Magic in Othello

Magic in Othello

1. '...Oh foul thief, where hast thou stowed my daughter? Damned as thou art, thou hast enchanted her, for I'll refer me all things of sense, if she in chains of magic were not bound,

2. 'she is abused and stolen from me, and corrupted by spells and medicines bought of mountebanks for nature so proposterously to err, being not defficient, blind or lame so sense, sans witchcraft could not.'

3. 'She loved me for all the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity them. This is the only witchcraft I have used

4. Magic is also featured when Desdemona's handkerchief is lost; Othello has too must trust in the symbolism and charm of the handkerchief, which is why it is so signifigant to him

   • Enraged Othello confronts Desdemona, telling her of it's magic. He tells her how is mother got it from an Egyptian sorceress. There was magic in it.
   • The strength of this belief shows he's quite easily led so this could link to him being led by Iago
     • "There is magic in the web of it"
     • "She was a charmer"

5. Multiple references to the Devil (at the time associated with witchcraft)

   • Othello frequently refered to as the devil because he was black
   • Othello openly refers to Iago as the Devil at the end of the play
     • This is turned around (like role reversal) which reflects how Othello becomes more like Iago

6. At the time people believed in witchcraft, sorcery and superstition

   • Shakespeare plays on this in Othello with many references to characters using magic

7. Love is presented as a different kind of magic but magic nonetheless- this draws an interesting contrast, as most magic was seen as evil by the audience at the time.

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