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Othello
Act 1, 'Moor' used for racial usage - Coggle Diagram
Othello
Act 1
Scene 1
We meet the villain before our tragic hero - unconventional (Iago has more lines than anyone in the play), we become complicit in his actions. Could be seen as Shakespeare's commentary on society and the clouded, racial judgements/ stereotypical views on black people when in fact, Othello's entrance is calm and humble.
Iago claims that Cassio is a 'bookish theoric', proclaiming that he is merely a student, unfit to be a soldier - Iago criticises Cassio highlighting Iago's dissatisfaction with him being promoted over him. Here, Iago is exposing his motivations for when he portrays Cassio and Desdemona to have an affair in order for his demotion and Iago's promotion.
Link to:
- drunk scene
- promotion scene
- handkerchief scene
"I will follow him to serve my turn upon him'
'I am not what I am'
Iago's duplicate nature is established from the beginning, the audience know not to take everything he says to be true, making it agonising and endurable for the audience to keep watching. His motivation also lies in the racial attitudes and questioning of authority / power becomes more explicit when Iago dismantles Othello's trust for Desdemona, progressively throughout the play.
Link to:
- promotion scene
- Iago's soliloquy
- A3.3
Iago plans to 'poison his delight' foreshadows later in the play, highlighting that this is Iago's premeditated plan for Othello
'Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe'
Iago repeats the word 'now' to make his accusation become more present and realistic in Brabantio's eyes, provoking Brabantio to share and recommence these racial views of Othello in a way that could ignite the beginning of his downfall, striking at his insecurities but also heighten the anger and disbelief Brabantio feels towards their enlopement
'charms' 'thieves'
Brabantio is in utter disbelief that he tries to make sense of their elopement by alternatively accusing Othello of magic and manipulation whereas it is Iago who is implicitly manipulating Brabantio to go forward with his rage and threaten Othello
Scene 2
'Let him do his spite'
he is unaffected by Brabantio's words so much that he disattaches himself from any of his accusations, remaining confident in his military status and his relationship with Desdemona, simultaneously portraying Brabantio as a fool in front of the Duke and Othello's colleagues. His confidence contrasts Iago's view on Othello, hlighlighting how poisonous and dark Iago's psyche is.
Cassio states to Othello that he has been 'hotly called for' solidifying Othello's well-respected status as lieutenant and how reliant people are on Othello whilst revealing the misjudgements Iago has of him. By Shakespeare placing Othello at such a high peak in his work, trust and as our hero, the magnitude of his downfall is heightened even more so.
Othello is now present; initially the audience will have established Othello as reckless and chaotic. However, his virtue and valour is seen as admirable through his military prowess and his ability to remain calm and humble despite Brabantio's claims or sorcery are proposed through his racial views and disbelief of his daughter and Othello's elopement. His confidence shines through, particularly impressive when Iago persuades him to run away from Brabantio but Othello has full confidence with the virtue of his actions.
Link to
- A3.3
- wanting to murder des
- A5.1
- talk with des
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'O thou foul thief, where has thou stowed my daughter?
'Chains of magic'
Othello is currently surrounded by people who trust and value him as a luitenant, leaving Brabantio's racial and spiteful words to contrast Othello's manners and behaviour towards him. Arguably, Brabntio doesn't see his daughter as being very significant with regards to her feelings, but rather is more angered over what she represents fro him and how this may damage his status - racial motivations
This ties in with the idea of marriage considered to be much more like a businesss transaction as a way of improving a family's finance and status - Desdemona subverts the marrietal social conventions at the time as she doesn't ask for brabantio's permission. this may then portray Othello's behaviour as despicable at the time as it goes against what was seen as morally right.
Scene 3
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'for my sport and profit'
he is treating his plan as something as easy as a 'sport' for him - highlights Iago as the villain
'She has deceived her father, and may thee'
these words are provoked with irony and provide an example of dramatic irony. Desdemona doesn't deceive Othello but soon Othello will be so convinced that she does deceive him - comment on women and infidelity always being at the women's fault?
Iago, is present here and this line from Brabantio almost supports his plan later on.
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'Honest Iago' epithets
Immediately, Othello turns to Iago and associates his character with trustworthy aspects - This helps Iago to manipulate and creates a sense of irony for the audience to experience because we've been introduced to Iago with duplicity
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Links
'put out the light' repeats
'it is the cause' 'it is the cause'
Othello is becoming more like Iago double meaning put out actual candle light put outndesdemonas infidelity put out his misery power women
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A3.3
'Beware my lord of jealousy' ... 'green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.
heavy irony, beware of jealousy even though this is what he wanted and can also relate to it due to him being its unfair by not getting luitenant. jealousy does consume both of them, leaving them to turn to extreme measures for revenge
multi-layered meaning
could be referring to Othello with wisdom of his own actions, implying that the general is not the one to be by his emotions
Summary
R has learnt about D+O's elopement through Iago.
R now hates O and I does too due to not getting a promotion, C does. They go to B's home and call out, telling him that O has robbed him of his daughter. B becomes angry and follows R to confront O. I leaves alone, allowing his hatred to be concealed in front of O. C arrives with a message from the duke, claiming that O is hotly called for in war due to Turkish attack. Angry B threaten O. O keeps calm and humbly about O+D love. D prophesies her love. They head to Cyprus and D insists she comes too. R is deeply sad and I advises him that the only way to winning D's heart is though selling all his property and to follow them to Cyprus to woo her. I then proclaims his revenge plan against O.
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