murder and not his honour? explore his speech

Answer 20

“But why should honour outlive honesty?” While Othello speaks of his experience as a soldier on the battlefield; he does this not to boast but to show how diminished he is. It is appropriate for Othello to refer back to his earlier life as this reminds the audience of how great his fall is from such a mighty, noble position.

Question 21

What is the significance of the setting in scene 2?

Answer 21

Othello has been confined by his bedchamber by others, reflective of how this once great warrior is now a prisoner. The location adds to the sense of claustrophobia and isolation not just physically, but mentally for Othello who has become entrapped by his jealousy and enslaved by its power. The hostility of Grantiano and Montano in this scene heightens his isolation, as even in a room of people we as an audience feel that Othello is alone.

Question 22

How is it clear that Othello is free from Iago’s control by the end of the scene 2?

Answer 22

as he begins to speak in verse with some of his former nobility; his measured cal, is deeply affecting, especially given he hysteria and emotional tension of the earlier part of the scene. The “cruel” Othello whom Emilia descries has died with Desdemona, and we now know that he has acknowledged his folly through his suicide.

Question 23

What does marriage teach Desdemona? expand

Answer 23

that “men are not gods” and this disappoints her, but while Desdemona submits willingly to the man she has chosen to marry, she dies valiantly, fighting to be allowed to live and assert her honesty

Question 24

Ultimately Desdemona refuses to blame Othello for her unhappiness; she declares it is her “_______ ______”

Answer 24

wretched fortune

Question 25

What does Desdemona’s earlier assertiveness in scene 2 contradict with?

Answer 25

the heroines passivity to Othello’s murder.

Question 26

Why is it important that Bianca survives?

Answer 26

as she is the least powerful figure of the female characters; this indicates that Shakespeare is highlighting that a woman’s silence is expected, while Desdemona’s and Emilia’s assertiveness resulted in their murder.

Question 27

What does Iago call Emilia when she speaks the truth in scene 2?

Answer 27

a villainous whore

Question 28

explore

“So speaking as I think, alas, I die”- Emilia

Answer 28

this is fitting that Emilia die beside the mistress she defended with her dying breath and associates her with the sexual politics of the play, a vice used by Shakespeare to reflect a woman’s suffrage in a world of men who do not care what she may “think” and to be silent she must “die”

Question 29

explore

“inhuman dog”

Answer 29

Rodrigo realises the truth about Iago too late, ironically the first to recognise his villainy. The imagery of dogs is used repeatedly to describe Iago in Act 5, and so it reinforces the audience’s sense of Iago’s vicious character. It is darkly ironic that Othello will also use dog imagery (“circumsized dog”) just before he kills himself linking his evil actions to Iago’s influence.

Question 30

As a prostitute where does Bianca’s power lay which meant that she was vulnerable due to her social position and accused of involvement in the wounding of Cassio?

Answer 30

lay in her ability to attract customers and so her voice counts for nothing as her profession makes her morally dubious. Bianca’s victimisation by Iago in scene 1 prepares us for the deaths of other female victims in the final scene as ironically, her honest and true character is overpowered by a man’s outwardly honourable facade.

Question 31

What do New Historicist critics suggest brings about Othello’s tragedy?

Answer 31

his tragedy comes about because he can never be anything except an outsider to the white patriarchy. Arguably it was foolish of Othello to believe that his adopted society would condone his marriage, and so his dislocation as a solider to a husband and from Venice to Cyprus thus indicates his weakening power from his position before the play began.