Othello

Othello

1. Love

   • Desdemona is frank about her sexual desire for her husband.
   • Quotes
     • 'Sweet Desdemona'
     • 'But I do love thee'
     • 'an old black ram is tupping your white ewe'
     • 'your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs'
   • It is questioned whether Desdemona and Othello actually consummated their marriage

2. Honesty and Faithfulness

   • Refers to chastity, the question of whether or not a woman is honest or whether she is promiscuous.
   • Iago tries to convince Othello that his wife is sexually dishonest.
   • As long as Desdemona has the handkerchief in her possession, she is chaste.
   • Quotes
     • 'Villian, be sure thou prove my love a whore!'
     • 'Give me the ocular proof!'
     • 'If she be false, O, then Heaven mocks itself!'

3. Violence in Relationships

   • Despite Desdemona's loyalty, Othello physically and verbally abuses Desdemona, slapping her and calling her a whore in public.
   • Desdemona is rather passive when Othello strangles her.
   • Desdemona blames herself for Othello's aggression, even though she is the victim.
   • Quotes
     • 'Not quite dead? I that am cruel yet merciful'
     • 'Ha! No more moving? Still as the grave'

4. Jealousy

   • Othello is jealous of other men who get Desdemona's attention
     • 'O, beware, my lord of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster!'

5. Homosexual Relationships

   • Cassio had a dream whilst sleeping next to Iago
     • Cassio grabbed Iago, kissed him and put his leg over him.
       • 'That grew upon my lips: men laid his leg over my thighs and sigh'd, and kiss'd'

6. Form

   • Shakespearean Tragedy
     • Ends in death
   • Play
     • Actors speak in dialogue

7. Structure

   • 5 acts
     • numerous scenes
   • 10 syllables per line
     • lines flow better
     • easier for actors to remember

8. Language

   • Animalistic Imagery
     • 'ram'
     • 'ewe'
   • Racism
     • 'black'
   • Irony
     • 'Honest Iago'
   • Character names related to religion
     • DesDEMONa
     • OtHELLo

9. Context

   • Written in the Elizabethan Era
   • Typical of Shakespeare's other tragedies
   • Audiences loved the drama