Quotes Flashcards
The moor is of a free and open nature
‘Moor’ - pejorative,
‘Free’ + ‘open’ - creates a sense of irony as the term ‘Moor’ makes it seem as though he’s of a lower status, thus he shouldn’t have the opportunity to be ‘free’ and ‘open’.
Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light
‘Monstrous’ - zoomorphism; makes Othello appear as a creature - as though he doesn’t belong and is outcasted (link to race, him being a ‘moor’ links to his outcast position). POLYSEMIC
Heroic couplet - previous line ‘hell and night’ (Iago thinks of himself as a Hero when he’s the opposite. (Machiavellian)
With as little as web as this I will ensure as great a fly as Cassio.
Animalistic imagery/zoomorphism
Here, Iago acts as the spider, where Cassio is trapped within his web. (Foreshadowing how things will turn out pragmatically for Iago)
Iago plays the director role, addressing as though he is in full control of Cassio (Duplicity is shown as he is a different person when confronting Cassio face to face).
A jealousy so strong that judgement cannot cure
Sibilance - repetition of ‘s’ sounds emphasises Iago’s sinister behaviour, foreshadowing how he’s about to deceive all the characters around Othello, and Othello himself.
Repetition of the ‘c’ sounds - guttural sound - allows a diverse sonic quality - here, the ‘c’ sound is harsh, reinforcing the sinister mannerisms of Iago’s actions and behaviour.
When this advice is free I give, and honest
Utilised in Iago’s soliloquy which are used to demonstrate Iago’s plans to deceive all characters around Othello and Othello himself. - METATHEATRE
Links to Coleridge, ‘MOTIVELESS MALIGNITY’ - perhaps Iago causes chaos and destruction as a matter of pleasure and entertainment.
This soliloquy is spoken in prose, reinforcing his lack of status and sinister behaviour ( when spoke in prose, Iago is his true self )
Ironic as the ‘advice’ is only for Iago’s benefit, thus it isn’t actual advice for other characters.
‘I do not know’
Aporia - false ignorance.
Hesitant answer ; allows Iago to stay in the shadows so he doesn’t make enemies ( true deception and evilness of Iago ).
Spoke in verse around Othello.
‘Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds.’
Players - meaning actors ( as though women are deceptive )
Housewives - being a Venetian stereotype of women (e.g, prostitutes, whores)
Iago here portrays all women, regardless of attributes, as deceptive and ‘sexually transgressive/starved’
A very misogynistic side is shown here of Iago, whereas in front of male characters (Cassio, Othello) he doesn’t speak of women in this tone, but directly to women, he is his true self. ( Duplicity of his natural appearance )
Echoes appearance vs. Reality
‘Alas, she has no speech.
In faith, too much.’
Desdemona and Iago here share a line of iambic pentameter (ironically, any prior time this has happened it’s between Desdemona and Othello)
Iago dominates the conversation.
methinks it sounds a parley to provocation.
Here, Iago utilises his duplicitous power to convince Cassio that Desdemona is provocative (a whore).
Cassio takes people at face value, referring to Desdemona as the ‘Divine Desdemona’, making her seem God-like, whereas Iago convinces him that truly, Desdemona uses modesty to cover up her provocative nature.
‘Lips’, ‘tongue’
Tactile imagery that takes a sexualised approach - link to Nuttall ( ‘ENJOYED DISCOMFORT’ ), Iago here sexualises women as a whole, specifically Emilia and Desdemona ( the two women being a microcosm for the whole gender ).
CONTEXT LINK: Venice was thought to be a place of liberation of its inhabitants, thus leading to the idea of sexual freedom.
