Symbols Flashcards
What does Shakespeare use the construct of Othello to show?
How men react when their personal ideologies and beliefs are challenged
What does Othello symbolize in Shakespeare’s work?
The tortured human psyche and societal conflicts
How does Othello occupy the boundary between public and private spheres?
His character is revealed through public actions and thoughts
What genre does Shakespeare use to display Othello’s character?
Drama
What question does the stage format raise about Othello’s character?
How much of what we see can be trusted as genuine?
How does Othello’s views align with Venetian society?
His views on war, women, and race align with his peers
What extreme action does Othello take in relation to societal principles?
He takes these principles to the extreme in a bid to belong
What unusual quality does Othello exhibit regarding his wife?
He shows love and respect for her
What do the ‘cracks’ in Othello’s facade suggest?
He could be a rebel or insurgent
What is a major source of conflict in the play regarding Othello?
Whether he breaks the mold or surrenders to the status quo
What literary devices does Shakespeare use to give Othello depth?
Vivid, consistent symbolism and imagery
What imagery is associated with Othello’s character?
- Light vs. dark
- Heaven vs. hell
- The supernatural
What effect does symbolism have on the play?
It allows the play to explore the human condition beyond reality
What is the central theme of binaries and duality in Othello?
Othello is neither good nor bad; he has both good qualities and bad ones.
What imagery is used to depict Othello’s character?
Imagery of light and dark, or white and black.
How does Shakespeare associate Othello with new beginnings?
Othello appears carrying a ‘torch’ in the morning, symbolizing hope and revelation.
What does Othello’s demeanor suggest when he advises Brabantio and his men?
He is portrayed as an advocate for nonviolence and peace.
What does the phrase ‘Put out the light, and then put out the light’ signify?
It signals Othello’s departure from his former self and his intent to commit violence.
What does Shakespeare suggest about evil in relation to Othello’s desire for darkness?
Evil thrives off ignorance and secrecy.
What are the two prominent binaries used in Othello to judge morality?
Heaven and Hell.
How does Othello initially view Desdemona’s character?
He sees her as the epitome of virtue.
What does Othello’s statement ‘If [Desdemona] be false, O then heaven mocks itself’ imply?
He believes it is impossible for her to do wrong, tying his view of Heaven to her virtue.
What does the possibility of ‘heaven’ mocking itself foreshadow?
The chaos to come when Othello believes Desdemona to be ‘false’.
What conflict does Othello express later in the play?
He doubts his wife’s honesty, feeling irreconcilable conflict within himself.
What does Othello mean when he calls Desdemona ‘false as hell’?
He is justifying his actions by claiming she has become the opposite of virtue.
How does Shakespeare portray the nature of morality in Othello?
Morality is fluid and changing; it is subjective and dependent on perception.
What is the tradition regarding marriage consummation in the Christian faith?
A marriage is ‘made complete’ through sexual intercourse.
What can happen if a marriage is not consummated?
It can be annulled.
What is the lengthy procedure to undo a consummated marriage?
Divorce, if allowed.
Who discusses Othello’s libidinous aggressivity in relation to consummation?
Pierre Janton.
What do T.G.A. Nelson and Charles Haines claim about Othello and Desdemona’s consummation?
They fail to consummate their marriage due to pressures on Othello.
Which critic disagrees with the conclusions regarding Othello and Desdemona’s consummation?
Norman Nelson.
Why was consummation particularly significant in Othello’s era?
A woman’s virginity was supposed to be taken by her husband.
What symbol represents Desdemona’s loyalty?
Her wedding sheets.
What does Desdemona ask Emilia to lay on her bed?
Her wedding sheets.
What dual purpose might Desdemona’s request for her wedding sheets serve?
- Remind Othello of her sexuality
- Prove she hasn’t slept with Cassio.
What does Desdemona asking for her sheets to be her funeral ‘shroud’ suggest?
They are still white and unblemished.
What societal issue does the consummation of Othello and Desdemona’s marriage highlight?
Male superiority and ownership of women’s bodies.
How does the structure of the play reflect the attempts to consummate Othello and Desdemona’s marriage?
Their attempts are repeatedly thwarted.
What does Othello’s need to resolve conflicts signify about his role?
He is exploited by his peers.
True or False: Brabantio could easily have Othello and Desdemona’s marriage annulled.
True.
Fill in the blank: Desdemona’s wedding sheets symbolize her _______.
loyalty.
What was Venice a symbol of during the Jacobean era?
Culture and civilisation, known for its thriving early Capitalism.
Who controlled the state in Venice during the Jacobean era?
The wealthier merchant classes.
How did Venice’s trade compare to England’s during the Jacobean era?
Venice dominated trade links with the East and North Africa, while England had just begun trading overseas.
What does Kenneth Burke describe Othello’s stake in Desdemona as?
Ownership in the profoundest sense of ownership, the property of human affections.
According to Ruth Vanita, what does Othello’s jealousy indicate about the husband-wife relationship?
It posits the wife as the exclusive possession of the husband.
How can the play Othello be interpreted in terms of social class?
As a dispute between rival merchants for the ownership of Desdemona.
What does Brabantio claim about Desdemona in relation to Othello?
He asks Othello ‘Where hast thou stowed my daughter?’ and claims ‘[she] is stol’n from me’.
What does Shakespeare portray Desdemona as?
A valuable possession.
What is Othello’s concern regarding Desdemona as the play progresses?
He becomes overly concerned with her body and its purity.
What does Othello lament about marriage?
‘The curse of marriage, that we can call these delicate creatures ours / and not their appetites!’
What is the relationship between women’s free will and men’s lust for power in Othello?
They are in constant conflict.
How is cuckoldry viewed in Jacobean society within the context of Othello?
As a crime akin to theft, where women are seen as their husbands’ property.
What does Othello refer to Desdemona as in his expressions of love?
The place ‘where [he has] garnered up [his] heart.’
What does the imagery in Othello highlight about his investment in Desdemona?
He has invested himself in her body like a tradesman invests in land.
What does Othello’s concern about Desdemona’s fidelity imply about his legacy?
Her ability to carry his child is central to his legacy and societal power.
Fill in the blank: In Jacobean society, cuckoldry was seen as the ultimate insult because it removed a visible symbol of a man’s _______.
virility.
True or False: Othello’s love for Desdemona is depicted as solely emotional without any ties to physicality.
False.
