Othello Revision

Question 1

What is another quote that shows Iago as villainous and selfish?

Answer 1

“In following him, I follow but myself.”

• in the exposition of the play and serves to establish Iago’s deceptive and villainous nature and character
• establishes him as an allegory of evil and selfishness

Question 2

What is the context of Othello?

Answer 2

• Set in 16th Century in Venice, Italy during Elizabethan era
• Shakespeare challenges underlying misogyny if the Elizabethan patriarchy>Iago, Cassio, Othello?
• Women often commodified as objects of suspicion and subjective to negative, old fashioned stereotypes
• men realised unquestionable dominance within a patriarchal Elizabethan society
• dominant, prevalent beliefs about racial bias, prejudice and xenophobia in society
• typical black man stereotyped as uncivilised, power hungry, barbaric, worthless ‘outsider’ > othered in society due to their Negroid heritage

Question 3

What ideas are presented about Othello?

Answer 3

• subjective to negative, racist, xenophobic stereotypes > othered
• powerful general in white Venetian army
• not given dignity of a name-‘the Moor’
• hamartia= naive, easily trusting and easily deceived nature
• internalises idea blackness makes him barbarous> reduces to stereotypes and race used as weapon

Question 4

What ideas are presented about Iago?

Answer 4

• allegory of deception and possesses sociopathic tendencies
• machiavellian villain who acts as a cancerous plague that harms everyone who comes upon him
• referenced to Janus frequently; his deceptive, two faced nature
• conniving, sly and deceitful natured antagonist that shows no signs of morality> is amoral
• conventional, stereotypical villain in Shakespearean play

Question 5

What ideas are presented about Desdemona?

Answer 5

• viewed as a ‘trophy wife’> objectified and treasured
• her name in Greek = unfortunate which is ironic
• repudiates stereotypes of Venetian women> passionate and outspoken
• portrayed as both strong and weak> resigned to death & allows things to happen without insinuation of struggle
• her active sexuality destroys her marriage and to some degree her death
• Tragic heroine
• tragic victim> naivety, feminine disposition and child like nature

Question 6

Quotes for racism in Othello?

Answer 6

-“making the beast with two backs”
•turns natural intercourses bestial and something animalistic and disgusting
•suggests it’s an offence to nature
•brings to light the unfair normalities Of society regarding the prevalent beliefs about racial prejudice

-“what a full fortune does the thick lips owe?”
•victim of racial slurs and prejudice due to negroid heritage
•Roderigo believes he’s more of a ‘man’ and is insecure and jealous
•insulting language

Question 6

Quotes for deceit in Othello?

Answer 6

-“I am not what I am”
•Iago is a Machiavellian villain who is conniving and deceitful
•Janus reference-two faced nature
•establishes him as antagonist and allegory of deception
•contrasts with his over-embellished reputation and the phrase ‘honest iago’

-“I follow him to serve my turn upon him”
•devilishness imagery and foreshadows betrayal and evil
•audience dubious about his sinister notions and relies on the assurance of others that people believe he is honest
•patronising service

Question 6

Quotes for social disorder in Othello?

Answer 6

-“Nor all masters cannot be truly follow’d”
•social inversion> Iago of lower rank and societal status > challenging sumptuary laws of Elizabethan era which would be a serious crime
•offers patronising service > contrast of ‘my lord’ and ‘the moor’

Question 7

What are some key quotes for Iago?

Answer 7

• “I am not what I am”
• “I follow him to serve my turn upon him”
• “poison his delight” + “plague him with flies”
• “your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs”
• “you’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse”
• “the Moor is of a free and open nature, one that thinks men honest that seem to be so”
• “nor all masters cannot be truly follow’d”

Question 8

What are some key quotes for/about Othello?

Answer 8

• “brave Othello”
• “for I have serv’d him, and the man commands like a full soldier”
• “O, let the heavens give him defence against the elements”

-“I have a pain upon my forehead here”
“My sweet Desdemon’”
-“honest Iago” + “good Iago”

Question 9

What are some key quotes for Desdemona?

Answer 9

• “I had rather have lost my purse full of crusadoes”

- “I am hitherto your daughter but here’s my husband”