Othello Flashcards
Overall thesis statement
Tragedies (remain relevant to a contemporary audience as…) often expoler the inherent flaws of human nature, with bulnerabilities towards destructive emotions such as jealousy, insecurity and passivity.
Insecurity thesis statement
Insecurity can be weaponised by manipulators to consume minds with jealousy, rage and paranoia.
Jealousy thesis statement
Jealousy, when fueled by manipulation, can distort reality and consume individuals becoming the catalyst for commiting irrational and destructive acts.
Passivity thesis statement
Passivity can allow manipulation and abuse to flourish through miscommunication, the loss of autonomy and silence of the opressed.
Quote 1 (I)
“Make the Moor thank me, love me, reward me”
- repetition, tricolon
- dehumanises, plays on deep seated insecurites to isolate for reward.
- self loathing, alienation “The Moor”
Quote 2 (I)
“She loved me for the dangers I had passed, And I loved her that she did pity them.”
- repetition, diction
- self assurance that their love is reciprocated, despite social/racial bias.
- says after witchcraft, internal struggle. perception that she loves him for the drama/exoticism.
Quote 3 (I)
“Her name that was as fresh as Dian’s visage, is now begrimed and black as mine own face.”
- allusion
- alienation/betrayal of racial self hatred. goddess of moon/virginity VS blackness.
- projecting insecurities onto Desi
- Impur, corrupt (black)
- leads to tragic spiral.
Quote 4 (J/M)
“Oh beware my lord of jealousy/it is the green eyed monster which doth mock/ the meat it feeds on”
- metaphor, personification, foreshadowing, ironic.
- irony x metaphor, jealousy tangible, two faced - embodies what hes warning Othello against,
- ‘genuine’ concern
- monster mocking victim foreshadows torment jealousy inflicts.
Quote 5: (J/M)
“And will as tenderly be led by the nose, As asses are.”
- simile
- docile animale, iago’s confidence in himself as a manipulator, invoke jealousy through belief in himself. Unaware othello
- draws on past as a slave.
Quote 6 (J/M)
“Long live she so, and long live you to think so.”
- irony, ambiguity
- temptation scene, seeds of doubt, brainwashes through using praise to subconciously insert double meaning makes o have doubts about d, erode O’s confidence.
spiralling.
Quote 7 (J/M)
“Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men.”
- diction, irony, foreshadowing,
- ‘justification’ loss of morals, ‘must’ shows jealousy has warped perception
- tragic irony as the audience knows of desis faith and fidelity, baseless accusations –> iagos manipulation - misguided sense of justice.
Quote 8 (P)
“I do perceive here a divided duty.”
- ambiguity, metaphor, contrast
- highlights conflict between femenine duties between husband and father. stating her case to the venetian state.
- marked by passivivty due to failure to assert agency, passive acceptance of societal expectations, embodiment of male fantasy –> uses to advantage. to give reasoning for her unconventional marraige in the face of xenophobia
- demonstrates contrast between her at the beginning of the play to the end.
Quote 9 (P)
“I am not the kind of woman who can say i love you, but not obey.”
- emotional appeal, characterisation
- fighting and desi says that.
oblivious enabler for othello, emotional appeal to increasingly erratic O. Desi attempts to placate O through obedience, accidentally reinforces his belief that obidience is a sign of guilt - deteriorates relationship.
Quote 10 (P)
“And shes obedient, as you sau, obedient, Very obedient - proceed you in your tears”
- repetition, sarcasm
- O takes advantage through malicious sarcasm, fixation on D’s submissiveness, underscores unflinching belief of her guilt.
- used to be ‘soul’s joy’ now telling her to cry = detatched and beyond point of no return. Contrast to beginning of play
Quote 11 (P)
“Nobody; I myself, Farewell, commend me to my kind lord: O’ farewell!”
- repetition, dramatic irony
- cements passivity and resignation, acceptance innocence and love despite what hes done. Enduring concern, prime example of male fantasy, no matter what shes been subjected she will take responsibility for O’s actions.
