Jealousy Flashcards
We see Iagos arrogance and jealousy here at the fact that Othello chose Cassio for the lieutenant role over him. We see how highly he thinks of himself
“I know my price, I am worth no worse a place”- Iago
Act 1 Scene 1
Brabantio perpetuates an unfair idea on women. Reflects the sexist society of Elizabethan society, where one act within a woman’s love has grander impacts filtering through their life. The idea is that an unruly daughter will make an unruly promiscuous wife.
It is an echoing line foreboding the later events of the play and what Othello goes in to believe. There is pure trashed that Iago uses this to further persuade Othello she has had an affair.
“She deceived her father and may thee”- Brabantio
Act 1 Scene 3
These are very sexist and derogatory remarks about women but they not only highlight the tragic inequality that levelled men as more superior to women, it also highlights the vulnerability that Desdemona is in. Cyprus if more infinitely more barbarous than Venice, it is a bastion of male power where Desdemona alone, isolated from her Venetian support system, is vulnerable to the machinations of a highly skilled manipulator like Iago
“Sir would she give you so much of her lips as of her tongue that she oft bestows upon me, you would have enough” “you rise to play and go to sleep to work”- Iago
Act 2 Scene 1
The diabolical nature of Iago’s character is captured in his imagery. This phrase clearly demonstrates where his worship lies, as the oxymoron suggests that he sees divine in the work of the devil, further associating him with the role of the vice. The “divinity of hell” reinforces the spiritual element of the play and Iago’s role as the devil. It entrenches the concept of the appearance versus reality and is paradoxical as there should be no reference to divinity when speaking about hell. There are several references throughout to heaven, hell, the divine, evil powers and damnation. Act 2 itself opens with a storm, preparing the audience or what may follow.
“Divinity of hell!”- Iago
Act 2 Scene 3
This is one of the most incredibly important and haunting quotes in the entire play as Shakespeare personified jealousy with such destructive language to create evil imagery among the audience. The fact that this metaphor creates connotations of diseases and parasitical organisms that benefit by deriving nutrients at others expense highlights to an audience, the corruption that is taking place in othellos mind, as his state found is tragically currently becoming infected by Iago’s lies. Furthermore, the fact that to a contemporary Shakespearean audience where dying from illnesses such as epidemics from the plague were increasingly common, highlights the destructive elements in this quote as they would have been aware of the death and tragedy it could create. The phrase originated from the idea that when a person was sick, their skin turned yellow or green Colour. in addition, unripe fruit which will make you sick when you eat it. Is also the Colour of green
I beware my lord, of jealousy: it is the green eyed monster that doth mock the meat it feeds on- Iago
Scene 3
Although on the outside it seems as if Othello is rising above the feelings of jealousy that Iago is trying to corrupt him with, his statement is incredibly absurd because with seems unrealistic, the fact that Othello speaks these words out loud to Iago strongly undermines the points he is trying to make
Nor from my weak merits will I draw the smallest fear or doubt of her revolt. For she had eyes as she chose me. - Othello
Scene 3
Othello’s response to Iago’s hypothetical questions.
Motif of the devil/heaven and hell reflects Othello’s obsession with Desdemona’s morality, which is ironic as he becomes the monster in killing her.
‘The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heaven’ Othello Act 4 scene 1
Chaotic structure of lines reflects Othello’s obsession and anger- he jumps back to the handkerchief, solidifying it once more as the trigger for his downfall.
Stage direction: his words reflect his mental loss of control, but then he falls into an explicit fit, demonstrating how he has lost physical control too.
‘Epilepsy’: moment when he loses his nobility and becomes savage- no longer has any form of control over himself.
Stage presence: significant because Iago is present throughout the entire scene (why Othello lost control)
‘handkerchief-confessions-handkerchief’
(falls into trance)- Othello SCENE 1
Motif of disease: medicine used as a metaphor for Iago’s manipulation, which is ironic because it infects Othello rather than heals him.
‘my medicine, work!’- Iago scene 1
Othello is alluding to being a cuckold again- suggesting that a wife’s infidelity emasculates, even dehumanises, their husband.
He blames Desdemona for his ‘savage madness’
‘A horned man’s a monster and a beast’- Othello scene 1
Context: Iago plays on the stereotype that Venetian women were promiscuous.
Feminism: Stereotypes about women demonstrate his misogyny.
Othello believes these stereotypes, but is also a victim of discrimination too?
‘There’s many a beast then in a populous city’ Scene 1- Iago
Iago quickly manipulates Othello’s affections for Desdemona, and sparks anger and vengeance. Othello’s language echoes Iago’s use of imagery linked to diseases.
Accused Desdemona of being lustful and ‘fruitful’- now wants her to ‘rot’ like a fruit for her promiscuity.
‘Let her rot and perish and be damned tonight’ scene 1 Othello
Reverts to violence.
Language is war-like and aggressive, in contrast to opening acts of the play.
Character development: used to be peacekeeper, now initiator of violence
‘I will chop her into messes- cuckold me!’ Scene 1 Othello
Othello proudly declares that he has killed his wife moments after denying having any knowledge of her death. This is further evidence of the tumultuous state of his mind but also that in denying having done any wrong, his strong conviction and belief that he is in fact merely an agent of justice
‘She’s like a liar gone to burning hell: Twas I that killed her!’ Scene 2 Othello
