Extract 10 (act 3, scene 3)

Extract 10 (act 3, scene 3)

1. Introduction

   • "This scene illustrates how manipulative Iago really is and is an important scene to understand as this is where Iago plants the idea into Othello's head that something is going on between Desdemona and Cassio. e pretends to be reluctant to express his suspicion, but goes on to inflame Othello with the idea of a sexual affair between Cassio and Desdemona. "

2. Importance of money

   • "Who steals my purse steals trash" Ironic as he is falsely acclaiming that he does not care about money, he would rather be concerned about his reputation whilst he does care, so he is creating a facade for Othello.
     • "And makes me poor indeed" Ironic how he neglects and wants to show that he doesnt care about money whilst its one of the motifs that reoccurs throughout the whole play.
       • "Poor and content is rich and rich enough, but riches fineless is as poor as winter" Juxtaposition between poor and rich, indicating the intangible desire for wealth and reputation. This is ironic as it is the reason why he is doing it.
         • Simile stating that there is no lush life, metaphorical death for the "winter" as if being deprived which could be foreshadowing the deprivation of the truth from Iago's culling plan

3. Iago's manipulation/power shift

   • "I confess" religious confessions and sins to get rid of guilt, as if he is telling the audience he is guilty of something. As if he wants to purifying himself, creating absolution for himself.
     • "It is my nature's plague" confesses he is always suspicious about certain events, imaging things that didnt actually happen. Could foreshadow the lies about Desdemona's infidelity. Weakens his persona but shows Othello no reason to blame Iago's perceptions.
       • "that your wisdom yet" reversed ethos, appealing to Othello as he wants to be in his good books
         • Balance of power has shifted between both characters, as Othello is drawn in when he says "what dost thou mean?" He wants to know more, and he has been imperative previously in the act but Iago shifts the power as Othello is attracted (Iago's long sentences, Othello has very short sentences)
           • "If my heart" is representing the idea of Othello and Desdemona's love but this is ironic as Othello's heart is literally in Iago's hand as he is manipulating Othello. Othello will never know his true desires.
             • "O misery!" Othello is mirroring what Iago says, showing their power shift

4. Religious allusions

   • "By heaven, ill know thy thoughts" Repetition of religion/illusion/imagery
   • "Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves" D and S alliteration indicating that he will be damned if the reality doesnt hit him soon
   • "Virtue" and "virtuous" repetition indicating she is a better woman rather than Iago's representation of her, show how highly Othello thinks of her.

5. Jealousy and envy

   • "Cuckhold lives in bliss" Ironic as he is conveying his thoughts about jealousy whilst he is acting up the jealousy of Roderigo to gain money by seeking out Othello's marriage. The metaphorical representation of jealousy and envy. Metaphorically talking about someone who is unaware of their woman's infedility, living in ignorance, the monster, the money and the jewels is hinting at what is about to be revealed to Othello.
   • "The geen eyed monster" Idea of envy for Cassio/Othello, desperate evil
   • "Mocks the meat it feeds on" Othello is the representation of the meat, as Iago's jealousy is the green eyed monster. Iago is jealous Othello but further emphasizes his jealousy for Cassio.
   • "But riches fineless is as poor as winter" Analogy of jealousy and Desdemona being a possession
   • Irony as Iago is the one that is jealous

6. Othello

   • Talks in blank verse in his last paragraph, showing he is superior
     • "Why, why" Repetition of this shows he is doubting Iago's futile attempt to persuade him
       • "The changes of the moon" illustrate his fickleness, supposed to change our behaviour and this is what Othello does
         • "No; to be once in doubt" Emphatic denial
           • Punctuation shows the fragmentation in his thoughts and emotions
           • Animalistic imagery of the "goat" degrading himself
             • Juxtaposes the "green eyed monster"
           • Iago represents Desdemona as a gold digger but Othello thinks her emphatic nature is "fair, feeds well, loves company, free of speech"
       • Uses personal pronouns to state that its none of Iago's business and Othello is superior