Critical Anthology - othello

Question 2

Portrayal of Iago - who is the critic?

Answer 2

Honigmann

Question 3

Portrayal of Iago - who is the critic?

Answer 3

Honigmann

Question 4

Portrayal of Iago quotes + facts

Answer 4

• Shakespeare gets audience to focus on how the crimes are committed, not what they are - “audience sees plot from his POV”
• “audience almost sympathises with villain”

• does it for his own gain

• “underestimated” women - Emilia’s loyalty to Desdemona and her honesty

• Shakespeare made sure that from the 1st to the last scene he was despised

“Mental torture”
“Sly/clever”
“Liar, betrayer”
“Cruel / evil / sadistic”

Question 5

Who was the critic for “Othello”

Answer 5

Leavis

Question 6

Quotes for othello critics view

Answer 6

• “complexities of Otherllos simple nature”
• “had he learnt through suffering” there would have been no story - othello never learns. He is “still the same othello”

• “Tragic hero”
“Tragically pathetic”

• gullible - “I would kick myself”

Question 7

Which critic talked abt race and society

Answer 7

Loomba

Question 8

Loomba quotes

Answer 8

• “more fair than black” - be Irish civility built on foreigners. They need Othello.

“Propensity to violence” - black Muslims = irrational + prone to anger + jealous

• a Shakespearean English audience reaction would be hostile - “reinforced hostility”

• “interactive love”

• views someone who tries to prove himself - “reshapes image of black moors”

• woman are deviant + hun for interracial trade - enhlish writers criticised for views of Venice