Othello A01/A02 Flashcards
Knowledge + application
Iago speech
O, sir, content you;
1: I follow him to serve my turn upon him:
We cannot all be masters, nor all masters
Cannot be truly follow’d. You shall mark
Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave,
That, doting on his own obsequious bondage,
Wears out his time, much like his master’s ass,
For nought but provender, and when he’s old, cashier’d:
.2: Whip me such honest knaves. Others there are
Who, trimm’d in forms and visages of duty,
Keep yet their 3:. hearts attending on themselves,
And, throwing but shows of service on their lords,
Do well thrive by them and when they have lined
their coats
Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul;
And such a one do I profess myself. For, sir,
It is as sure as you are Roderigo,
Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago:
In following him, I follow but myself;
4:. Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,
But seeming so, for my peculiar end:
For when my outward action doth demonstrate
The native act and figure of my heart
In compliment extern, ‘tis not long after
5:.But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
For daws to peck at: 6:. I am not what I am.
(Iago Act 1 Scene 1)
1: This is as a result of Othello giving position to “one Michael Cassio”. Iago wants to take advantage of Othello’s virtues and turn them against him.
4: Religious language ironic because behaviour of Iago juxtaposes teachings of Christianity.
5: Also promises to show the audience who he truly is which he does throughout the play with his trickery.
6: Contradiction of statement establishes Iago’s duplicity early in drama: how he appears in play = different from reality of his beliefs and motives.
Establishes his demonic nature of character - outward appearance = there to conceal his true self.
“thicklips”
(Roderigo Act 1 Scene 1)
Race:
Emphasises how despite Othello’s military successes he is viewed only by his race.
1.Zounds, sir, you’re robb’d; for shame, put on your gown; Your heart is burst, you have 2. lost half your soul; Even now, now, very now, 3.an old black ram Is topping your white ewe. (Iago Act 1 Scene 1)
1: Uses religious imagery when his actions will contradict it.
2: Reinforcing notion that Othello = Devil. Almost like Desdemona = angel has had a fall from grace.
3: Reinforcing Othello’s age and suggesting he is only with her because of sexual lust. Also Desdemona = presented as domesticated and elegant also innocent and symbol of puritywhere as Othello = brutish and savage.
O treason of the blood!
(Brabantio Act 1 Scene 1)
Gone against social norms. Inter-racial marriage = frowned upon by Elizabethan society.
my daughter is not for thee
(Brabantio Act 1 Scene 1)
emphasised “my” = property: fathers picked who their daughters married
My services which I have done the Signiory/ Shall out-tongue his complaints
I fetch my life and being/ From men of royal siege
1. My parts, my title, and my perfect soul
(Othello Act 1 Scene 2)
Othello introduces himself to audience as noble character and a man who believes he deserves respect. Proud of his “royal” background and he craves the regard of the Venetian nobility.
Believes he will be judged on his merits.
Word choices - “parts”, “title”, and “perfect soul” = self confidence = flaw in Othello’s character because = arrogant and his belief that men are judged by their actions and reputation.
Reputation = important to him hence why he kills Desdemona: cares about what will happen to his reputation
Similar to Iago - “I know myself I know my worth” - Othello and Iago = mirror images of each other
1. characteristic idiom = dignified, measured in blank verse. believes things listed will protect him but shows his hubris
Inspiration for Othello = Leo’s A Geographical Historie of Africa 1600, both men = honest and proud
boarded a land carrack
(Iago Act 1 Scene 2)
Objectifies women and sees them as something to be won - a “prize”
stowed, apprehend, discover him
(Brabantio Act 1)
Extend metaphor of thief = emphasises how Othello does not belong in this society
Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see: She has deceived her father, and may thee.
(Brabantio Act 1 Scene 3)
Prophetic but ironic warning. Warns that Desdemona may not be as virtuous as she seems - because she questioned the patriarchy her virtues are called into question.
Ironically, Brabantio refers to Othello using his “eyes to see”, which is how Othello judges people and situations . However, when he judges Desdemona, he is twisted by Iago’s lies and unable to see truth.
My life upon her faith
(Othello Act 1 Scene 3)
Declaration of trust = loaded with irony. After listening to Iago, Othello gives his life for what he believes is her lack of “faith”
Complete devotion to Desdemona that Iago is able to undermine by tapping into Othello’s insecurities - social and racial.
Othello Epithets:
“the warlike Moor, “brave Othello”, “the lusty Moor”, “my lord”, “noble Moor” à “devil”, “murderous coxcomb”
Desdemona Epithets:
“the divine Desdemona”, “virtuous Desdemona”, “O my fair warrior” à “public commoner” “devil” “strumpet” “fair devil” ‘sweet mistress’
Iago Epithets:
“honest creature” “honest Iago” à “demi-devil” “hellish villain”
Animal Imagery:
Iago uses animal imagery to insult people, which Othello later comes to mimic. “black ram is tupping your white ewe”, “I had rather be a toad”, “as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys”
