insecurity and power

Question 1

1.2 othello “keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them”

Answer 1

AO2 - eloquent and powerful imagery
Othello takes charge of the situation, he is dignified and has the power and authority to tell men on both sides to put their weapons down.
- He has a dominating and commanding presence, despite what he is made out to be, a crude moor
AO3 - contrast to the perspective of Elizabethan audiences

Question 2

1.3 senator: “here comes brabantio and the valiant moor”

Answer 2

Despite everyone using racially abusing language “moor”, he is described as valiant which shows people love + respect him as a military leader.
He is valuable and indispensable to Venice.
AO3 - atypical of Shakespearean society

Question 3

1.3 “she’d [desdemona] come again and with a greedy ear devour up my discourse”

Answer 3

Othello’s life story is adventurous creating an image of an exciting vibrant man with a traumatic past

Othello claims Desdemona was interested in his life story saying she flirted with him as she idolised him.

Question 4

2.3 “what’s the matter, that you unlace your reputation” - othello

Answer 4

AO2 - the metaphor of calmness despite the situation
when Cassio and Montano fight he says this.
the whole play revolves around reputation.
Iago messes with all of them.

Question 5

3.3
Iago - “My lord, I see you’re moved”
Othello - “No, not much moved. I do not think but Desdemona’s honest”

Answer 5

AO2 - Signifies a stage direction as Othello is overwhelmed and portrays his stress.

Riddle-like wording, almost Iago style. Using uncertain and negative wording

Question 6

3.3 breaking the soliloquy as Desdemona and Emilia enter “look where she comes: if she be false, O then heaven mocks itself, I’ll not believe it”

Answer 6

• The break in soliloquy shows deterioration of his inner thoughts seeping out.
• AO4 This links to the madonna-whore complex which sees women as fits for two categories only for modern audiences.

Question 7

3.3 “Pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war! And, O you mortal engines, whose rude throats the immortal Jove’s dead clamours, counterfeit, Farewell! Othello’s occupation’s gone!”

Answer 7

• angry he was deceived and wishes he hadn’t known in the first place as he would remain happy, selfish behaviour
• AO2 - Extended metaphor of war, only thing he can relate to.
• ‘farewell’ shows he has lost his reputation, closely related to battlefield.
• Draws parallels between love and war, juxtaposition of ‘pomp and circumstance’ (magnificence) with ‘mortal engines’ (destruction on the battlefield). This explores the idea that soldiers feel that their fate is determined by higher powers. Othello’s feeling of lack of control is paralleled in his love for Desdemona.

Question 8

5.2 standing over a sleeping Desdemona “Yet I’ll not shed her blood; nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow. And as smooth as monumental alabaster: yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men”

Answer 8

• AO2 Antithesis of desdemona’s daintiness and purity. “Alabaster” is a smooth rock, makes statues and graves. = Two sided view
• AO2 Harsh change of language sounds from sibilance to spitty sounds. Trying to convince himself what he is doing is right, maybe his tender side is trying to seep through
• Othello claims to be helping other men, but deep down, he only cares for his reputation. Killing desdemona releases him from the cuckoldry burden

Question 9

5.2 “where should othello go?”

Answer 9

AO2 - Speaking about himself in 3rd person shows he is realising his stupidity and looking from an outside perspective with shame, doesn’t recognise himself
- Or he is still centred around himself filled with dignity, just focusing on him not the women that have been killed