Truth and Deception

Question 1

shows Iagos duplicity and deception, he suggests that he is not as he seems. Also from a religious POV, God days to Moses “I am that I am” so in saying this, Iago is almost going against the Christian conventions expected of him

Answer 1

“I am not what I am” - Iago

Act 1 Scene 1

Question 2

Janus is a two-faced Roman God, thus proving Iago to be the ultimate manipulator, able to present the facade of a trusting character in order to fulfill his anterior motives. By swearing by this God it proves to show how he epitomizes a ‘two-faced’ person, and relishes in it, giving him a title of a satan like character

Answer 2

“By Janus, I think no”- Iago

Act 1 Scene 2

Question 3

Thus indicating that Othello has had a sexual relationship with Emilia. Though Iago even days he is unsure if the rumor is truer therefore suggesting again that Iago has no real motive for his hatred for Othello and is instead looking for excuses for his actions despite how ludicrous the excuse may be. Furthermore, Iago here can be seen using the Elizabethan stereotypes of black men in 17th century Britain to his advantage. They were stereotyped to be violent savages who were lustful and dangerous villains. Iago can be seen as taking advantage of this because to an Elizabethan audience, this rumour Iago is setting up with the social context of the play, they would fit in more convincing

Answer 3

Othello has “twist (Iagos) sheets”- Iago about Othello

Act 1 Scene

Question 4

Indicative of Iagos method of taking existing beliefs and ideas and warping them for his own profit, Iago borrows Othello original imagery of “feeding” Desdemonas ear with stories. Othello won Desdemona by telling her stories, and Othello will “win” Othello by doing the same. This image also further extends Iagos perverse motif of impregnating through abuse. “It is endangered. Hell and night/ Must bring this monstrous birth to the worlds light”. His “wooing of Othello culminates in Act 3 the climax wherein he and Othello make vows of revenge which critics have noted are meant to resemble wedding vows.

Answer 4

“Abuses Othello ear”- Iago

Act 1 Scene 3

Question 5

The litany of “put” from Iago shows how he is going to exploit Roderigo for his own benefit. “Thus do I ever make my fool my purse”. One of his motives among many others is to take as much money from Roderigo and this reflects Iagos utter greed and need for more. Iago is never satisfied with the destruction he cause throughout the play, always aiming to cause more chaos. Emphasis of him being a satan-like character who revels in the pain and destruction of others

Answer 5

“Money in thy purse

Question 6

The audience are gaining first hand sight into how Iago is conducting his manipulative strategy. The fact that Cassio is unwillingly adding fuel to the fire that Iago is going to light increases the tension in the audience, provoking feelings of distress as the victims contribute more to their downfall. Iago uses a dramatic devise called an “aside”. Speaking in such a way that the audience can hear him but other characters in the stage cannot. Elizabethan and Jacobean playwrights used aside to share a characters thoughts and intentions without reveling without revealing the secret to other characters. This in turn further develops the audiences profile of Iago as the villain of the play, continuing to enact deceitful behavior. As spider weave an inescapable web for flies, Iago plans to construct a web of lies to similarly trap Cassio and and frame him for adultery. Linguistically, this destructive language creates a claustrophobic effect for the victims from the perspective of the audience, as their inevitable tragic downfall slowly begins to appear inevitable

Answer 6

“With as little web as this, I will endanger a great fly as Cassio”- Iago

Act 2 Scene 1

Question 7

Iagos second soliloquy of the play, highlighting the roots of his jealousy. The prose presented in the rest of the scene regarding his speech contrasts greatly to this precise and concise speech, perhaps revealing his precise if delusional reasoning. This would be performed erratically as Iago is portrayed to be caught up in his emotions.

Answer 7

“Now I do love her too….But partly led to diet my revenge”, “Till I am evened with him, wife for wife”- Iago

Act 2 Scene 1

Question 8

Iagos comment to Montano regarding alcohol is both comic and dangerous, we see how easily Iago is able to manipulate those around him and they clearly believe what he says despite the audience knowing the contrary. It is tragic that Cassio falls at the weakness of this drink, particularly due to his strong convictions against drinking at the beginning of this scene

Answer 8

“Evermore prologue to his sleep”- Iago

Act 2 Scene 3

Question 9

Iago continues to develop his persona and façade of honesty, easily fooling his fellow counterparts

Answer 9

“I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth than it should do offence to Michael Cassio”, “I know Iago, thy honesty and love doth mice the matter”- Othello and Iago

Act 2 Scene 3

Question 10

Iago’s soliloquy is a perfect example of how Iago manipulates every situation. He begins with a rhetorical question which almost allows the exploitation of the virtues and weakness of his so-called friends. Iago justifies himself as ironically having given Cassio ‘good’ advice as to how to win his position and favour back with Othello, he knows he can poison Othello’s mind sufficiently to misinterpret Cassio’s and Desdemona’s pleas

Answer 10

And what’s he then that says I play the villain, when this advice I give is free and honest”- Iago

Act 2 Scene 3

Question 11

In this direct comparison, he equates Desdemona’s generous spirit to the abundant existent in nature. What exists in nature is freely available to those who want it. In essence, it means that Desdemona has so much goodness in her that she will generously and freely assist anyone who seeks her help. The alliteration also accentuates Desdemona’s good qualities. The repetition of the f-sound is used for emphasis in this regard. These words illustrate one of Iago’s most typical ploys. He sees goodness as a weakness and goes out to exploit a characters good nature to further his evil purpose.

Answer 11

“She frames as fruitful, free as the elements”- Iago

Act 2 Scene 3

Question 12

The powerful soliloquy ends on an even more powerful note, as the destructive language reveals the extent of his villainy. Iago’s malice is remorseless and unbridled. He will stop at nothing to get his revenge. He wishes to use Desdemona’s good intentions to draw them all into his trap and thus destroy them

Answer 12

“The net that shall enmesh them all”- Iago

Act 2 Scene 3

Question 13

This is the turning point of the play, often known as the scene of temptation as we see Iago tease and taunt Othello with suggestions of Desdemona’s infidelity, tempting him to a state of jealous rage. The sneering tone of Iago’s “Ha!” immediately garners interest from a Othello as Iago’s use of the word “Guilty” and “Steal” creates negative images of the behavior between Desdemona and Cassio. The seed of doubt has been planted with the deceptively short and simple line, their honesty is no match for his duplicity. His pauses and hesitations are expressions and feelings too powerful to be exposed

Answer 13

Iago with line breaks. “Ha! I like not that”, “Nothing my lord or if I know not what”, “No sure I cannot think that he would steal away so guilty-like”

Scene 3

Question 14

This scene could be portrayed as quite comedic as through merely The use of repetition he is able to create jealousy from Othello. The manipulation Iago Deploys in this scene is so effective highlights his intelligence as a Machiavellian villain. The repetitions, use of hesitations and withholding information shown in the text through do use of caesuras Shows the extent of Iago’s jealousy. This scene could be depicted in many ways. Othello could seem as desperate to unveil Iago though however at the same time he could be enacted as submissive towards the information that Iago is showing.

Answer 14

Honest my lord?, think my lord? - Iago

Scene 3

Question 15

From this dialogue the reader can assume that Iago has Othello completely fooled on the nature of their relationship. Iago loathes Othello and only intends to manipulate him for his selfish purposes, but has masked his hatred with superficial loyalty and adornment. He continues to strive for effective honesty. 

Answer 15

My Lord, you know I love you - Iago

Scene 3

Question 16

Snatching the handkerchief, Iago regains an exclusive control over directing the unfolding jealousy of Othello. This awareness of the scheme he is concocting shows once again the calculated nature of Iago. The destructive language and references to “poison” again reveal the corruption that Iago is creating in Othello mind. He has used references to diseases and medicines throughout the play, highlighting the admiring nature of his intelligence as even linguistically Iago is able to manipulate the language to his own advantage.

Answer 16

“I will in Cassio’s lodgings, lose this napkin and let him find it”. “The moor already changes with my poison”- Iago

Scene 3

Question 17

Iago lies and tells Othello that Cassio told him he had slept with Desdemona.

He exploits the double meaning of “lie” because he is lying, but Othello interprets it in a sexual way.

Vagueness plats further seeds.

Answer 17

‘lie,- with her, on her, what you will’ SCENE 1 Othello

Question 18

Iago adopts a sympathetic tone when addressing Desdemona, when in previous scene he told Othello how to murder her (dramatic Irony). Constantly changes his role to adapt to different people-ensuring plan, works, has to make everyone trust him.

Answer 18

‘Do not weep, do not weep’-Iago Scene 2

Question 19

Emilia is the only one to realise that someone must be manipulating Othello, but fails to recognise Iago as the cause- victim of his manipulation too.

Answer 19

‘Eternal villain’- Emilia Scene 2

Question 20

‘I will no longer endure it’- Roderigo scene 2

Answer 20

‘I will no longer endure it’- Roderigo scene 2

Question 21

Speech: Emilia addresses both Desdemona and the audience to spread a message about double standards within society.

Men can cheat, women remain chaste.
Feminism: She becomes a mouthpiece for equality, pointing out that women have the same desires as men and should therefore be treated like people and not objects.

Stage presence: Desdemona and Emilia only two present throughout majority of this scene. Two women who challenge the patriarchy are ultimately killed by their husbands.

Answer 21

.’have we not affections, desires for sport, and frailty, as men have?’- Emilia Scene 3

Question 22

The dramatic Irony and the height of which Othello has fallen is extremely evident here. Othello is a mighty war general who should not be taught how to slay and kill. The audience continue to view the extent that Othello is completely blind to Iago’s villainy which is where the absurd and comic nature lies. Almost too unbelievable

Answer 22

‘Oh brave Iago, honest and just that has such a noble sense of thy friend’s wrong! Thou teachest me’ Scene 1 Othello

Question 23

Iago has been successful in deceiving even Venice’s most superior members of society highlighting his Machiavellian qualities.

Answer 23

.’A very valiant fellow’ Scene 1 Lodovico

Question 24

Very important quote to remember. Of course, it seems that Shakespeare never wishes to fully understand Iago’s motives. When Othello demands an explanation, Iago is silent. Iago can often be likened to the devil which this quote portrays him as lacking humanity. If Iago is the devil incarnate, pure evil, then he needs no motives other than evil itself. That is his motive. Only human compassion forces us to try to humanize him by projecting the various motives upon him but this silence evidently is true evil that has no explanation to offer. Quote shows Roderigo to be a comic figure even though a pitiful one. Only now in death does he realize that Iago has taken everything from Roderigo, his money, his time, his effort and eventually his life for his own gain.

Answer 24

‘O damned Iago! O inhuman dog! Scene 1 Roderigo

Question 25

Shakespeare is reflecting some of Iago’s weaknesses in this quote. Although throughout the play, Iago s constantly portrayed as somewhat the director of a play within a play, Ultimately no one is really invincible in the tragic genre

Answer 25

‘This is the night that either makes or fordoes me quite’ Scene 1 Iago

Question 26

Even though this quote once again highlights Iago’s villainy, it does emphasize the fact that Othello in reality really did concoct his own downfall. Iago gave Othello very little fuel to go by his claims and yet, Othello readily let his get away with him. Questions the extent of Iago’s villainy and more of Othello’s own hamartia that caused his tragic downfall.

Answer 26

‘I told him what I thought, and told no more than what he found out himself apt and true’ Scene 2 Iago

Question 27

Emilia is the guardian of Desdemona’s honor, a role Othello should have assumed. Emilia’s castigation of Othello reminds us how far the noble Moor has fallen and the cruelty of her words might perhaps represent some kind of poetic justice. Othello recognizes the justice of Emilia’s deception when he reiterates her words, ‘O fool, fool, fool!’

Answer 27

‘Villainy, villainy, villainy!’, ‘He begged me to steal it’, ‘fool’ Scene 2 Emilia

Question 28

By Othello distancing himself and creating almost two identities Shakespeare heightens the tragic downfall of the person that Othello once was and who he became as a result of his jealousy. Othello’s use of language here is a return to the romanticism he once shared with Desdemona. Shakespeare is allowing Othello a route back to honor through his language, whilst reminding us how far he has fallen.

Answer 28

‘That’s he that was Othello: here I am”
“O cursed cursed slave! whip me ye devils” Scene 2 Othello

Question 29

But does Othello remain somewhat deluded and self-dramatizing, as some critics have suggested? He still insists that he is honorable: has his pride been his downfall? In his final speech, the moor presents himself as both hero and villain. He reminds Lodovico and the others (with characteristic self-effacement) that he has been of service to the Venetian state, and seems to want to insist on his identity as heroic soldier, not a disastrous husband.

Answer 29

‘A honorable murderer if you will’ Scene 2 Othello

Question 30

This could be seen as a weak ending for such a diabolical villain, however, it adds to the enigmatic nature of his evil and suggests that Iago was acting entirely without motive. Throughout, his motives have been questionable and founded merely on rumors and hearsay. The fact that he offers no explanation seems to make his actions all the more worse and furthers the link between him and the devil.

Answer 30

‘Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. From this day forth I never will speak a word” Scene 2 Iago