othello Flashcards
where does the marriage sheets tradition originate from
britain
what is the significance of marriage sheets being british & Shakespeares message
could be criticising british public for their traditions and racist outlook as they exclude him from taking part in the tradition leading to a tragic ending
describe the blood reversal of expectations on the marriage bed (not really about blood)
dramatic irony
infering the relationship was flawed from the start
either from othellos intentions, iagos power etc
the marriage ends where …
… it should begin
what is the marriage bed a microcosm of
othello’s inevitable failures and ostracization from society
what is a typical tragic trait in othello and other shakespearean plays (not hamartia, fatal flaw, tragic hero)
lack of poetic justice
antagonists can go on living
good deeds go without reward
besides ophelia, what else is typical in hamlet
hamlet’s hamartia = his faltering judgement and failure to act leads to his death
what is typical about moving setting in the play to cyprus
a midsummer nights dream - also moves away from civilisation
othello “i took her…”
i took her for that cunning whore of venice that married othello
othello “o curse …”
oh curse of marriage that we can call these delicate creatures ours but not their appetites”
othello “arise…”
arise black vengeance from thy hollow cell
othello “shall not scar..”
ill not shed her blood nor scar her whiter skin than snow
othello “my wife!…”
my wife! what wife? I have no wife! me thinks it should now be a huge eclipse of sun and moon
meaning of eclipse of sun and moon
- Link to jesus’ crucifixion in matthew’s new testament when he claims there is a solar eclipse and earthquake.
- Sun = othello (heat and passion), moon = desdemona (purity,artemis/diana god
- Had a moment of realisation that iago was in the wrong
iago - …but you’ll not hear me
s’blood but you’ll not hear me
