Critics Flashcards
What psychological traits does Iago exhibit according to Fred West?
Iago has all the psychological traits of a psychopath.
How does Coleridge describe Iago’s motivation?
Motiveless malignity.
What does Andy Serkis say about Iago’s jealousy?
He’s you or me being jealous and unable to control our feelings.
What does Frank Kermode suggest about Iago’s motivations?
Iago is motivated by more than a mere desire for revenge.
How does Dr. Johnson characterize Iago throughout the play?
From the first scene to the last (he is) hated and despised.
What does Honigmann say about the audience’s feelings towards Iago?
Many come close to sympathising with him.
How does Godfrey characterize Iago?
The very voice of jealousy itself.
What sense of power does Honigmann attribute to Iago?
He enjoys a godlike sense of power.
What role does Honigmann assign to Iago in the play?
Iago is the play’s chief humorist.
How does A.C. Bradley describe Iago’s actions?
Iago does what he does for enjoyment.
How does Ruth Cowhig describe Othello’s position in society?
An Alien in white society.
What does Henry L. Warnken say about Othello’s thoughts?
His thoughts and feelings echo Iago’s.
How does F.R. Leavis characterize Othello’s character?
He is simply jealous and possesses a weak character.
What does Caryl Phillips say about Othello’s love for Desdemona?
Othello’s love of Desdemona is the love of possession.
What insecurity does Caryl Phillips attribute to Othello?
Othello feels constantly threatened and profoundly insecure.
What does Bonnie Greer identify as the real tragedy in Othello?
It is only Othello’s jealousy, not Iago’s hatred, that is the real tragedy.
How does F.R. Leavis describe Othello’s flaws?
Othello is completely flawed.
What does F.R. Leavis say about Othello’s role at the end of the play?
Othello dies belonging to the world of action in which his true part lay.
Who does F.R. Leavis say is responsible for Othello’s downfall?
The tragic protagonist is responsible for his downfall.
What does A.C. Bradley say about Othello’s intentions towards Desdemona?
Othello is to save Desdemona from herself, not in hate but in honour… and also in love.
How does A.C. Bradley characterize Othello’s susceptibility?
Othello is unusually open to deception.
What does Thomas Rymer say about Desdemona?
Maidens of quality.
How does S.N. Garner describe Desdemona’s response to her father’s charges?
She answers her father’s charges forcefully and persuasively, without shyness.
What does Loomba say about the societal perception of women and blacks?
Women and blacks exist as the other.
How does Lisa Jardine characterize Desdemona?
Desdemona becomes a stereotype of female passivity.
What does A.C. Bradley say about Desdemona’s passivity?
Helplessly passive.
What does A.C. Bradley say about Desdemona’s suffering?
Torched without cause.
How does A.C. Bradley describe the impact of Desdemona’s innocence?
Her innocence makes her suffering more painful for the audience.
How does French describe Desdemona’s behavior until the end?
She remains submissive until the end.
What does S.N. Garner say about Desdemona’s willingness to risk societal censure?
Her willingness to risk censure of her father and society is some measure of her capacity for love.
What does Simpson say about Desdemona’s death?
She dies in the service of truth.
What does M. Cox say about Desdemona’s final claim?
Desdemona dies claiming black is white.
What does Berry say about Emilia’s feelings towards class?
Emilia shares Iago’s resentment for class.
How does Carol Thomas Neely describe Emilia’s actions?
Emilia acts according to wifely virtues of silence, obedience and prudence.
What does A.C. Bradley say about Emilia’s character?
She nowhere shows signs of having a bad heart.
What does Simpson say about Emilia’s role in truth?
She dies in the service of truth.
How does Simpson describe Emilia’s impact on Desdemona?
Emilia underscores Desdemona’s lack of knowledge in the world.
What does A.C. Bradley say about Emilia’s stupidity?
Her stupidity is gross, but it is stupidity and nothing more.
What does Simpson say about Emilia’s obedience?
We have to acknowledge the fact that wives are required to be obedient to understand Emilia’s handing over of the handkerchief.
How does Eales describe societal views on single women?
Single women were […] sexually insatiable and intent on cuckolding men.
What does Eales say about women’s societal status during the period?
Women during the period were viewed as ‘morally, intellectually, and physically weaker than men.
How does Hall describe Bianca?
A sexually pure woman who is nevertheless pure in spirit.
What does Simpson say about Bianca’s outsider status?
Bianca is like Othello and Cassio, an outsider.
How does Bunten characterize Bianca’s role in Venetian society?
Bianca reflects the paradox of Venetian sexual morality.
What does Bastin say about Bianca’s survival at the end of the play?
Bianca’s survival at the end of the play is necessary for viewers to achieve a catharsis that is not felt by the death of Othello alone.
What does Frank Kermode say about Iago’s deception of Roderigo?
Iago’s deception of Roderigo depends on the young man’s willingness to believe that Desdemona is sexually corruptible.
What does Loomba say about racial perceptions?
Blacks exist as ‘the other.
How does Loomba describe male jealousy?
Male jealousy hinges upon racial differences as well as upon female infidelity.
How does Jamieson characterize Roderigo?
Easily led by the evil Iago.
What does Ridley say about Roderigo’s character?
He is a pathetic figure….trying to swim in a sea much too rough for him.
What does Barker say about Roderigo’s awareness?
He goes to the devil with his eyes open, yet blindly.
What does Jamieson say about Roderigo’s feelings for Desdemona?
Is in love with Desdemona and is prepared to do anything to get her.
What does Loomba say about women and blacks?
Women and blacks exist as ‘the other.’
What does S.N. Garner say about Desdemona’s marriage to Othello?
Desdemona’s liveliness, assertiveness, and sensuality are corroborated in her marrying Othello.
How does Bristol characterize Othello?
Othello is a test of racial persecution.
What does Loomba say about Othello’s victimization?
Othello is a victim of racial beliefs precisely because he becomes an agent of misogynistic ones.
What does Anita Loomba say about women and blacks?
Women and blacks exist as other.
How does Jardine describe Desdemona’s role?
Desdemona becomes a stereotype of female passivity.
What does Honigmann say about the conflict between love and evil?
Love and Goodness defeat Evil.
How does Cox categorize characters in the play?
Characters divide into virgins and saints or whores and devils.
What does Jardine say about women’s reputations?
Most readily available form of assault on a woman’s reputation.
What does Carol Thomas Neely say about Emilia’s virtues?
Emilia acts according to wifely virtues of silence, obedience and prudence.
What does Teague say about the handkerchief?
A different understanding that helps preserve their tragedy.
What does Wayne say the handkerchief represents?
It is an emblem of Desdemona’s body.
How does Callaghan describe the handkerchief?
The handkerchief acts as a miniature of the nuptial linens.
What does Newman say about the possession of a woman’s handkerchief?
Possession of a woman’s handkerchief was considered adultery.
What does an unknown source say about racial stereotypes?
Black skinned people… typed as godless, bestial and hideous.
How does Loomba describe jealousy?
Prone to anger and jealousy.
What does F.R. Leavis say about Othello’s jealousy?
Othello slips readily into possessive jealousy because he is self-centered.
How does Godfrey characterize Iago?
Iago is the very voice of jealousy itself.
