ACT 2, SCENE 1

“Methinks the wind does speak aloud at land; A fuller blast ne’er shook our battlements.”

Said by Montano

• AO2: pathetic fallacy → the wind upsets the foundations of the castle, which is symbolic of the beginning of the foundations of Othello and Desdemona’s relationship crumbling

• AO2: Shakespeare uses the storm to remove the external threat of the Turkish fleet and replace them with Iago whose violent tendencies are represented by the storm

• AO3: Elizabethan attitudes towards storms were that they were scared but simultaneously fascinated by them

“That paragons description and wild fame; One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens”

Said by Cassio

• AO2: hyperbole → Cassio thinks very highly of Desdemona, this establishes him as charismatic, honourable and respectful of women

“I am nothing if not critical”

• AO2: highlights Iago’s self-awareness and pride, central to his identity he presents his criticism as a natural and virtuous trait which is deeply ironic, they’re actually dishonest and manipulative to further his malicious agenda

• AO2: deception → disguises his intentions behind a guise of honesty

• AO2: emphasises exploration of appearance vs reality since Iagos straightforwardness is actually manipulative

• AO2: “nothing” justifies his actions and invites the audience to recognise his role as master of deceit which encapsulates his destructive nature and foreshadows the chaos he’ll later cause through calculated judgements

“She never yet was foolish that was fair, For even her folly helped her to an heir”

Said by Iago

• AO2: the rhyme here comes off as witty, though it’s actually making the audience make note of Iago’s comments about women while still maintaining a light hearted tone (Iago plays the fool)

“O my fair warrior!” “My dear Othello.”

• AO2: line pairings → Desdemona finishes Othello’s line which shows their connection

• AO2: Othello praises Desdemona for being strong and brave during the trip to Cyprus → against societal norms to call her a “warrior” since that’s a male job, maybe she has to be compared to a male job in order to be susceptible to praise, or maybe he just thinks she’s strong and loves her

• This is an insight as to how weird it was for a woman to accompany her husband to war

“O you are well tuned now! But I’ll set down the pegs that make this music, As honest as I am”

• AO2: a musical metaphor → he’ll de-tune their relationship