Othello


Questions: Act 5 scene 2 lines 1-233

 

1. What reasons does Othello give for having to kill Desdemona?

The reasons that Othello gives for having to kill Desdemona is that he believes that by murdering her, she won't be able to deceive any more men. 'Yet she must die or else she'll betray more men.' This could suggest that Othello is a noble man and is doing this for the good of society as he believes that no one else will be hurt through her actions. But this also portrays his hamartia as he is making a mistake in believing Iago and going through with killing Desdemona. Furthermore, another reason as to why Othello decides to kill Desdemona is because he believes that she has been cheating on him with Cassio due to the misunderstanding about the handkerchief.

'That handkerchief which I so loved and gave thee, thou gav’st to Cassio.' This again depicts Othello's hamartia as he is misunderstood about the handkerchief. Also that he is too proud and incapable of asking Desdemona whether it is true or not.

    2. What evidence is there to suggest that Shakespeare adhered to racial stereotypes in this scene?



Shakespeare had adhered to racial stereotypes in this scene as Othello has spurts of irrational behaviours, this is shown through when he sees her asleep and doesn't want to murder her anymore 'Be thus when thou art dead and I will kill thee and love thee after. (kissing her) One more, and that’s the last' This portrays how he seems to be holding himself back from killing her due to her beauty. His behaviour seems to change as soon as she wakes up 'Peace and be still' Othello here is keeping her quiet so he is able to be quiet. This portrays how his behaviour changes in a short amount of time. Furthermore, another piece of evidence is the danger that Othello brings to this scene. 'And yet I fear you, for you’re fatal then when your eyes roll so' This is what Desdemona states whilst being in the bedroom. Othello has given off a sense of danger here as he is threatening Desdemona by mentioning death through asking her whether she has 'prayed' yet or not. This is foreshadowing her death which then projects fear.  

    3. Othello tells Desdemona that Cassio has confessed to sleeping with her (line 68). What was this 'confession'?


This 'confession' is that he saw Cassio with the handkerchief as Othello states 'By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in ’s hand O perjured woman, thou dost stone my heart.' This shows how the misunderstanding that Othello has with the handkerchief as Desdemona hadn't given it to Cassio.

1. Emilia says "Good gentleman, let me have leave to speak./ 'Tis proper I obey him - but not now!" [5.2.192-193] what does this indicate about Emilia and society? Consider the circumstances the characters are in.

This indicates how Emilia defies the expectation that women had to meet, for example being quiet when men are speaking as they were not able to have their opinion inputted in. But Emilia believes that women are no different to men as she states earlier on in the play. Also due to this situation Emilia goes against what men think that women should do. Iago states 'villainous whore!' This is what Iago shouts when Emilia is revealing too much which is destroying his plan.  

Othello- Act 5 Scene 1

How does Shakespeare create a sense of fear and confusion in Act 5 Scene 1?

Shakespeare starts by creating a sense of fear with the setting. This scene is set at night, this creates fear as it made unknown to the audience about what is going to happen as you are not able to see anything. This is shown through Iago stating 'Kill men i' th' dark! Where be these bloody thieves' This here shows the duplicity of Iago as he is the one planning and committing these murders and then blaming the act on someone else. The setting also creates a sense of confusion due to the fact that the audience does not know who is killing who and what everyone is planning because it is being done in the darkness.

Furthermore, the sense of fear and confusion is also made through language. The language used by the characters in this scene is made so it is very fast paced, this is used so that audience sees the action that is going on, which then creates tension. This is shown through Roderigo thrusting his sword at Cassio but then instead Cassio wounds Roderigo. This makes the audience feel catharsis, this is when they feel pity or fear, they could be feeling both at this point. Fear of Cassio as he wounds Roderigo and pity for Roderigo because he did not want to commit this act. The audience feeling this way creates atmosphere which is effective for when there is a play being performed.

Throughout this scene, Iago is shown to be conniving and evil through his plans but yet portrays himself to be a man who helps people and is all good. This is shown when he is making plans with Roderigo, 'Here, stand behind this bulk, straight will he come.

Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home.' His duplicity is also portrayed when he states 'Oh, me, lieutenant! What villains have done this?' This creates a sense of confusion here as he is depicted as two different people. His evil plans are the bulk of this tragedy so therefore Iago's character here creates fear as he orders Roderigo to stab Cassio, this here makes the audience believe that Iago is capable of many things.

Othello's character is also illustrated as the opposite to how he was in Venice, an eloquent speaking man who 'loves the gentle Desdemona.' But in this scene in Cyprus, due to Iago dripping poison in his ear and filling him with jealousy, Othello turns into a completely different man. Othello also expresses how Iago is an honest man, showing how Iago's brainwashing had actually worked. 'Tis he. Oh, brave Iago, honest and just,

That hast such noble sense of thy friend’s wrong!'

Reviewing the mock

It is significant about how Othello and Iago attend with 'attendants with torches' because In Venice, Othello behaves and speaks very eloquently and stays calm to Iago. Whereas, in Cyprus, in Act 4 Scene 1 although Othello is surrounded with attendants also but 'strikes Desdemona' across the face. This suggests the difference of personality within his character, how he is so calm and speaks so pleasantly in Venice, but in Cyprus, he is a lot more violent and more bad mannered. It also says that the attendants are holding torches, this suggests that this scene is happening during the night. This shows the duality of night, and the deceiving nature of the dark because you are not able to see events physically. But it also could mean that Othello is unable to see the duplicity of Iago as Iago is portraying himself as someone who cares for Othello. This highlights Othello's hamartia as his tragic mistake would be believing the lies and the poison coming from Iago's mouth.

Othello Questions

Othello DVD Venice sequence

 

Thinking Question – Critical audience 0-30 minutes.

 

In classical tragedy a tragic hero is a person of noble birth with heroic or potentially heroic qualities. Thomas Rymer did not believe that Othello was a ‘tragic hero’ “We see nothing done by him, nor related concerning him, that comports with the condition of a General, or, indeed, of a Man,” as you watch the film adaptation can you find any evidence to support Rymer’s belief? Be prepared to share your ideas with the class.

 

Basic plot

 

Why do Iago and Roderigo wake Brabantio?

Because they’ve come to tell Brabantio about the marriage between Desdemona and Othello.

 

How does Brabantio believe Othello ‘won’ his daughter, Desdemona?

He accused him for using sorcery to seduce his daughter.

 

How does Othello believe he ‘won’ Desdemona?

With his stories of him being in war and the adventures he’s had by travelling.

 

What two reasons are there for Othello appearing before the senate?

One of the reasons is is that he’s being sent to Cyprus to go to war, but also because of his marriage to Desdemona and what he has to say about it.

 

What do we learn about Othello’s past?

That he was sold into slavery.

 

What terms are used to describe Othello whilst in front of the senate?

Moor, more fair than black, thick lips

 

What is significant about Brabantio’s rhyming couplet “Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see. She has deceived her father, and may thee.”?

What’s significant about Brabantio’s rhyming couplet is that he’s explaining to him that if can deceive her father, then she could also deceive you too.  

 

 

Can you find an example of dramatic irony in Othello’s retort?

‘My life upon her faith’ this shows dramatic irony because if he loses faith in her, then he will die so it shows a glimpse of what will happen.

 

What does Iago persuade Roderigo to do?

He persuades Iago to give him a lot of money and then he will help him get Desdemona.

 

What do we learn from Iago’s soliloquy?

That Iago is not being genuine and that he is not doing it to help him, he’s just doing it to get revenge.