othello - character

how is othello at the start and then the beginning of the play? 2

• noble and civilised at the beginning of the play

• savage and violent by the end of the play

Othello is..

part of society but still an outsider

“rude am i in my speech”

• doesnt believe he is polite

• beginning of self doubt

• doesnt fit into venetian society

why is Othello an important member of society? 3

• he’s a soldier

• “i have done the state some service and they know’t”

• because he married Desdemona

why is he still an outsider?

as he is black in a white Venetian society

Othello seems to be happily married at first; 3

“i cannot speak.. it is too much of a joy”

portraying their relationship as passionate and harmonious. However, this joy makes his later jealousy and heartbreak even more tragic, as it highlights how much he had to lose

is happiness at the beginning contrasts sharply with the mistrust and despair that Iago later fuels.

how does Othello’s relationship start to unravel? 2

Iago encourages Othello to admit their relationship is “nature erring from itself”

and reminds him that Desdemona did “deceive her father, marrying you”

othellos downfall is driven by jealousy - act 3 scene 3

• he loses control emotionally and physically

• striking desdemona & shouting phrases like “fire and brimstone”

is othello a downfall because of his own flaws or Iagos influence? (3×2)

Othellos Flaws

• Insecurity → thello feels insecure about his race, outsider status, and age. This makes him vulnerable to doubts about his wife’s fidelity and his worthiness.

• Jealousy → Othello's jealousy, once ignited, spirals out of control. It blinds him to reason and makes him overly reliant on Iago's manipulations.

• Trust in Iago → inability to see through Iago's deceit is a flaw. His misplaced trust in Iago leads him to act on circumstantial evidence rather than seeking the truth

Iago

• Manipulator → exploits Othello’s insecurities and uses subtle suggestions to plant seeds of doubt in his mind. He manipulates situations (e.g., the handkerchief)

• Psychological Tactics → Iago isolates Othello from Desdemona and Cassio, ensuring that Othello relies solely on him for information.

• Playing on Othello's Values → Iago understands Othello's sense of honor and duty and uses these to push him toward rash actions. For example, Iago implies that tolerating infidelity would make Othello weak and dishonorable.

he feels his career is over when he thinks Desdemona is unfaithful 2

“othellos occupation gone”

• Othello equates his professional identity with his personal honor. When he believes Desdemona is unfaithful, he feels his entire identity is destroyed.

his murder of desdemona could be seen as an attempt to..

salvage his military reputation

as a tragic hero.. 2

othello has no choice but to commit suicide “no way but this”