othello

Iago- “I am not what I am”

act 1, scene 1. pg 84

• proves how deep Iago’s duplicity really goes, choice of words suggests his dishonesty is so extreme he does not even have a stable personality beneath his strategic manipulation of others

Iago- “her eye must be fed”

act 2 scene 1, page 120

• suggesting she will want a more handsome lover soon.

• conveys a stereotype that women are fickle and shallow + emphasises idea that Desdemona’s and othello’s union isn’t viable

• also reiterates racist view that othello is unattractive because he is a moor

• demonstrates the threat to the stability of their marriage

Iago- “make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me
For making him egregiously an ass."

act 2 scene 1, pg 122

• using racist imagery saying he will turn othello into an ass (donkey)

• reminder of iago’s scheming nature- he wants to destroy othello not only for the pleasure of vengeance but also for the “reward” of advancing own career

• shows that it’s not enough just to ruin othello, he wants othello to thank and love him for it which is very sadistic

presentation of othello at the start of the play

• othello appears as a charming, brave, humble, respectful, in love

• pg 98 act one scene 3, othello tries to win over brabantio

• uses persuasive language- ‘my very noble and approved good masters’

• also is very respectful and loving towards desdemona- ‘i won his daughter’

othello and desdemona’s relationship at the start of the play

• a-typical relationship- firstly othello has a very large amount of respect for desdemona, and she holds a lot of power in the relationship e.g insisting to go to war with othello. also unusual as othello (a black man) has married desdemona ( a wealthy white woman)

• act one scene three- both demonstrate clear love and respect for eachother. page 105, des- ‘and to his honours and his valiant parts’ othello- ‘but to be free and bounteous to her mind’

Iago’s opinion on women

• uses a food analogy to describe women- act one scene 3, pg 109, ‘food to him… acerb as the coloquintida’ (suggesting othello will get bored of des)

• act 2 scene 1 115, suggests women are manipulative, ‘you rise to play and go to bed to work’. women use sex as a weapon?#

• the way iago talks to emilia, act 3 scene 3 pg 52 ‘it is a common thing’ implying she is passed around

Iago as evil

• soliloquy act one scene 3 110, shows iago plotting. says his actions are for ‘sport and profit’- suggests he is behaving this way partially just for fun.

• the way iago talks to emilia, act 3 scene 3 pg 52 ‘it is a common thing’ implying she is passed around

how othello and desdemonas relationship changes

• act 3 scene 3 151, “whistle her off an let her down the wind”. describing des as an untrainable hawk