OTHELLO ACT 2 SCENE 3 Flashcards
Summary
- Iago encourages Cassio to drink: Cassio and Roderigo fight
- Othello dismisses Cassio
- Iago advises Cassio to speak to Desdemona, revealing his fully plan
Themes
- Reputation/Honour
- Deception
- Hatred
- Jealousy
Importance
Iago setting his plan in motion
Why is it important to see how Othello sees Iago in this scene?
“Iago is most honest”
dramatic irony- makes sense why Othello trusts him
Cassio and Iago juxtaposing views on women
- I: she is sport for Jove- crude and sexual
- C: She’s a most exquisite lady- respectful- ironic that Iago claims he’s lusting after Desdemona
What kind of roles are Iago and Cassio trying to play in this scene?
- I: life of the party and joking comrade
- C: good and righteous lieutenant
Example of Othello’s internalised racism in this scene
“Are we turned Turks”- implying they are savages- internalising western culture
KEY CASSIO QUOTE
“Reputation, reputation, reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself.” - VITAL WHEN TALKING ABOUT HONOUR AND REPUTATION
“Our general’s wife is now the general.”
Subverting gender expectations- Desdemona in charge and has most influence
“What’s he then that says I play the villain.” What is the relevance of this rhetorical question?
He is directly questioning audience- breaking 4th wall and getting audience to question their perceptions- we can’t even tell as the audience who Iago is
where do we see a reversal in Iago’s soliloquy
- “Divinity of Hell.”
- Juxtaposition- sacrilegous- shows his true colours
- He’s even starting to manipulate the audience
Plosives in Iago’s soliloquy
- “pour this pestilence”- poisoning Othello’s view of Desdemona
What is significant about Iago’s last two lines of his soliloquy?
“out of her own goodness make the net/That shall enmesh them all.”
- Amoral: no one is safe, Iago wants to hurt them all- makes him a terrifying villain
