Othello Critics Flashcards
Summarize Erving Goffman’s Face Theory
- face refers to someone’s public self-image
- positive face is the desire to be liked, respected or approved of by others
- negative face is the desire to have freedom of action and not feel imposed upon
- face-saving is when people try to avoid embarrassing situations or anything that could harm their ‘face’.
Link Face Theory to Othello
- Reputation is a key theme in the play
- Characters try to maintain their public image
- Throughoout the play they are concerned with how others view them.
- Iago changes face to manipulate others
- Othello’s loss of face is a key moment in his downfall
- Desdemona struggles to maintain face due to false accusations.
Michael Neil quote
“Othello is the study of an assimilated savage who relapses into privitism under stress”
Summarise the thoughts of Michael Neil
Othello is constantly trying to fit into Venetian society, hiding behind religion and social values, in order to be accepted by his white counterparts. Iago prokes him, bringing out his savage side that he believes he inherited due to his race. His racial insecurities cause Othello to displace his hatred onto Desdemona.
Dr Johnson quote and what it means
“magnanimous, artless, and credulous, boundless in his confidence, ardent in his affection, inflexible in his resolution and obdurate in his revenge.”
Magnanimous – generous
Credulous – naive
Obdurate – stubborn
Ardent – fixed
Summarise Nuttall (the pleasure of tradgedy)
Othello makes the audience feel deep emotions like pity and fear which are central to the tragic experience.
Summarise Bradley (Shakespearean tragic hero)
Othello is a noble hero who is tragically brought down by outside forces, especially Iago.
Summarise Honigmann (The portrayal of Iago)
Iago is a master manipulator and a brilliant villain, which makes him fascinating to watch, despite his evil nature
Sumarise Leavis (The character of Othello)
Othello’s downfall is his own fault because he is too focused on himself and acts impulsively
Summarise Loomba (race and society)
Othello highlights issues of race and gender, showing how Othello’s status as an outsider and Desdemona’s role as a woman are central to their tragic fates.
Summarise Mack (tragedy and madness)
Shakespeare uses madness as a tool for truth-telling. Madness becomes a way to criticise human nature and societal corruption.
Summarise Kastan (Shakepearean tradgedy)
Othello’s demise is a result of his personal flaws, the malicious influence of Iago and the unpredictable nature of fate. The play grapples with unresolved and unanswerable questions about the causes of human suffering.
Honigmann quotes:
“dramatic perspective can even make us the villain’s accomplices”
“the joker in the pack”
“his humour either intends to give pain or allows him to bask in his sense of his own superiority”
“he enjoys a godlike sense of power”
“his humour also makes him seem cleverer than his victims”
Leavis quotes:
“the noble Othello is now seen as tragically pathetic, and he sees himself as pathetic too”
Loomba quotes:
“Othello is both a fantasy of interracial love and social tolerance and a nightmare of racial hatred and male violence”
“Iago’s machinations are effective because Othello is predisposed to believing his pronouncements about the inherent duplicity of women”
“Othello is a victim of racial beliefs precisely because he becomes an agent of misogynist ones”
