‘Othello’ critics

(19th century) Coleridge: ‘motiveless malignity’

• reasons for Iago’s spite

• Concluded Iago is ultimately evil for the sake of being evil

Simon Bubb: ‘Iago chooses…silence.’

• Iago’s plot is uncovered (not motives) and he can do no more damage, yet he chooses silence

• The terrifying ways in which someone can use language to manipulate others for their own evil purposes

(20th century) A.C Bradley: ‘Desdemona is helplessly passive.’

• as a woman in a patriarchal society, she has no voice or means to judge her husbands actions

• Early critics tended to see Desdemona as a simple reflection of Jacobean ideals of female virtue

Lisa Jardine: ‘it does not just matter that a woman is called a ‘whore’ it matters when and where she is.’

• Seriousness of the incident is explicit, in strong contrast to the earlier implications of Desdemona’s purity and honesty.

• She has been publicly designated as a ‘whore’ in terms damaging enough to be of a substantial threat to her reputation

Schwab: ‘most underrated and constant victim is (Iago’s) wife, Emilia.’

• clear that she has been abused and manipulated by her husband

• She voices against him at the end, disregarding social norms and the expectations of women

(20th century) Vanita: (Desdemona) is killed not only by Othello and Iago but by all those who…fail(ed) to intervene.’

• other characters had seen her getting humiliated and beaten in public, yet fail to stop what is coming

• However, due to Othello’s status, would they have been afraid to do something?

O’toole: ‘Othello starts to take on Iago’s characteristic imagery and style of speech.’

• Eloquent speech → violent and harsh words of misogyny etc

Lisa Hopkins: ‘whore’ (Bianca)

• Bianca is only portrayed as a ‘whore’ throughout, yet Shakespeare creates her and puts her in the play for a reason

• Bianca serves as a figure of misfortune- a contrast to the virtuous Desdemona and honest Emilia

Lisa Hopkins: the hankerchief scene

• puts women against women

• A woman of power is unlikely → the ending is so shocking to an audience (Emilia being the one to break the revelation and confront Iago’s manipulation)

Rymer: Othello is ‘noble’ and never falls completely- we feel ‘admiration and love’ for his character

• presents Othello as blameless

• Othello’s commitment, erotic and of passion

• Othello never falls as a result of the audience who feel love for him ??????

A.C Bradley: Iago is fully culpable

• sees Othello as ‘noble’

• Blames Iago- his twisted evil mind forces all to fall to his puppetry

Burton: ‘Wives are slippery, often unfaithful’

• implies that women often cheat on their husbands- infidelity