Act5, Scene 2

What reasons does Othello give for having to kill Desdemona?7

Othello believes he killed Desdemona to rid both her and the world of her sins as he proclaims 'she must die, else she'll betray more men.' He believes he is protecting other men from her devilish ways and persuades himself that he is morally correct and committing a Nobel act in killing her. It is his duty as her husband to keep her innocent and pure so he convinces himself that if he does 'not shed her blood' he is preserving her perfections. Othello also thinks he has hard evidence of Desdemona and Cassio's affair as he 'saw the handkerchief in's hand'. Othello believes what he wants to believe in order for his murderous act to be explainable. He never has any ocular proof, however his reputation could be damaged and therefore this causes his irrational behaviour.

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

Othello killing Desdemona supports the racial stereotype of the 'dangerous' negro. Shakespeare can then evoke fear and tension in the audience. Desdemona confesses 'and yet I fear you; for you're fatal then When you're eyes roll so.' The stereotype for Othello being 'irrational' and not being able to control his emotions is implemented here. As in a previous act, Othello is presented as a mystical negro when his ' eyes  roll' as if he is having a seizure. This potrays the fact that Othello cannot control his emotions and immediately acts on what he I feeling instead of being able to preserve his emotions and act rationally.

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

In Act 4, Scene 1 Iago talks to Cassio about Bianca, however Othello is hiding listening to the conversation. Iago makes it sound like Cassio is confessing his affair with Desdemona when Cassio admits 'I have used thee' and I think, I'faith, she loves me'. Othello immediately is convinced and believes the idea that Iago has been planting.

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 is a patriarchal society and Emilia should obey Iago as her husband. However, in this part of the scene Emilia is seen to be transcending the boundaries of the 1600s ands claims that she will not obey or answer to her husband, Iago, anymore. She is now the dominant figure and takes charge and control of her own life and actions. The fact that she stills asks Montano and Grantiano if she could speak her mind shows that she still is a passive figure in society and must ask before speaking aloud. She has learnt the truth about her husband and is no longer blinded by his charm and dominance. The fact that she died breaking the boundaries of the patriarchal society, I believe is a dramtic and eye opening end for her. She died standing up to her husband and fighting for what is right.

How is Emilia presented in lines 125-233. Consider the language she uses, how she behaves and what she says to Othello and Iago.

Emilia is presented as a strong and honest woman. She is standing up for the power of women and commands 'do thy worst'. After voicing her opinions and views only in the private sphere, Shakespeare has now presented her character to voice them in the public sphere, transcending boundaries. She is seen as virtuous and valiant for standing up to the two most dominant male figures to her in the tragedy. Therefore she is presented as a strong and powerful female towards the end of her life.

List all of the names Emilia calls Othello when she realises what he has done. How does this contrast with how Othello was portrayed at the start of the play?

'Blacker devil'

'Dull moor'

'Devil'

'Gull' dolt'

'The Moor'

'Murderous Coxcomb'

Analysis of Act5, Scene1

How does Shakespeare create a sense of fear and confusion in Act 5, Scene1?

Othello follows Aristotle's idea of the perfect tragedy-unity of time and place. This scene is set at 'night' on a 'street' where the plan is for Roderigo to attack and kill Cassio. This scene mirrors the opening scene where Roderigo and Iago are first constructing their plan to ruin Othello and so Roderigo believes, to woo Desdemona. The fact that this is set in darkness foreshadows the deaths and violence to come. It also creates confusion as the scene is chaotic and we are unsure what exactly in going to be the outcome.

Shakespeare creates fear and confusion also through the use of Iago's manipulative and duplicitous character. In this scene he manipulates Roderigo into thinking that they are a team and he will support him in this attack. By stating 'fear nothing; I'll be at my elbow' Shakespeare refers to the devil reflecting the devil inside Iago. This refers to the modern reference 'speak of the devil' suggesting a similarity with Iago and the devil himself. Audiences in the 1600s would be fearful of the events to come from this quote and therefore it may create tension in the atmosphere.

When Cassio is only injured in the attack and Iago leaves a gash on Roderigo, believing he has killed him, the audience may be confused about the events to follow as it seems that Iago's plan has failed and the truth will quickly be revealed to Othello. However, this does not obstruct the inevitable ending of the play where both Desdemona and Othello die due to Iago's manipulative behaviour. Othello's hamartia leads him to his tragic death and the audience are able to express catharsis, especially with the death of 'sweet Desdemona'.

Cast Cassio

To play the role of Cassio, the actor must have good looks and an approachable and open look about them. James McAvory would be a good actor to play this role as he looks quite youthful and polished. It needs to be believable for Othello to think that he and Desdemona would have an affair behind Othello's back, so therefore his looks would reflect this and play a major part. He has performed in many theater roles including the Shakespearean play 'Macbeth' earning him an Olivier Award nomination. This shows he has experience on stage and therefore would not be a stranger to the workings of it. The fact that he has also already played a part in a Shakespeare play gives him an advantage over other actors, making him familiar with the language and writing of the play.

Othello and Iago

1.     According to Adrian Lester, how long has Othello been fighting for? Othello has been fighting since the age of 7.

2.     According to Adrian Lester, Othello is not born into a 'sense of nobility', like those around him. How does Adrian Lester say this impacts the character? This makes him very aware of how he presents himself to a wider audience as he may be more judged than someone who is born that way. 

3.     What increases Othello's status in Venice? He marries the only daughter of a senator with superiority and high status.

4.     Why does Rory Kinnear say Iago is disgruntled with Othello? Iago had his sights set on a promotion, however he had been passed over for a younger and stronger Cassio. They have both seen the horrors of war together and almost grown up together may be showing that they initially had quite a strong and close bond. They have both come from he same place in society and Othello is seen to have not had to work as hard as Iago has to gain place and status.

5.     What do Othello and Iago have in common, according to Rory Kinnear?  Both of the characters have started from the bottom and worked hard to make their way up in the ranks. However, Othello is seen In Iago's eyes to have not worked as hard as himself.

6.     Around 4.20, Rory Kinnear lists some of the ways Iago aims to bring down Othello and Cassio. What are they?

 

 

 

 

Iago uses Othello's weaknesses and sensitive areas 

Subterfuge, meaning deceive Othello and other characters in order to achieve his own goals.

 Insinuation, meaning he will place horrible hints about things that Othello will find unpleasant for example, Cassio and Desdemona having sex and going behind his back .

                   Getting people on his side, Iago persuades people the he is the 'honest Iago' and he is not                     the deceitful and manipulative Iago he really is.

 

 

 

 

 

Cast Desdemona

I think that Emma Watson would be a good actress to play Othello's Desdemona. She is still young at the age of 26 years old and has a look of innocence and some may say naivety. This is important in playing the role in Othello, because Desdemona is a young woman who has fallen in love with an older man, not thinking of the consequences. She is well known for playing Hermione Granger in the films Harry Potter and in her early life performed in many school plays, so has a little experience on stage. Graduating from Brown university with a degree in English Literature may give her an insight of Shakespeare's plays and therefore would have increased knowledge on the play than most others. Her acting skills are very developed and has proved in many of her films that she is able to play an exaggerated role in her characters and express a wide range of emotions very well. This is important in Shakespeare's tragedy, especially with Desdemona's death scene and also the Willow Tree scene where Emilia and her become very connected and their roles become equal. She also presented the speech 'HeforShe' as she is an active feminist, showing she is naturally an empowered and independent woman who knows her own mind. Therefore she will be able to easily portray Desdemona as a character who isn't afraid to break the traditional boundaries and speak up for what she believes in.

Act 3, Scene 3- Big question 2 improvements

How do ideas about difference and otherness help Iago's manipulation of Othello in this scene?

During an extended prose where Desdemona is heard to be trying to persuade Othello for Cassio's position as his lieutenant back, she states that Cassio was the man who 'came a-wooing' for her love along side him. This immediately plants a seed of doubt in Othello's mind after many sly comments Iago has expressed himself. It makes him feel betrayed that she would not honour his decision and stand by him as his loving wife. His self-esteem is knocked as he now believes that he would not have won Desdemona over if it wasn't for Cassio and that she may have feelings for him too. By having this slight doubt in the back of his mind, Othello will now confide in Iago's opinions and become more dependant on him for decisions he must make. Therefore, Iago is now able to use his words of 'wisdom' to manipulate Othello and influence him in to persuading Othello that the wrong decision could be right.
 Iago also uses Othello and Desdemona's differences to make him doubt their marriage and believe their love is just an experiment or a passing phase. He is reminded about Desdemona's 'clime, complexion, and degree' being very different from his own. Iago makes Othello believe that they are complete opposites and that she will soon be looking for a man more like herself to pleasure her. Iago uses Othello's otherness to an advantage, making him doubt himself and believe he cannot make his love happy. After becoming so doubtful, Othello will become paranoid and start to overly analyse what others say to or about him. Othello is constantly referred to as the 'Moor' also making him insecure and doubt his image as well as his place in society. Being a completely different race to Desdemona reveals many problems and puts unnecessary pressure on their relationship-more than any other. They are judged for this and Iago can use this to push Othello in to believing that it is a bigger issue than it really is.
After the seed of doubt has been planted in to Othello's mind, he now starts to think himself of reasons he and Desdemona should not be together. Iago gets Othello to address the issues with himself and Desdemona's love through his own eyes and not just others. 'Haply for I am black, And have not those soft parts of conversation(...)I am declined in to the valve of years'. For the first time in the play he calls himself what everybody else sees him as. Calling himself by his skin colour makes him objectify himself. Iago has made him feel nothing more than the colour of his skin and not as a human. He acknowledges that he is not like others and states that he lacks in manners and is older than Desdemona. His masculine pride is wounded and Iago has succeeded in manipulating Othello to the stage where he starts to dehumanise himself. With his pride wounded, it makes it harder for Othello to deny that Desdemona may prefer to be with Cassio and that she is only with Othello out of pity.

Improvements made:

How do ideas about difference and otherness help Iago's manipulation of Othello in this scene?
Desdemona tries to help Cassio and discusses with Othello the reasons he should stay as his lieutenant. She states that Cassio was the man who 'came a-wooing' for her love along side him. This possibly plants a seed of doubt in Othello's mind after many sly comments Iago has expressed himself. It makes him feel betrayed that she would not honour his decision and stand by him as his loving wife. His self-esteem is knocked as he may now believe that he would not have won Desdemona over if it wasn't for Cassio and that she may have feelings for him too. By having this slight doubt in the back of his mind, Othello will now confide in Iago's opinions and become more dependent on him for decisions he must make. Therefore, Iago is now able to use his words of 'wisdom' to manipulate Othello and influence him in to persuading Othello that the wrong decision could be right.
 Iago also uses Othello and Desdemona's differences to make him doubt their marriage and believe their love is just an experiment or a passing phase. He is reminded about Desdemona's 'clime, complexion, and degree' being very different from his own. Iago makes Othello believe that they are complete opposites and that she will soon be looking for a man more like herself to pleasure her. Iago uses Othello's otherness to an advantage, making him doubt himself and believe he cannot make his love happy. After becoming so doubtful, Othello will become paranoid and start to overly analyse what others say to or about him. Othello is constantly referred to as the 'Moor' also making him insecure and doubt his image as well as his place in society. Being a completely different race to Desdemona reveals many problems and puts unnecessary pressure on their relationship-more than any other. They are judged for this and Iago can use this to push Othello in to believing that it is a bigger issue than it really is.
After the seed of doubt has been planted in to Othello's mind, he may arguably now start to think himself of reasons he and Desdemona should not be together. Iago gets Othello to address the issues with himself and Desdemona's love through his own eyes and not just others. 'Haply for I am black, And have not those soft parts of conversation(...)I am declined in to the valve of years'. For the first time in the play he calls himself what everybody else sees him as. Calling himself by his skin colour makes him objectify himself. Iago has made him feel nothing more than the colour of his skin and not as a human. He acknowledges that he is not like others and states that he lacks in manners and is older than Desdemona. His masculine pride is wounded and Iago has succeeded in manipulating Othello to the stage where he starts to dehumanize himself. With his pride wounded, it makes it harder for Othello to deny that Desdemona may prefer to be with Cassio and that she is only with Othello out of pity.

Act2, Scene1 Othello questions

1. Re-read Act 2 scene 1 lines 95-100. What sort of person is Cassio?
Cassio, Othello's lieutenant, is presented as a very genuine and kind character; to everyone, he is very well mannered. When talking to Emilia, he greets her by saying 'That gives me this bold show of courtesy'. By doing this, he is showing that he is polite and being very respectful and of her presence. When doing so, he also 'kisses her' and reflects an open and confident character, welcoming everyone he meets. He does not mean to be flirtatious and points this out to Iago in reassurance 'Let it not gall your patience, good Iago.' Making sure that he does not get jealous and is aware he has only good intentions.


2. How does Iago plan to use Cassio’s character traits to usurp and ensnare both Cassio and Othello?
Iago plans to use Cassio's character traits to usurp and ensnare both Cassio and Othello by using his open and kind character to his advantage. Cassio's friendliness is his downfall and is what will drive Iago's thought through plan. Towards the end of Act2, Scene1, Iago has an offstage speech. In this he describes the actions of Casio and Desdemona together, and twists them in to sounding like there is a sexual connection between the two 'He takes her by the palm(...)Very good; well kissed, and excellent courtesy.' To make the plan work, Iago must make sure Casio is angered and manipulate Roderigo into thinking that he could truly woo Desdemona and make her fall in love with him. He tells him 'Do you find some occasion to anger Cassio' to make a scene. Iago knows that when Cassio has had a drink, he can become short tempered. He therefore uses this to make Othello and the other men lose respect for him and to also make him lose his rank and taint his reputation.


3. What does Iago tell Roderigo to do, and why does Iago say it will help Roderigo to win Desdemona’s heart?
Iago tells Roderigo to 'find some occasion to anger Casio' making him lose respect from him men and lose his rank. He persuades Roderigo that this will put Iago as Othello's new lieutenant and that he will be better of being 'ruled by me.'-it will be in Roderigo's favour and he will then be able to start the plan to woo Desdemona and win her heart. He says 'loveliness in favour, sympathy in years and manners and beauties: all which the Moor is defective in.' In doing this, he is persuading Roderigo that Desdemona needs someone more similar to her and that she will soon become bored of listening to his 'fantastical lies.' He is trying to make Roderigo believe that Casio is her second choice and therefore he must be got rid of. Using the semantic field of food, he also states 'Her eye must be fed; and what delight shall she have o look on the devil?' Here he is describing Othello and saying that he is not a pleasing sight to look at, therefore she will soon be looking for someone new to pleasure her. Using the word 'Devil' he is dehumanising Othello and making him seem abnornormal.


4. What more do we learn about the nature of Iago in Act 2? What is the effect of having him share his thoughts and plans with us through his soliloquies? Pay attention to the language used in Iago's soliloquies. What sorts of descriptive language does he use? How does it contribute to the picture of Iago that Shakespeare is drawing?
Iago is a villainous character that possesses a craft in manipulation. As he plots to rid Cassio of his rank and to make Othello believe Desdemona is not loyal, he gives the impression that he finds it more important to win the audience over rather then his fellow characters. Iago's attitudes towards women are very negative as he tends to objectify and dehumanise them, describing them as 'pictures out of doors, Bells in your parlours, wild-cats in your kitchens.' He is telling proverbs and strong and unequal stereotypes. By sharing his thoughts and plans with the audience through his soliloquies, he his trying to win their favour and get them on side. He finds this more important than the characters in general. In doing this, he can also manipulate the situation and make it seem much worse or completely different to how it is supposed to be portrayed. The language he tends to use in these is rather blunt, rude and villainous 'Yet again your fingers to your lips? Would they were clyster-pipes for your sake!' He describes Desdemona and Cassio's actions and makes them sound lustful and passionate to make the audience feel as if something is going on and to also make himself start to believe the lies he is telling. He also uses the semantic field of food to make the actions of the two characters sound sexual, for example 'her eye must be fed.' All of this is drawing a picture of a cruel and self-important character. He understands people's weaknesses and knows how to gain the trust of the desperate-Roderigo.