Othello Flashcards
‘Beast with two backs’
Desdemona & Othello - their love is used for destruction at the beginning
‘beast’ - noun, aggression, violence, mythical?
sexual connotations, violence - suggests lack of consent?
‘And I loved her that she did pity them’
Desdemona & Othello - underlying power complex
‘Zounds’
Iago’s swear word - begins to be used by Othello as the play continues, and Iago gets into his head
‘Bells in your parlours, wild cats in your kitchens’
Iago & Emilia - she provides for him, complete contrast to O&D’s relationship, she is clingy, primitive savagery - he uses her for sex?, she is just there to pleasure him
‘With a little web as this I will ensnare a great fly as Cassio’
Iago & Cassio - pretends to be Cassio’s friend, sees Cassio as poisonous/disease spreading, ‘fly’ - small, stupid, dirty, rot
this is said aside - secretive, sly, manipulative
‘O my fair warrior! My dear Othello!’
Desdemona & Othello - hemistichonythia - shared line, they are in sync, shows the love they have for each other, they are well matched
‘He’s done my office’
Has done everything Iago has but is higher ranked
Slept with his wife - suggestions of infidelity already
‘will i ensnare as great a fly as Cassio’
Flies - pests, annoying, constantly around
Cassio is poisonous and spreads disease - flies are dirty and related to rats
‘Reputation, reputation, reputation’
Repetition
Panic
Hysteria
Distraught
‘O curse of marriage’
Complete contrast to the beginning of the play
Shows the influence Iago has had
‘They are all but stomachs and we are all but food: they eat us hungerly, and when they are full they belch us’
Women are just there to serve and nourish men
Emilia is very aware of this, unlike Desdemona
‘O devil, devil!’
Harsh language towards Desdemona
Complete contrast to his attitude at the beginning of
‘Put out the light, and then put out the light!’
Fragility
Metaphor for Desdemona’s life
Temporary nature of things
‘O, the more angel she, and you the blacker devil!’
Comparison
Not considered noble any longer
Attitudes towards Othello have changed as well as Othello himself
