'Othello'

'Othello'

1. Jealousy

   • Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on. Act 3 Scene 3 170-73
   • Jealousy forces Othello's on the idea that Desdemona has betrayed him with Cassio and no other assurance or explanation can penetrate. Such an obsession eclipses Othello's reason, his common sense, and his respect for justice.
   • Iago plays on Othello's jealousy to get what he wants

2. Apearence vs Reality

   • For Othello, seeing is believing, and proof of the truth is visual.
   • Othello demands of Iago "Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore, be sure of it, give me the ocular proof" (Act 3, Scene 3).
     • What Iago gives him instead is imaginary pictures of Cassio and Desdemona to feed his jealousy.
   • The tragic plot of Othello hinges on the ability of Iago to mislead other characters, particularly Rodrigo and Othello by encouraging them to misinterpret what they see.
     • Othello is suseptuble to Iago's ploys because he himself is so honest and straight forward.
       • As Iago puts it: "The Moor is of a free and open nature/ That thinks men honest but seem to be so; and will as tenderly be led by the nose/ as asses are" (Act 2, scene 1, 391-4)

3. Love

   • love is a force that overcomes large obstacles and is tripped up by small ones. Eg, the issue of their races is bridged, but the small thing of comunication is overlooked
   • Othello
     • It provides Othello with intensity but not direction and gives Desdemona access to his heart but not his mind.
     • Othello finds that love in marriage needs time to build trust, and his enemy works too quickly for him to take that time.
   • Iago
     • Iago often falsely professes love in friendship for Roderigo and Cassio and betrays them both.
     • For Iago, love is leverage

4. Prejudice

   • Iago's scheme would not have worked without the underlying atmosphere of racial prejudice in Venetian society
   • Othello is not aware how deeply this prejudice has penetrated into his own personality.
     • This absorbed prejudice undermines him with thoughts akin to "I am not attractive," "I am not worthy of Desdemona," "It cannot be true that she really loves me," and "If she loves me, then there must be something wrong with her."
       • These thoughts, inflamed by Iago's hints and lies, prevent Othello from discussing his concerns and fears directly with Desdemona, and so he acts on panicked assumption