Introduction Essay

Question 1

Theme

Answer 1

jealousy

• Iago’s jealousy of Cassio’s position
• “Not by the old gradation, where each second stood heir to the first.”-Iago
• appreciation- leads to Iago’s plan to get Cassio drunk that results in him losing his job
• “And do but see his vice-‘Tis to his virtue a just equinox”-Iago
• “If I can fasten but one cup upon him”

Question 2

Character Relationships

Answer 2

Iago and Roderigo
-Iago gets Roderigo to trust him by saying his hate for Othello
R: “Thou told’t me thou didst hold him in thy hate”
I: “Despise me If I do not”
-appreciation-leads to Roderigo contributing in the plot to kill Cassio, with no suspicion of Iago and trusting him completely
-“I have no great devotion to the deed, and yet he hath given me satisfying reasons”-Roderigo

Question 3

Characterisation

Answer 3

Iago

• Iago presents himself as honest but he is the opposite
• “I follow him to serve my turn upon him”-Iago
• “I am not what I am”-Iago
• appreciation-leads to Othello trusting Iago and believing his claims when they have little evidence to back them up
• “trifles light as air are to jealous confirmations strong”
• “at the first are scarce found to distaste but, with a little act upon the blood, burn like the mines of sulphur”-Iago

Question 4

Imagery

Answer 4

• Iago’s need to pick out what is different about Othello-his insistence about calling him “the Moor”
• “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe”-Iago
• “making the beast with two backs”-Iago
• possibly to make Othello seem less powerful and like an imposter
• appreciation-leads to Othello’s jealously being so strong as he is insecure about his place in Venetian society
• “Haply for I am black, and have not those soft parts of conversation that chamberers have”-Othello
• “or for I am declin’d into the vale of years”-Othello