Othello- William Shakespeare Flashcards
“I am not what I am”
Iago
Iago is deceitful
“I know my price”
Iago
He values himself highly
“Your fair daughter”
Iago
Shaming Othello and Desdemona’s marriage because she is superior due to her race
“Barbary horse”
Iago discriminates Othello
North African horse, animalistic imagery, sub human, dehumanising
“Making the beast with two backs”
Iago about O+D
Othello and Desdemona having intercourse, “two backs”= two races, interracial relationship
“Lascivious moor”
Iago
Othello reveals a sexual interest
“Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them”
Othello
Othello does not want to fight (peace with Brabantio), Brabantio calls Othello a thief (stole Desdemona)
“Valiant Othello”
Iago about Othello
Iago praises Othello, he is a good warrior
“Look to your wife”
Iago to Othello
Iago makes Othello realise that because Desdemona is Venetian, she is likely to have an affair (Iago’s machinations)
“Strikes her”
Othello hit Desdemona due to his aggressive jealousy, Iago’s machinations are succeeding
“It will cost thee dear”
If Othello kills himself, he will go to hell, suicide is a sin
“Thick Lips”
Stereotypical, seen as hideous
“Godless” “Bestial” “Hideous”
Loomba
Stereotypes of North African people
What does Loomba focus on?
Race and society
“Iago’s machinations are effective because Othello is predisposed to believing the inherent duplicity of women”
Loomba
Iago is successful in his machinations because Othello believes him and Desdemona don’t belong together (race, class) and that women are liars and cheats
“Hierarchies are not external”
Loomba
Othello internalises racism and sexism
Venice is a place for “female deviance” and “hub of international trade”
Loomba
Bianca is deviant (prostitute), Desdemona elopes with a black man
Venice is a “model of civility”
Loomba
Mix of cultures due to international trade, critique of english society
“tolerant society”
Loomba
Society allowed a white, well born woman to marry a black soldier with a slave past
What does Honigmann focus on?
The portrayal of Iago
“Chief humorist”
Honigmann
Iago appears as more appealing and seems more clever than his victims due to his humour
“He confides in us” (The audience)
Honigmann
Audience is engaged by Iago’s ambition in his soliloquies, only the audience is aware of his machinations, making Iago more appealing
“Iago neither felt nor understood spiritual impulses that bind ordinary human beings together”
Honigmann
Constant betrayal from Iago is evident of his lack of understanding of loyalty towards others
What does Mack focus on?
Tragedy and madness
“Tragic hero and buffoon”
Mack
Othello is heroic but also a clown for believing Iago and mistrusting Desdemona
Tragedy and Madness
Mack
Othello’s downfall is a product of his madness
“fool in speech and action”
Mack
Othello’s speech subverts from eloquence to vulnerability and foolishness
Othello is associated with the “disease” of madness
Mack
Utter jealousy leads to Othello’s downfall, madness is a form of punishment as Othello results in killing himself
What does Leavis focus on?
The character of Othello
Othello is a “stoic captain”
Leavis
Othello is a dispassionate leader
“self pride becomes stupidity”
Leavis
Othello is egotistical, not a naïve and noble victim of Iago’s machinations
The character of Othello
Leavis
Othello uses self- dramatisation to show off his authority as general of the venetian army
“histrionic intent symbolically affirms the reality”
Leavis
The reality that Othello’s self pride led to his mistrust in Desdemona and his ultimate downfall (killing himself)
What does Bradley focus on?
Shakespearean tragic hero
“Earthly greatness to dust”
Bradley
Othello turns from being army general to killing himself resulting in powerlessness due to his fatal flaw of jealousy
“death of the hero”
Bradley
Tragic flaw (Jealousy), internal imperfection that brings down the tragic hero (Othello kills himself)
“Makes the whole scene, a scene of woe”
Bradley
Othello’s tragic flaw extends to other characters, bringing them down. Desdemona is killed although she was innocent. provides a dramatic sense to the play
What does Nuttal focus on?
The pleasure of tragedy
“Grief and fear become a matter for enjoyment”
Nuttal
The audience value the disturbing work (machinations and murders)
“enjoyed discomfort”
Nuttal
tragedies are unnerving, yet enjoyable, people visit theatre to seek enjoyment
What does Kastan focus on?
Shakespearean tragedy
Tragedy’s power is “universal and inexplicable”
Kastan
Iago’s motives are unclear, and Othello’s fate is difficult to understand
“Intolerable suffering”
Kastan
Did Shakespeare decide Othello’s fate when choosing his race? Absence of clear answers is central to Shakespearean tragedies. Kastan focuses on whether the cause of suffering is human weakness?
“uncompensated suffering”
Kastan
Desdemona, Bianca, Emilia, Brabrantio, Roderigo, Cassio, Othello
“Fall from prosperity to wretchedness”
Kastan
Othello is a General of the Venetian army, ends up killing himself, resembling downfall of the tragic hero in a tragedy
