'Othello' - opposing ideas and images

'Othello' - opposing ideas and images

1. play take place in Venice

   • Moves to Cyprus
     • 3 out of 5 acts take place at night
       • night is full of danger
         • darkness and light
           • night covers the truth
             • othello's earlier speeches given in light
               • later they take place in darkness
               • sense of openess
         • Iago's activities associated with night
           • Iago associated with Devil
             • later Othello associated with the devil
             • angel and devil
               • angel/devil contrast shows Iago's success
                 • Othello begins to call Desdemona a devil
               • Desdemona associated with anger
         • deception

2. heaven and hell

   • through Iago's evil Othello descends into hell
     • "chaos is come again"
   • Othello begins in love
     • association with 'heaven'

3. black and white

   • black associated with the devil
     • Shakespeare reverses the idea
   • Desdemona
     • White
       • associated with purity
         • Iago wants to corrupt this
   • Othello
     • Iago's reference to Othello's blackness
       • racist
         • sexual stereotypes