Othello overview and summary Flashcards
themes in Othello
- the tragic hero
- good versus evil
- jealousy
- irony
- love
- appearance versus reality / deceitful reality
- race/ culture
- isolation
- heroes, heroines and villains
summary of Othello
Othello is story of noble military general who falls in love with Desdemona and has enjoyed many successes on the battlefield, but because of his mistakes and judgement and his outsider status in society he sabotages his most intimate relationship and himself
why does Roderigo despise Othello
because of his relationship with Desdemona
and the sole fact that he has been trying to catch Desdemona’s attention to try and win her over and has continuously failed
-overall he is jealous
how does Emilia help Iago
by stealing the Desdemona’s handkerchief when she drops it and handing it to Iago
-because of this Iago’s is finally in play
why does Othello care about Desdemona’s handkerchief
because he gave it to her as a gift of something that has supposedly been passed down from his mother over years and it was the first gift that he ever gave to Desdemona
how does Iago use Bianca to trick Othello
Iago tricks Cassio into talking about Bianca and leading Othello to believe it is Desdemona he speaks of.
why does Iago hate Cassio
Iago is envious of Cassio because he has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant
- a position he wanted for himself
why does Roderigo wake up Brabantio
to inform him that his daughter Desdemona has run off in the night and gotten married to Othello
-Roderigo is madly in love with Desdemona and is willing to do anything to make her his own
why does Othello go Venice
because the Duke of Venice orders him to do so
how does Cassio end up getting dismissed
Iago gets Cassio drunk and orders Roderigo to pick a fight with him
why does Roderigo agree to kill Cassio
because Iago convinces Roderigo that Cassio has been promoted to being the new Governor of Cyprus and that Desdemona and Othello are going to leave so he does not stand a chance of ever getting Desdemona
Does Cassio die
no, he does not Iago assigns Roderigo to kill Cassio but he fails to do so
how does Roderigo die
Iago notices that Roderigo has failed to kill Cassio and so he arrives on the scene and kills Roderigo
how does Desdemona die
Othello kills Desdemona in her sleep after he accuses her of having an affair with Cassio
what does Desdemona do for Othello even on her death bed
she defends Othello in saying that she killed herself
-even after Othello kills her she still remains loyal towards him and wants to protect him
