Othello Love and Relationships

Question 1

storm description

Answer 1

“wind hath spoke aloud at land” “shook our battlements” - at mercy of elements pathetic fallacy
“when mountains melt” - metaphor for waves
“chidden billow”
“enchafed flood” - stormy winds; ongoing description/ motif of storm emphasises trouble that faces Othello; storm that will threaten O and D’s marriage

Question 2

how is the war used?

Answer 2

• a plot device to remove O and D from Venice - won’t happen

Question 3

Iago and Emelia

Question 4

Genuine affection and sense of equality between D and O

Answer 4

“my fair warrior!” - from O
“My dear Othello!” - D
- O values fighting

Question 5

O says he would die happy rn

Answer 5

If it were now to die
‘Twere now to be most happy,
unknown fate - forshadowing - fatalistic tone

Question 6

love from D

Answer 6

“loves and comforts should increase”

Question 7

Othello love for D

Answer 7

“Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul But I do love thee!” O’s love for D is to the forefront again, though the reference to damnation foreshadows later events. (‘perdition’) - his soul will be damned if he stops loving her. For Othello love equals stability and order - without it, chaos ensues. AO2 structure/AO3 & AO4 - tragedy follows a movement from order to disorder (equilibrium to disequilibrium). In Act 3, this hangs in the balance.

Question 8

Iago + Emilia handkerchief scene: Iago’s misogynistic comment?

Answer 8

“A thing for me? It is a common thing—” - more rude and misogynistic comments

Question 9

Emelia has the power

Answer 9

“What will you give me now / For the same handkerchief?” - she has rare power and can trade; gives it up
“What handkerchief?” - she echoes him

Question 10

Iago takes back power form E

Answer 10

“snatching it” - childish; aggressive action
“If it be not for some purpose of import,
Give ’t me again.” - Emilia realises that it will cause Desdemona grief - so why does she take it? We are witnessing another domestic drama between this couple too.

Question 11

Desdemona and Othello arguing about handkerchief - D talks about cassio - O about handkerchief

Answer 11

• three references to Cassio are alternated with three requests for the handkerchief highlighting that for Othello the handkerchief represents her fidelity, the lack of it her infidelity. Note how Desdemona is resolute in her pursuit of Cassio’s case despite Othello’s irrational and forceful questioning, revealing some strength of character and showing the audience, ironically, that she is true to her word.

Question 12

Emelia and D - convo about jealousy

Answer 12

“Is not this man jealous?”
- cf ‘is he not jealous’ earlier - a sort of ‘I told you so’ - Emilia is older and a wife, plus there is the implication she has known Othello for some time, if she has accompanied Iago when he has been with Othello in past military campaigns

Question 13

Emelia’s comment about men

Answer 13

“‘Tis not a year or two shows us a man.
They are all but stomachs, and we all but food.
To eat us hungerly, and when they are full,
They belch us.” - Emilia has a rather cynical attitude towards men and their appetites - that they consume women as commodities

Question 14

Bianca and Cassio - cassio’s charming nature

Answer 14

“most fair Bianca”
“sweet love”
- charming, presents Cassio the lover - also maybe proving he already has a lover and is not in love with Desdemona - it depends on your view!
Note how he finds it odd that she is out of the house!

Question 15

Bianca and Cassio - he apologises for being away for a week

Answer 15

“But I shall, in a more continuate time,
Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca,
(giving her DESDEMONA’s handkerchief)”
- polite, apologises, tries to make amends. They seem genuinely fond of each other? An actor could play it either way.
He asks her to copy the needlework of the handkerchief, rather than giving it as a love token to Bianca

Question 16

Bianca and Cassio - Bianca jealous

Answer 16

“absence now I feel a cause”
- again ‘cause’ being a reason for jealousy - here the woman is jealous and despite her being a courtesan/prostitute, she is not accused of anything by Cassio - the reverse of the situation between Othello and Desdemona, where a state-sanctioned wife is accused of sleeping around by an unjustifiably jealous man

Question 17

Bianca and Cassio - he’s rude about her accusation of jealousy

Answer 17

“Go to, women”
“Throw your vile guesses in the devil’s deeth”
- compared to D’s responce - double standard

Question 18

Bianca and Cassio - his shame?

Answer 18

“I do attend here on the general
And think it no addition, nor my wish,
To have him see me womaned.”
- is he ashamed of her lower status? Or is it seen as not something a soldier should be spending his time doing? Either way male pride seems to motivate this line

Question 19

Cassio and Bianca - she says he doesn’t love her

Answer 19

“But that you do not love me.”
“‘Tis very good. I must be circumstanced.”
- these parallel phrases are a good natured verbal jousting. They seem evenly balanced
- two readings - must be governed by circumstances or must be insignificant?
Compare to Desdemona and Emilia’s similar lines on leaving their partner at the end of a scene.

Question 20

Biana and Cassio (Iago and Othello) scene: stage direction

Answer 20

“Enter BIANCA”
- this is a gift for Iago which he could not have anticipated - that Bianca appears with the handkerchief - presenting him as an opportunist as he turns it to further his plan - all he had planned was to talk to Cassio about Bianca and see him laugh - chance or fate taking a hand in events?

Question 21

Cassio offends bianca

Answer 21

“fitchew. Marry, a perfumed one.—” - polecat - notorious for smell and lechery so prostitute - offensive

Question 22

Biana and Cassio (Iago and Othello) scene: Bianca has found handkerchief - accusation

Answer 22

“there! This is some minx’s
token, and I must take out the work? There, give it your / hobby-horse.”
- another derogatory term for a woman -hobby-horse ie toy to be ridden
also minx - promiscuous woman

Question 23

Desdemona and Othello scene: a little before he slaps her - what does she say about cassio

Answer 23

“A most unhappy one. I would do much
T’ atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.”
- dramatic irony. The result of these two conversations taking place concurrently- one actually on a private topic, the other a public conversation, is striking and creates a very jarring and disjointed scene

Question 24

Desdemona and Othello scene: a little before he slaps her - asks Lodovico is he angry?

Answer 24

“What, is he angry?” - she speaks to Lodovico not to him - distancing herself?

Question 25

The slap

Answer 25

“DESDEMONA
Why, sweet Othello—
OTHELLO
Devil! [strikes her]”
“I have not deserved this”
- Desdemona’s line is interrupted by the insulting exclamation and physical violence ( note the strong religious epithet connoting sin). He is publically accusing her of some sin

Question 26

Desdemona leaves after the slap

Answer 26

“I will not stay to offend you.”
Desdemona is seen here to fulfil the expectations of her as a Venetian woman, at least in public. Doe she retreat into this role out of fear?