Monstrosity in Othello 🐍

What is a monster?

Something inhuman and unnatural.

Why is Othello's reference to the Anthropophgi relevant?

-References men having their heads eaten by monsters, foreshadowing Iago's destruction of Othello's mind.

-Adds dramatic irony as Othello makes references to external monsters when the real monster is in Othello's mind.

Iago - '__ and __ must bring this __ birth to the world's __'

Iago - 'Hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light'

Emilia - "but __ for they're jealous. It is a __ begot upon itself, __ on itself"

Emilia - "but jealous for they're jealous. It is a monster begot upon itself, born on itself"

Desdemona: ''Heaven keep that __ from Othello's mind''

Desdemona: ''Heaven keep that monster from Othello's mind''

Iago: ''The green eyed __ which doth __ the __ it feeds on''

Iago: ''The green eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on''

Emilia: ''They eat us __ and when they are full they __ us''

Emilia: ''They eat us hungerly and when they are full they belch us''

Othello: ''A __ man's a __ and a __''

Othello: ''A horned man's a monster an

What is the debate surrounding monstrosity in Othello?

Is monstrosity something that lies dormant and is awakened by Iago, or is it summoned by Iago?

Othello is a play where men are so concerned with the obvious enemy...

...That they fail to see the enemy within their ranks

Montano: ''O __ __''

Montano: ''O monstrous act''

''I look down __ his feet but thats a __''

(Othello checks to see if he has hooves)Terrible moment of clarity where Othello realises the monster is within

I look down towards his feet

But thats a fable (Othello checks to see if he has hooves)Terrible moment of clarity where Othello realises the monster is within

What is perceived as monstrous within the play?

-Otherness

-Female sexuality

What is actually monstrous within the play?

-Iago

-Injured male pride

What kinds of Jealousy exist in Othello?

Occupational jealousy

Sexual jealousy