Jealousy

Question 1

Iago 1.3: “I hate the Moor.”

Answer 1

A01: Iago’s blunt declaration foreshadows his manipulative actions, driven by jealousy over Othello’s success and suspected infidelity.
A02: The declarative sentence is strikingly direct, showing Iago’s deep-seated resentment.
A03: In Elizabethan society, racial prejudices and military hierarchy fuel Iago’s jealousy, as he is passed over for promotion. Masculinity = Reputation and Power.

Question 2

Iago 2.1: “Blessed fig’s-end!”

Answer 2

A01: Iago dismisses the idea that virtue or love dictate relationships mocking Othello’s trust in Desdemona.
A02: The exclamatory phrase and colloquialism suggest Iago’s scornful and manipulative attitude.
A03: The Renaissance belief in cuckoldry as a masculine figure heightens Othello’s eventual jealousy.

Question 3

Iago 3.3: “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy!”

Answer 3

A01: Iago ironically warns Othello about jealousy while planting its seeds, showing his manipulative skill.
A02: The imperative “beware” and ominous tone highlight jealousy as destructive.
A03: In the Renaissance, jealousy was linked to madness, foreshadowing Othello’s tragic downfall.

Question 4

Othello 4.1: “But yet the pity of it, Iago!”

Answer 4

A01: Othello’s lament shows his internal struggle between love and jealousy.
A02: The repetition of “pity” suggests lingering affection, yet the exclamatory tone reveals emotional turmoil.
A03: Othello as a tragic hero, conforms to the Aristotelian concept of hamartia, his jealousy leads to his downfall.

Question 5

Othello 5.2: “ I took by throat the circumcised dog”

Answer 5

A01: Othello’s final words express his jealousy-driven rage, blaming Cassio for his perceived betrayal.
A02: The harsh imagery and racial slur reflect Othello’s irrational jealousy and internalised racism.
A03: Othello’s jealousy, compounded by racial insecurities, leads to his tragic downfall.