STUDY Flashcards
BE READY
“With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio”
The simile emphasises how little effort Iago has to use to manipulate Cassio, furthered with the animal imagery of a spider conveying Iago as a predator who traps those around him unsuspectingly.
“I am not what I am”
This paradoxical aphorism acts a way to foreshadow the actions of Iago, setting up manipulation. By telling the audience he is not what he says he is, shows his deceptive nature and highlights this idea of appearance vs reality prevalent in society.
“The moor is of free and open nature, that thinks men honest that but seem to be so and will as tenderly be led by the nose as asses are”
The animal imagery expresses Iago’s view of Othello seeing him as an easy target. By saying ‘Led by the nose as asses are’ symbolises how Iago is able to lead Othello on with his lies, as a farmer does with his donkey.
“I will pour this pestilence in his ear”
The Metaphor of pestilence refers to Iago’s malicious intent to feed Othello false rumours. This foreshadows how Iago will complete his plan emphasising the manipulation and deceit within human relationships.
“A black ram is tubbing your white ewe”
The animal imagery reveals the racial and female prejudice reducing their already low status to that of an animal.
“O, the more angel she, and you the blacker devil”
The juxtaposition of ‘Angel’ and ‘Devil’ has been used to show the contrast between white people and black people during the Elizabethan era seeing white Desdemona as innocent and good, but black Othello as sinful and evil
“Black Othello”
The racial imagery emphasizes Othello’s different in skin tone compared to the rest of the community. This instils racial thoughts in Cassio, attaching a negative connotation to Othello.
“I hate the moor: And its thought abroad that he twixt my sheets, He’s done my office”
The metaphor in ‘Twixt my sheets’ refers to the sexual context, indicating unloyalty or betrayal within Iago’s marriage. This coupled with ‘I hate the Moor’ shows the male strive for female attention and the jealousy experience when it is not obtained.
“That handkerchief, Which I so loved and gave thee, thou gavest to Cassio”
The extended metaphor of the handkerchief originally signified the romantic bond between Othello and Desdemona, until altered by Iago to represent her Fidelity. This further emphasis of female attention in the male mind exposes the male fantasy.
“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on”
The personification of jealousy as ‘The green-eyed monster’ is done by Shakespeare to reveal the prevalence and power it has over society. The words ‘Mock the meat it feeds on’, characterises it as a parasite that leeches off the person infected.
What are the manipulation quotes?
“With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio”
“I am not what I am”
“The moor is of free and open nature, that thinks men honest that but seem to be so and will as tenderly be led by the nose as asses are”
“I will pour this pestilence in his ear”
What are the marginalisation quotes?
“A black ram is tubbing your white ewe”
“O, the more angel she, and you the blacker devil”
“Black Othello”
What are the male fantasy/jealousy quotes?
“I hate the moor: And its thought abroad that he twixt my sheets, He’s done my office”
“That handkerchief, Which I so loved and gave thee, thou gavest to Cassio”
“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on”
Name and quote of Handkerchief critic?
This is reinforced by ‘Professor Syed Anwarul Huq’ who states, ‘The handkerchief initially is a gift given to Desdemona by Othello as a love token’
