Othello Flashcards
How is Othello’s introduction typical of Shakespeare?
In his tragedies, he often leads up to the first entrance of his tragic protagonist with a scene focused on sub-characters, or a sub-plot.
What is the impact of Othello’s introduction?(3)
- Iago’s crude words about Othello could make some audiences inclined to be prejudice about him.
- Alternatively, audiences may turn against his disloyal serpent and treat it as an early warning, foreshadowing Iago’s dishonesty.
- Shows the role rumour is going to have in the play.
If we were to see Iago as 17th century racist views of black men, what could Shakespeare be doing?
Challenging the audience to see Othello as worthy and to dismiss these stereotypes.
What is the significance of Othello and Desdemona’s marriage subverting the natural order?
In Jacobean tragedies, this warned audiences that there was trouble ahead.
How could Shakespeare be suggesting that the patriarchal context is to blame for the men’s opinions about the women?
The men are quick to spill crude words about the women- Othello once calling Desdemona ‘gentle’, but later calls her a ‘whore’ and plans to murder her.
What speech style does Othello use, which does he adopt?
Blank verse
Would Othello’s assignment as mercenary general be unusual?
No- 1600 Venice was a major trading post, which attracted foreigners of many different races.
What conflict does Othello face early on in the play? What does it show?
Love and war. It shows that he will be pulled in two different directions and that perhaps Desdemona and himself are not compatible.
How are Othello and Desdemona presented in their first scene together? How might the audience react to this?
As polar opposites, incompatible. Desdemona is described as a ‘super-subtle Venetian’, whereas he is described as an ‘erring barbarian’.
Because of this, we may wonder whether Othello and Desdemona are a good match.
1 quote as evidence they may instead be in love with the image of one another?
‘She loved me for the dangers I had pass’d/
And I loved her that she did pity them’
What are the two ways Shakespeare views critics view Othello’s ending speech?
- Egotistical
2. Honourable
Overall is Othello’s race his hamartia and why?
No. Solomon T Plaatje’s comment backs up that Othello isn’t a story of racism or prejudice; its about the traits of envy and jealousy that can cross race and nationality.
