Love

Question 1

Othello

Answer 1

• Love contributes to Othello’s high status through his marriage to Desdemona
• Also brings about Othello’s destruction

Question 2

We see here that Othello is an authoritative yet calm figure despite the threat of violence. His expert suppression of the street fight demonstrates that he is a highly skilled general. He is not one to completely resort to violence, thus going against the stereotypes of dangerous menace set out in Elizabethan times

Answer 2

“Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them”- Othello

Question 3

Talks of how Desdemona came to love Othello, she fell in love with him through listening to his stories and hearing of distant adventures as a brave soldier. There is a sexual tone, showing the passion and desire that resonates in their relationship. This passion and desire appears primal and animalistic. Desdemona clearly has sexual desires highlighting the unrealistic expectations of chastity.

Answer 3

And with a greedy ear devour my discourse”- Othello

Act 1 Scene 3

Question 4

Their love for each other was of equal and pure strength. Without the external influences, their love was strong and true. The later influences bring about the destruction of their love where their relationship no longer allows them to thrive but it goes in to destroy itself.

Answer 4

“How did I thrive in this fair lady’s love/ And she is mine”- Othello

Act 1 Scene 3

Question 5

Desdemona’s use of imperative here demonstrates the strength of her love for Othello and arguably the strength of her character as she demands to be allowed to accompany him. It would have been unusual for a woman to voice her opinions so obviously in front with f the court.

Answer 5

“Let me go with him”- Desdemona

Act 1 Scene 3

Question 6

We begin to see the power Iago has over Roderigo and because of this, Roderigo begins to appear weak and indecisive. The weakness derives from how desperate Roderigo is to be with Desdemona. Rodegrios Achilles’ heel is his love for Desdemona. He is unable to act without thinking or reflecting his immaturity.

Answer 6

“I will in continently drown myself”- Roderigo

Act 1 Scene 3

Question 7

Desdemona was seduced by Othello story telling powers, while the Moor was enchanted by the Venetian’s sympathetic response to his story. There is their ardent sincerity, though wether each perhaps fell in love with an image idea of the other.

Questions how realistic Othello is about love. He professes that he has had little experience in matters of the heart. He is eloquent when describing his experience as a soldier, but needed prompting to woo Desdemona and seems to expect to be able to continue his military duties without any distractions. He is firm and confident about this: love and war can be combined.

Answer 7

“Loved me for the danger I had passed/ And I loved her that she did pity them”- Othello

Act 1 Scene 3

Question 8

Although Othello is replacing montano in the position he previously held, there is no bitterness or jealousy within him but merely admiration. This heightens even more Iagos unjustified and motiveless jealousy that causes so much destruction. These quotes also once again reminds the readers extent that Othello is respected in Venetian society, as many high ranking men view him in high esteem

Answer 8

“Worthy Governor”, “warlike Othello”- Monatano

Act 2 Scene 1

Question 9

The use of alliteration emphasises the extent that Cassio is willing to compliment and act in a friendly manner towards Desdemona with the hope of becoming closer to Othello and acquiring his respect. Although these remarks amongst friends are merely innocent, Iago is able to manipulate and twist the meanings for his own advantage. It is these convictions that ultimately lead to the downfall of Cassio.

Answer 9

“The divine Desdemona”, “Our great captains captain”, “Our generals wife is now the general”- Cassio

Act 2 Scene 1

Question 10

Almost an entire scene is dedicated to reveal the extent of the peoples love and respect for Othello as the words ‘noble’ and ‘valiant’ have been repeatedly and continuously used throughout the play up to this point. The audience now commonly associates descriptions, thus increasing the height from which he will fall later on in the play.

Answer 10

“Noble and valiant general”, “Our noble general Othello”- Herald

Act 2 Scene 2

Question 11

Desdemona is slowly unwittingly aiding towards her own tragic downfall through her continuous attempts to interrogate Othello over Cassio. The repeated use of interrogatives and orders reveal the extent of Desdemonas innocence as she is unaware of the distress and jealousy she could cause. Effectively, it is Desdemona’s flaws of trust that were created in order to highlight how the traditional Elizabethan values relating to women were in appropriate in a real world situation

Answer 11

I’ll watch him tame and talk him out of patience, his bed shall be his school, his board a shrift. I’ll intermingle everything he does with Cassios suit. Thy solicitor shall rather die than give thy cause away. - Desdemona

Scene 3

Question 12

Othello expresses his deep love for Desdemona in this exclamation. The word ‘perdition’ meaning hell comes from the Latin perdere , Which means to put completely to destruction. Throughout the play, there are many references to hell and the devil, incarnated in the character of Iago. He is able to manipulate Othello through his intense love for Desdemona, and indeed lead him and others to destruction by plays end. Later in the quote, we see the word chaos which is an interesting word. This is, in fact, what happens when Othello ceases to love Desdemona . Othello’s words are prophetic here and they for shadow what his life will become as he descends into the madness of jealousy. Iago is ultimately the catalyst that causes this chaos to erupt.

Answer 12

Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul. But I do love thee and when I love thee not, chaos is come again. - Othello

Scene 3

Question 13

Iago subtly gives the concrete proof that he obvious desires that she has deceived before and thus may deceive again. Othello jealousy has been awakened by suggestions and word okay such as this, conveying to the audience his deep rooted insecurities

Answer 13

She did deceive her father marrying you and so she did- Iago and Othello

Scene 3

Question 14

As soon as doubt of Desdemona’s infidelity begins, Othello looses his sense of manhood and begins to be affected by the racial prejudices he had previously shrugged off. His feelings reflect the racist society that he lives in and the audience is left to feel pathos towards the pitiful Othello

Answer 14

Haply for I am black and have not the soft parts of conversation- Othello

Scene 3

Question 15

This quote again further emphasizes the Terri type of women to the lease their husbands despite Emilia knowing that what her husband does is wrong. Her subservience reflect the obedience of all women in the play to their male counterparts

Answer 15

I have nothing but to please his fantasy - Emilia

Scene 3

Question 16

Othello is now raving angry, and his anger can be portrayed in stage through him erratically pacing around the stage. The exclamative, interrogatives as well as his use of rhetorical questions does highlight his hamartia of having such a quick temper and perhaps jumping to such quick conclusions of jealousy. Furthermore, the repetition of “farewell” highlights the continuing loss of identity for Othello

Answer 16

“O now forever farewell the tranquil mind!” “Farewell”- Othello

Scene 3

Question 17

Othellos demand for occult proof, that is, tangible evidence of his wife’s adultery and s the turning point in the play. It places Iago is a perilous position. He has to produce physical evidence to support all of his false accusations or die. More ironically still, what follows is not physically “ocular” at all but a play on Othellos fevered imagination

Answer 17

“Give me ocular proof”- Othello

Scene 3

Question 18

Very brutal and destructive language is being used here by Othello, as it can be seen to miss it Iago’s own destructive language that we have seen previously in the play. The use of the word”tear” highlights Othello’s own aggression and violence, as it insinuates the sheer physical force that he is going to use to forcibly injure Desdemona, seen through his “strike” and hence later death.

Answer 18

“O monstrous, monstrous!”, “I’ll tear her all to pieces”- Othello

Scene 3

Question 19

Desdemona is a young innocent girl who has had a privileged and protected upbringing as the governors daughter. With a generous spirit and full of vitality, although socially sophisticated sage is essentially innocent. Such innocence and sacrificial love and forgiveness which she shows at the end makes her all the more undeserving of the cruelty that is wreaked upon her.

Answer 19

“It hath yet felt no age or known no sorrow”- Desdemona

Scene 4

Question 20

These short interjections, clouded judgement and fragmentation in his speech reveal the extent that Othello has lost his moral compass. His aggressive repetition of the word “handkerchief” can be seen as highly comical as his reaction highly contrasts the true meaning of the object. Furthermore, the fact that their language does not align with each other’s and in general their speech together is extremely incompatible in this dialogue the inevitability of the tragic denouement of their relationship in the final scene. The incompatibility in their speech parallels the incompatibility in their relationship together.

Answer 20

“Fetch me the handkerchief” “The handkerchief”, “Zounds” - Othello

Scene 4

Question 21

Othello is angry at the hurtful way Cassio spoke of Desdemona- still he loves her but love is intertwined with anger

Answer 21

‘a fine woman! a fair woman! a sweet woman’ Scene 1 Othello

Question 22

Othello’s language condemns Desdemona, with the motif of heaven and hell reintroducing ideas about morality and judgement.

Ironically, Othello believes he is in control of judging Desdemona and punishing her, but his judgement is faltered by jealousy, pride and anger.

Perhaps refers to Christianity to regain his honour. He makes her betrayal take on a spiritual significance.

Answer 22

‘heaven truly knows thou art false as hell’ Othello Scene 2

Question 23

Othello sending Desdemona to bed signifies how her death is quickly approaching, building tension for the audience who are aware of his plans for murder.

Othello’s deterioration has unfolded so quickly that the audience are unprepared for the final scenes, making the tragedy even more heightened.

Answer 23

‘get you to bed on the instant’- Othello Scene 3

Question 24

Desdemona + Christ: embodies unconditional love and forgiveness shown by Christ.

This heightens tragedy as Othello cannot see her purity, mistaking her for something ‘villainous’. like Christ, she sacrificed for the mistakes and sins of others.

Answer 24

‘even his stubbornness, his checks, his frowns-have grace and favour in them’- Desdemona Scene 3

Question 25

Prophetic: Desdemona has a premonition of death and asks Emilia to shroud her in her marriage sheets as a gesture of her eternal love for Othello.

Desdemona has reacted to this crisis with the passivity of despair and grief, as was the tradition for abandon women.

Othello, on the other hand, thinking he has lost Desdemona’s love and infidelity, reacts with aggressive passions of accusations and violence.

Answer 25

‘If I do die before thee… shroud me in one of those same sheets’- Desdemona Scene 3

Question 26

Foreshadowing: Barbara is a parallel for Desdemona.

‘She died singing it’: This foreshadows Desdemona’s death because of lost love (Othello’s vengeance) and also shows that Desdemona accepts her fate.

Answer 26

‘My mother had a maid call’d Barbara; she was in love and her love prov’d mad’- Desdemona Scene 3

Question 27

Singing the ‘willow song’ shows how, in an indirect way, Desdemona has accepted her fate: Othello has turned mad and will desert her.

‘Willow’= a symbol of lost love (in other Shakespeare plays)

Answer 27

[sings] ‘let nobody blame him; his scorn I approve’- Desdemona Scene 3

Question 28

From a contemporary Audience’s perspective, in reality Desdemona’s love can be portrayed as sins and thus her downfall. Relationships between races were still prohibited and viewed negatively.

Answer 28

‘They are the loves I bear to you’ Scene 2 Desdemona

Question 29

Emilia defies her hierarchal position and condemns the Moor for his baseness in calling Desdemona a whore. Emilia questions the moor of the source of this deceit and dishonesty. Upon learning that the source is her husband, she cries: ‘O mistress, villainy hath made mocks with love! My husband say she was false?’. Emilia’s love for her mistress and her determination to honor the truth illicit much courage and independence from the character which, in light of the tragic sequence of events, can be seen as heroic. Instead of seeking safety in silence and ignorance, Emilia shouts ‘I care not for thy sword…the Moor hath killed my mistress. Murder, murder!’ and goes on to confront her husband Iago, though fully aware that in doing so she risks her marriage and ultimately, for her life. When her husband draws his sword against her, Emilia does not shy away but instead shows bravery that challenges her assumed reputation, and cries “Twill out, ‘twill out. I peace! No, I will speak as liberal as the north; Let heaven, and men, and devils, let them all…cry shame against me, yet I’ll speak’. In response, Emilia is stabbed from behind by her cowardly and villainous husband thus perhaps suggesting that the consequence of truth is death. In her dying words she says ‘Moor she was chaste…so come my soul to bliss, as I speak; so speaking as I think, I die, I die’

Answer 29

Emilia the heroine (however these heroic qualities could be undermined by the actions that she previously committed though unintentional against Othello and Desdemona)

Question 30

The fact that his comes from a the superior and upper class Lodovico heightens the tragedy of the situation. The years that Othello has spent trying to obtain reputation has ultimately been destroyed in the space of few days.

Answer 30

‘O, thou Othello, that wert once so good’ Scene 2 Lodovico

Question 31

What do Othello’s final words portray him as?

Answer 31

What do Othello’s final words portray him as? Othello’s last words, ironically, portray him as a man who values the truth. He wants his story to be described exactly as it happened, without anyone excusing Othello, or forgetting his good.