| major theme | – reality vs appearance – duty towards leader vs duty to yourself in your own wishes (Iago) |
| Iago | low ranking official- possesses knowledge of military theory and experience (reality vs appearance)he believes people won’t be happy |
| Roderigo | Iago’s friendprevious suitor to Desdemona- Brabantio denies Roderigo’s marriage to her- causes tension with Othello |
| Brabantio | protective of daughter DesdemonaVenetian senator – power, authority, wealthbelieves Othello used witchcraft to win Desdemona |
| Othello | Moor – “the other” (not part of the majority)secretly married to Desdemonarespected Generalofficial ruler of Cyprus |
| what is Othello’s past? | being a slavego on many adventures see and fight odd creatures |
| How do Othello and Desdemona fall in love? | Desdemona loves him for his stories of adventures and accomplishmentsOthello loves her because she pities those stories |
| Desdemona | duty to her father or husband?- she chooses husband like her mother |
| what does the Duke say about Othello? | Othello is a good manappearance does not reflect his goodness(appearance vs reality) |
| iambic pentameter | – 5 feet per line- 2 syllables/foot (unstressed/stressed) |
| prose | = short stories, novelunrhymed and no meter (rhythm)- Shakespeare uses prose for comedy + reserved for coarseness, low class, baseness |
| blank verse | – iambic pentameter- no rhyme scheme |
| why does Iago speak iambic pentameter and prose? | – facade (lack of class but also his status in military)- double-sided |
| “we are thus or thus” | Iago believes we have choice in the way we act- we have power of free will (garden and gardeners) |
| soliloquoy | a speech to audience that is unheard by characters reveals true feelings |
| night and light | illustrates Iago’s duality |
| what is Iago’s plan for Othello? | he will lie to Othello and bring about Othello’s downfall by saying Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair |
| cannot distinguish sea from sky | cannot identify Reality vs Fantasy- blurred together |
| what does Iago describe himself as? | a spider that will catch Cassio in his web |
| what is the motive for Roderigo to help Iago? | he loves Desdemona |
| what is the motive for Iago to go against Othello? | animosity towards Othello for not promoting himhe believes that Othello and Emilia have an affair |
| what are Iago’s suspicions? | Othello: slept with EmiliaCassio:- actually in love with Desdemona- also slept with Emilia=> appearance vs reality |
| what do the motives and suspicions revolve around? | jealousy |
| what is Othello’s decision for Cassio after the fight? | Othello demotes Cassio despite their friendship |
Othello Act I&II notes Ahlm
August 5, 2019