Othello Flashcards
Author
William Shakespeare
Othello quote about love and jealousy
“of one that loved not wisely, perplexed in the extreme”
“of one that loved not wisely, perplexed in the extreme” analysis
Syntax exhibited in a disjointed structure which mirrors the chaos in Othello’s mind.
Adjective ‘perplexed’ carried connotations of confusion which emphasises Othello’s state of mind
What does sigmund freud’s theory state
Sigmund Freud’s theory of personality argues that human behaviour is the result of the interactions three components of the mind; the id, the ego and the superego.
What does a psychoanalytical approach demonstrate
It is through a psychoanalytical approach through it highlight the deep personality faults that result in the tragic fall of Othello
What do the components represent?
The id represents an individual’s wants and desires, the superego follows the rules and morals and the ego balances and compromises with the id and superego.
What is othellos fatal flaw?
As a result of his inner conflict Othello becomes entrapped in a moral dilemma in which he allows his own jealousy to fuel his downfall.
othello and pity
Othello’s lack of understanding in regards to his emotions overtake the sense of pity one may feel for him.
Tragic hero
Aristotle
A tragic hero is a literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to their own destruction. Othello is a tragic hero as is fatal law leads to his demise.
lack of understanding towards his emotions
quote
“My life upon her faith”
“My life upon her faith” analysis
-dramatic irony makes clear his bad judge of character as he allows his Id to drive his phycology causing his naivety towards his deception.
Othello to be easily manipulated quote
“Think so, Iago?”
“Think so, Iago?” analysis
- Shows him to be gullible and easily manipulated
- Questioning reveals the thought process of Othello as he allows himself to be manipulated
Physcoanalytical critic
Rex Gibson claims that Shakespeare’s Othello is a text which was vital in educating audiences both Jacobean and modern about cultural tendencies and life experiences such as jealousy, contempt, anger, fear etc.
Physcoanalytical critic Quote:
“Shakespeare’s teachings are universal to all, irrespective of boundaries such as class, ethnicity and era.”
Physcoanalytical analysis of iago
Powerless to enable his own promotion, mistrusting his ability to command the affections of his wife, Iago spends the entire drama seeking to compensate for this vulnerability by exerting influence. In psychoanalytical terms, he can be seen as a victim of the turbulent emotions within him.
Machiavelli
Machiavelli was an Italian politician and writer who lived a century before Shakespeare. His fascination with the creation of sinister and immoral characters became known as ‘Machiavellian villains,’ and greatly influenced Shakespeare’s creation of Protagonist Iago.
Iago manipulation quote
“And what’s he then that says I play the villain”
“And what’s he then that says I play the villain” analysis
-Iago justifies his behaviour, desiring the audience’s collusion and understanding – seeking, in fact, to manipulate us
What causes desdemonas death?
Desdemona’s naivety, deceptions with good intensions and her passivity all play parts in her downfall, with the help of Iago’s evil schemes. Her death is a combined result of her fatal flaw of naivety and Iago’s quest for influence.
physcoanalytical analysis of Desdemonas naivety
Her Naivety is a result of her superego overtaking her id. As her superego overtakes her id she is no longer able to make sense of her own wants and desires and is instead focused on her duty as a woman. Her naivety therefore allows her to be manipulated by Iago’s plot.
desdemona naive quote
“His unkindness may defeat my life But never taint my love”
“His unkindness may defeat my life But never taint my love” analysis
She is blinded by her love for Othello
- Duality of love and death emphasise the deep connection and love she has for Othello
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critic desdemonas naivety
A.C Bradley claims that the intrigue of “Othello’s” tragedy is that of trying to make sense of Desdemona’s naivety as the audience must witness her suffering.
critic desdemonas naivety quote
“She is helplessly passive”
Feminist analysis of Emilia
Emilia is loyal to Desdemona, but she is loyal to Iago. She is caught between her conscience and her responsibilities as both a wife and Desdemona’s attendant. This divided duty reveals the complexity of being a woman in Elizabethan England.
What does EMilia teach about women at the time?
Emilia has a self-awareness on how women are often abused at the hands of men
Emilia represents to struggle between what is her duty and what is morally correct
Emilia as a foil for Desdemona
Emilia is a foil for Desdemona and corrects Desdemona’s occasional naivete.
- Emilia’s attitude towards men contrasts with Desdemona’s naïve idealism.
- Although both women meet the same fate, Emilia stands true to her values but Desdemona continues to be naïve and innocent
Emilia as a foil for Desdemona quotes (emilia + Desdemona)
“So speaking as I think, I die, I die.”- Emilia
“Commend me to my kind lord.”- Desdemona
Emilias understanding of women quote
“Let husbands know, their wives have sense like them”
“Let husbands know, their wives have sense like them” analysis
- Shows she understands herself as a person and acknowledges herself to be more than an object
- assertive tone
Emilia Jealousy quote
“It is a monster
Begot upon itself, born on itself.”
“It is a monster
Begot upon itself, born on itself.”
analysis
- motif
- Audiences are privy to one character picking up on the flaws of another, rather than self-analysis. This demonstrated to audiences that our own GEM may not be recognisable to us, but to others they are apparent.
Emilia feminist critic
Matt Simpson holds the belief that Emilia fights for truth and does not allow her duty to her husband to overtake her sense of morals (ego)
Emilia feminist critic quote
“We have to acknowledge the fact that wives are required to be obedient to understand Emilia”
Desdemona and silencing of women analysis
Desdemona largely represents innocence, and the silencing of women which was prevalent throughout the Jacobean era—and to an extent still is today. Desdemona is also a representation of mercy as she forgives Othello for murdering her, whilst on her death bed.
Desdemona death quote
“Nobody, I myself. Farewell.”
“Nobody, I myself. Farewell.” analysis
- She believes she is to blame for her death as a result of her innocence
- This fits into the belief at the time about duty and representation of women
- possessive pronoun
- use of full stops add dramatic effect, creates a pause and adds impact
contrast fo men and women analysis
Throughout Othello, women react to moral situations with honesty while men react with violence. These contrasting reactions show the brutish nature of men and the unfair chance at life women are given. Through his portrayal of women as honest and moral combined with the unfair deaths of Desdemona and Emilia he shows readers women deserve more power over their lives.
“Men in rage strike those that wish them best.”
analysis
- Reflective
- Foreshadows future events
- Third person language (impersonal)
contrast fo men and women quote
“Men in rage strike those that wish them best.”
feminst theory and silencing
A feminist theory allows it to be made clear how women are oppressed and not given a voice. And when they try to have a voice it results in violence. This is due to men holding the belief that they are in charge of women.
What is domestic violence?
Domestic violence refers to the violence committed by someone in the victims domestic circle. A victim becomes helpless and passive as a result of another.
othello and domestic violcence
This can clearly be seen in Othello as she becomes helpless towards Othello’s fatal flaw in jealousy. Desdemona becomes helpless in her situation as a result of the constant abuse she faced.
domestic violence analysis
Desdemona’s innocence gives us insight into relationships during the Jacobean era as she highlights the cultural traits and tendencies that led to hard injustices especially in regards to issues of domestic violence.
A modern audience can learn about the importance of not being jealous, equality (sexism) and lack of trust/communication.
jealousy thesis
Shakespeare’s plays were fundamentally aimed at Jacobean audiences and were intended to shed light on a number of cultural tendencies and traits such as the dangers of letting one’s ‘green eyed monster’ overtake their rationale.
shakespeare, warning. jealousy
Shakespeare’s play Othello acts as a warning for Jacobean audiences around the potential consequences of what would happen to an individual who values emotion over logic.
Iago quote jealousy
“Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy!
It is the green-eyed monster
Which doth mock the meat it feeds on”
“Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy!
It is the green-eyed monster
Which doth mock the meat it feeds on”
analysis
High-modality language creates a reactionary state of emotion amongst audiences
- Motif ‘green eyed monster’ again contributing towards Shakespeare’s message
- Whilst Iago’s comment here is actually meant to manipulate Othello into trusting him, it actually acts as a strong warning for audiences about the damaging power of unchecked jealousy.
Maslows heirarchy of needs
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs highlights the importance of belonging in achieving self-actualization.
self actualisatio definition
Self-actualization is defined as “feeling fulfilled, or feeling that we are living up to our potential.
Maslows heirarchy of needs thesis
Despite differing ideas and attitudes, the value of relationships is universal as it becomes apparent the importance of having a sense of belonging and identity
Love thesis
On the surface love appears to be righteous and notable however, it is through understanding the thin veneer of civilisation that the truths are uncovered. Beneath love is jealousy, that fuels and rules this trope. Othello sheds light on love to be motivated by one’s own wants and jealousy.
versimilitude theory love
Verisimilitude recognises that the characters of Othello and Desdemona are true to real life, as despite their love, jealousy overcomes this love and results in his downfall.
versimilitude theory
In a literary work, verisimilitude is likeness to the truth, such as the resemblance of a fictitious work to a real event, even if it is a far-fetched one. The characters are true to life in that they demonstrate human strengths and flaws.
othellos love begining of play quote
“ If wee now to die’ Twere now to be most happy”
“ If wee now to die’ Twere now to be most happy” analysis
-Dynamic tension alongside the duality of love and death emphasise the deep connection and love he has for Desdemona
othellos love end of play quote
“O Perjured Woman!”
“O Perjured Woman!” analysis
- deterioration of language symbolises his downfall
- exclamation furthers this
otherness thesis
Othello is a play in which tensions about skin colour, culture and integration explode into violence, it was intended to teach Elizabethan audiences that assimilation is impossible, and that integration is dangerous, as a fascination with ‘Moors’ began to grow in England during the time of Shakespeare.
new historicists reading of othello
-otherness
A modern audience is able to pity Othello as a result of anew historicist reading which makes clear the theory of othering. Othering refers to the view or treatment of a person to be intrinsically different from and alien to oneself.Characterises Othello to be misunderstood.
otherness quote
“Even now, now, very now, an old black ram.
Is tupping your white ewe.”
“Even now, now, very now, an old black ram.
Is tupping your white ewe.”
analysis
- Zoomorphism
- The representation of Othello as a ram encouraged the idea to Elizabethan audiences that ‘Moorish’ men had an animal-like, hyper-sexuality.
otheness critic
Jerry Brotton, the author of ‘The Queen and the Sultan’ speaks about a visit from the ambassador of the Barberry States of North Africa to London in 1608. This visit contributed towards an existing craze for stories and plays about Moors.
otheness critic quote
“Everybody is writing about it”
wifes as objects quote
“To his conveyance I will assign my wife.”- Othello
“To his conveyance I will assign my wife.”analysis
- Desdemona viewed as object
- The use of High Register language makes Othello sound as if he is performing a business deal
representation of women (context of the time) analysis
During the time Othello was written, there were strict social hierarchies and stringent rules about how women should behave in public and in the home. Desdemona would have been viewed by Elizabethan audiences as rebellious, insubordinate and defiant. Instead of sympathy and compassion, audiences would have held a common disgust and disrespect for Desdemona and her actions.
