Act 5, Scene 2 Flashcards
Why is the setting significant?
Takes place in personal space of marriage bed but the events are very public
He says he’s going to murder des but not she’s blood
“Yet I’ll not shut her blood nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow”
His justification of killing des
“She must die, else she’ll betray more men”
Evidence othello still loves Des
“I will kill thee and love thee after…[he kisses her{“
He asks Des if she’s prayed ? Why?
“Have you prayed tonight”
So she doesn’t go to hell
Othello thinks she gave handkerchief to Cassio
“That handkerchief which I do love and gave thee, thou gav’st cassio”
Desdemina defending her self
“No by my life and soul! Send for the man, and ask him”
“Never loves cassio… I never gave him token”
He kills desd
[he smothers her]
Othellos changed language / violence
“Murders out of tune, and sweet revenge grows harsh”
Des takes the blame .
“Nobody I myself”
Devoted to her husband / loyal / innocent / passive
What does othello describe the handkerchief as ?
“Antique token “
Emilias revelation of the handkerchief
“I found by fortune and did give my husband… he begged of me to steal it”
Emilia calls othello a fool
“What should such a fool do with so good a wife?”
Emilia devotion to des
“Lay me by my mistress’ side”
Othello wants to suffer in hell
“Whip me, ye devils… blow me about in winds, roast me in sulphur”
Othello wants to end suffering
“‘Tis happiness to die”
Lodovico reminds us of othellos greatness
“Othello, that wert once so good”
Othello then calls himself an “honourable murder”
Othello alliteration / trapped victim
“Demand that Demi devil why he hath thus ensnared my souls and body?”
Iago still maintains control
“I never will speak word”
Silence
Ironic because previously his words were his weapon
Othello recognises stupidity
“O fool, fool, fool”
Othellos Pride / self worth
“ I have done the state some service and they know’t”
Othellos tragic flaw
“One that loved not wisely but too well”
“Threw a Pearl away”
Othellos Own punishment
“I took by th’throat the circumcised dog”
“Killing myself to die upon a kiss”
Redeems himself by killing himself
Or
Is he escaping punishment
Cassios final words about othell
“For he was great of heart”
What does the bedroom symbolise earlier in the play?
The consummation of othello and desdeminas marriage act2,scene3
By act5,scene2 it has become a place of death / despair just as desdemona anticipated in 4,3
What does the private setting of the scene illustrate ?
Emphases that desdemonas and othellos relationship has been played out in public.
Privacy as been exploited. Reinforced but the killing in their marriage
How does the setting seem claustrophobic?
One room, many characters
Intensifies the drama
Curtains around the bed focus audience even more closely to events on the bed
How does othello justify his actions about des’s death
Honourable murder she must be killed for her crime of adultery.
Restore honour or else she will betray more men.
Restore des glory- if she is dead she can’t sin anymore and can be remembered for her beauty / innocence.
Killing her is the only way to ensure their love survives - paradox “I will kill thee and love thee after”
How can we distinguish that the couples love has failed through their language ?
Beginning of the scene their lines run into each other. Interrupt each other.
Contrasts to 2,1 when the harmony of their language meant they finished each other’s lines.
Iago has destroyed this
How is des death tragic ?
She truly did love him.
Even at the end when othello kills her she defends him.
She says “I myself”
Forgives her killer
Loyalty/ passive but also the love that iago destroyed
Othello still loves des and he’s compelled to kill her
Emilias redemption
She gave iago the handkerchief.
She reveals iagos deception/ confesses and dies next to her mistress
She stands up to both iago and othello
Religion
Othello associates himself to a Christian god
Asks des if she’s prayed he doesn’t want to damn her soul
Emilia calls her an angel who is “heavenly true”
She calls othello a “devil.
Othello calls iago a “Demi- devil”
Iago doesn’t die
Did Othello gain nobility ?
Atones for crimes by ending his own life
reminder of his greatness
Othello remained self centred
Speaks about himself in third persons “one, not easily jealous”
Unwilling to accept blame
Focused on himself not des.
Preoccupied with the state and mending reputation
How does this scene contrast with 5,1
This scene is calm and peaceful.
Shakespeare wants to show signicant of des death.
Pathos.
