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OTHELLO - Coggle Diagram
OTHELLO
Key Points in the Play
Act 1 Scene 3 - Othello's language and the way he talks, presents himself as an uneducated man, yet he speaks with alliteration, almost poetic.
Act 2 Scene 1 - Cassio's courtly love for Desdemona, demonstrating what Iago saw which gave him his plan.
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Act 4 Scene 1 - Othello overhears Cassio talking about Bianca with Iago but he thinks it's about Desdemona.
Act 5 Scene 2 - Desdemona's death, links to gender roles with how she feels like she is below him and she should have done better.
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Topics for Essays
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How do they use setting?
- Use of staging with Brabantio
- Use of the bedroom with its irony of how Othello's acts are not intimate
- Use of setting with race and acceptance
THEIS: Setting is utilized in Othello to interchange the dynamic of the play to highlight the characters' identity or status within the play by utilizing exterior and interior setting.
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Other/Context
Setting
Venice is traditionally an accepting society which is known for its religious and political tolerance.
Venice is a land of law and order - reflected in the characters as this is the peak of most of their arcs.
Cyprus is a hotter climate, carrying with it 'business of some heat' almost an expectation that it will be the setting for more concentrated passions, more primal human emotions/nature, more emotional conflict.
Geo Humorism could also play a part in the turbulence that follows the arrival to Cyprus. Was a Renaissance science that believed hotter climates meant people were more violent and jealous.
Symbolism
The handkerchief is symbolic of Othello and Desdemona's love. - it is a metonym for infidelity, otherwise known as a McGuffin
Stage Directions
[BRABANTIO appears from above] - Symbolic of the power he has in Venice, appearing above demonstrating his grandeur and status.
"exunt Emilia and Desdemona / enter BIANCA" - Bianca is alienated even from the only women in the play
Structure
MacGuffin plot, the handkerchief is the object in the play that keeps it in motion, allowing the characters to make the plot work.
Greek tragedy play, the climax of the play is the death of the characters and the denouement is the fixing where Iago is tortured.
Character Context
The courtly lover is a member of high society and concerned with the notions of honour and reputation.
Themes
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Race
'The Moor'
Traditionally, Venice is known for being culturally accepting, Shakespeare contradicts this with the idea of Othello being an outcast in their society.
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“a Barbary horse”
A horse from north african origin, referring to Othello's skin colour.
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Deception
'Honest Iago'
Highlights the irony of the matter that in fact he is not honest, he is causing Othello his problems.
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Main Characters
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Iago
'Honest Iago' - Irony in the fact that he is not in fact honest, he is the one who has caused chaos for Desdemona and Othello's relationship.
"I follow him to serve my turn upon him." - Highlights his motive for the play which keeps him going.
'He has done my office' - The fact that this is by himself highlights that there could be some truth to this as it is to no other character.
Desdemona
'I do perceive here a divided duty.' - Highlights how she is torn between her father and Othello, links to Elizabethan society standards.
Bradley 'Her stupidity is gross, but it is stupidity'
'Kill me tomorrow; let me live tonight.' - Links to Elizabethan gender roles, Desdemona pleading for her life as she feels like she is at fault for what has happened.
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"Then must you speak Of one that loved not wisely but too well." - Classic moment of anagnorisis where Othello realises that she has not done anything wrong and it was all a trick.
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Minor Characters
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Emilia
'What he will do with it, Heaven knows, not I.'
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Highlights how she doesn't really know her husband, foreshadowing his deceit to all of the characters in the play.
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Cassio
"a Florentine" - Highlights how he is an outsider like Othello, demonstrating a possible reason why he chose him in the first place.
Links to Machiavelli who was seemed to be devilish and deceiving, ironic as Iago is that instead.
"Hail to thee, lady! and the grace of heaven" - His courtly love as a Florentine, naturally flirty.
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