Othello timeline
Act 1 (Venice)
- Iago reveals to Brabantio that Othello has married Desdemona (Scene 1)
- Othello recalls how he and Desdemona fell in love (scene 3)
- Othello is sent to Cyprus to fight an enemy fleet
Act 2 (Cyprus)
- Othello and Desdemona arrive in Cyprus (scene 1)
- Iago forms his plan (scene 1)
- Cassio gets drunk, and is fired (scene 3)
- Iago develops his plan
Act 3 (Cyprus)
- Iago first suggests Desdemona’s infidelity to Othello, but he refuses to believe him without
proof (scene 3)
- Desdemona loses her handkerchief (scene 3)
- Othello asks Desdemona to show him the handkerchief, and she cant find it (scene 4)
Act 4 (Cyprus)
- Iago stages a conversation with Cassio about Bianca, but makes it seem to Othello that
they were talking about Desdemona
- Iago provokes Othello with more graphic images of Desdemona’s infidelity, leading him to
enter a epileptic fit
- Othello accuses Desdemona of cheating on him, but she strenuously denies it
- Othello hits Desdemona
- Roderigo confronts iago, but iago convinces him that he needs to kill Cassio
- Iago reassures Desdemona
- Emilia and Desdemona talk about Othello, with Emilia being concerned about his actions
whilst Desdemona remains loyal to him
Act 5 (Cyprus, with a return to Venice at the end of the Act)
- Othello kills Desdemona (scene 2)
- Othello oversees what be believes to be Cassio’s murder (scene 1)
- Emilia reveals Iago’s plot to Othello, which her husband kills her for (scene 2)
- Othello kills himself, dying next to his wife (scene 2)
- Ludovico and the others return to Venice to recall the events of Cyprus (scene 2)
Act 1 Key Quotes
Scene 1:
‘mere prattle without practice’ – Iago about Cassio’s soldiership
‘in following him I follow but myself’ – Iago about his following of Othello
‘I follow him to serve my turn upon him’ – Iago about his following of Othello
‘I am not what I am’ – duality within Iago
‘an old black ram is tupping your white ewe’
‘we cannot all be masters nor all masters cannot be truly followed’
,‘or else the devil will make a grandsire of you’
‘making the beast with two backs’
‘O treason of the blood!’ – Brabantio of Desdemona and Othello’s union
Scene 2
‘by Janus’ – Iago
‘she has deceived her father, and may thee’ – Brabantio to Othello
‘it was a violent commencement, and thou shalt see an answerable sequestration’ – Iago
‘these moors are changeable in their wills’ – Iago
O treason of the blood!’ – Brabantio
Scene 3
‘the valiant moor’
‘she loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity them’
‘she has deceived her father, and may thee’ Brabantio
‘Will as tenderly be led by the nose, as asses are’ Iago about Othello
‘The Moor is of a free and open nature, that thinks men honest that but seem to be so’ – Iago
‘I know not if it be true, but I for mere suspicion will do as if for surety’ – Iago
‘twixt my sheets’ – Iago about Othello
‘Hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light’
‘my life upon her faith’
Act 2 Key Quotes
Scene 1:
‘tis a worthy governor’ – Montano describing Othello
‘and the man commands like a full soldier’ – Montano describing Othello
‘players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds’ – Iagos cynical veiw of women
‘oh my fair warrior’ ‘my dear Othello’ – affectionate exchanges between the reunited couple
‘O, you are well tun’d now, but ill set down the pegs that make this music’ – Iago
‘I do suspect the lusty moor hath leap’d into my seat’ – Iago on Othello’s affair with Emilia
‘excels the quirks of blazoning pens’ – Cassio
‘heavenly Desdemona’ – Cassio
[they kiss]
Scene 2
‘these moors are changeable in their wills’ Iago
Scene 3:
,‘honest Iago’ – Cassio and Othello
‘I will turn their virtues into pitch, and out of her own goodness make the net that shall
enmesh them all’ – Iago in his scheming
Act 3 Key Quotes
Scene 1:
‘I never knew a Florentine more kind and honest’ – Cassio of Iago
Scene 3:
‘it is the green eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on’ – Iago to Othello
‘I’ll see before I doubt’ – Othello to Iago
‘ Iknow our country disposition well’ Iago
‘She did deceive her father, marrying you’ – Iago to Othello
‘my wayward husband hath a hundred times woo’d me to steal it’ ‘I nothing to please his
fantasy’ – Emilia about the handkerchief
‘ill tear her all to pieces’ – Othello about Desdemona
‘I will in Cassio’s lodging lose this napkin and let him find it’ Iago
Scene 4:
‘is he not jealous’ Emilia to Desdemona, who replies with ‘I think the sun where he was born
drew all such humours from him’
Act 4 Key Quotes
Scene 1:
‘A fine woman, a fair woman, a sweet woman’, ‘let her rot, and perished, and be damned
tonight, for she shall not live’ – Othello about Desdemona after seeing the handkerchief,
conflicted.
‘strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated’ – Iago of how Othello should kill
Desdemona
‘a customer’ – Cassio
‘I will chop her into messes. Cuckold me!’ – Othello 4.1
Scene 2:
‘alas, what ignorant sin have I committed’ – Desdemona to Othello
‘what, not a whore?’ – Othello
‘his unkindness may defeat my life, but never taint my love’ – Desdemona to Iago
‘my love doth so approve him that even his stubbornness, his checks, his frowns’ –
Desdemona
‘strumpet’ - Othello
, Scene 3:
‘dismiss your attendant there. Look’t be done’ – Othello commanding Desdemona
‘that there be women do abuse their husbands in such gross kinds?’ – Desdemona
Act 5 Key Quotes
Scene 1:
‘yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men’ – Othello
Scene 2:
‘nobody, I myself’ – Desdemona claiming she killed herself
‘thy match was mortal to him’ – Desdemona and Othello’s marriage killed Brabantio
‘Fall’n in the practice of a damned slave’ – Lodovico about Othello’s fall from a position of
authority
‘killing myself, to die upon a kiss’ – Othello after stabbing himself
lay me by my mistress’ side’ – Emilia
‘Hellish villain’ – Lodovico describing Iago
‘a guiltless death I die’ – Desdemona
‘o the more angel she, and you the blacker devil’ – Emilia
Character analysis
Iago:
Name meaning supplanter (to take over the place of someone else). This is Iago’s intention in
the play, to take over Cassio’s place as Othello’s lieutenant, being unhappy with the
conventional order of society and attempting to rise too quickly, paying the price for his
ambition when his plot is revealed at the end of the play.
Iago as a tragic villain Manipulative
The tragic villain directly affects the fortune of the ‘I know our country disposition well. In
hero, and is partly responsible for the hero’s demise, Venice they do let god see the pranks
with their actions causing destruction and tragedy. they dare not show their husbands ’ –
Iago 3.3
Manipulative of other peoples weaknesses: Iago
uses Othello’s insecurities to start to convince him
that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio in 3.3
Manipulating and conniving:
Iago as a Machiavellian villain ‘Will as tenderly be led by the nose, as
A Machiavellian villain is a character portrayed in asses are’ Iago 1.3 about Othello
literature who is a ‘puppet master’, using other ‘The Moor is of a free and open nature,
characters as tools in order to get what they desire. that thinks men honest that but seem to
They always operate in secrecy, concealing their true be so’ – Iago 1.3
intentions from everyone but revealing themselves in ‘I know our country disposition well. In
soliloquies. Venice they do let god see the pranks
they dare not show their husbands ’ –
‘one who deceives will always find those who allow Iago 3.3
,themselves to be deceived’ – Niccolo Machiavelli ‘oh you are well tun’d now, but ill set
down the pegs which make this music, as
Traits of a Machiavellian villain: honest as I am’ – Iago 2.1
- Manipulating and conniving (Iago uses
Othello’s insecurities to start to convince him that Lack of morality:
Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio in 3.3) ‘strangle her in her bed, even the bed
- Ambitious (Iago is ambitious in subverting the she hath contaminated’ Iago 4.1
conventional order of society, and wishes to rise
though it as quickly as possible by disrupting the Ambitious:
social hierarchy that betrays him by refusing to ‘we cannot all be masters nor all masters
follow his superior (Othello) cannot be truly followed’ 1.1
- Lack of morality (Iago is a liar, as well as seeing
others greatest vulnerabilities and using them to ‘hellish villain’ 5.2
destroy them, as he did with Othello’s jealousy, all
for no good reason but his love of evil) Two faced, revealing themselves in
- Two faced, revealing themselves in soliloquies:
soliloquies. (Iago presents himself as ‘honest ‘I am not what I am’ – Iago 1.1
Iago’, but reveals his true intentions in his ‘by Janus’ – Iago 1.2
soliloquys to the audience) ‘for I now thour’t full of love and honesty’
- Convinced means are justified (Iago uses the – Othello about Iago 3.3
rumour that Cassio and Othello have slept with ‘in following in him I follow but myself’
Emilia, although this is not true, he believes it as it Iago 1.1
is convenient for his agenda). ‘I follow him to serve my turn upon him’
- Self interested individualist (Iago only acts in ‘honest Iago’ – Othello and Cassio
self interest) ‘I never knew a Florentine more kind and
honest’ – Cassio 4.1
Convinced means are justified:
‘that twixt my sheets has done my office’
‘I do suspect the lusty Moor hath leaped
into my seat’ – Iago 2.1
‘I fear Cassio with my nightcap too’
‘I know not if it be true, but I for mere
suspicion will do as if for surety’ – Iago
1.3
Self interested individualist
‘put money in thy purse’ Iago 1.3
‘in following him, I follow but myself’ Iago
1.1
‘I follow him to serve my turn upon him’
Iago 1.1
‘but for my sport and profit’ – Iago 1.3
Iago as manipulative ‘O beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the
Iago attempts to manipulate the characters by green-eyed monster which doth mock
revealing and exploiting their fatal flaw to bring about the meat it feeds on’- Iago 3.3
their downfall. Iago effectively manipulates Othello, ‘turn her virtue into pitch, and out of her
Roderigo, and Cassio. His cunning manipulation sets own goodness make the net that shall
the tragic events of the play into motion. enmesh them all’ – Iago 2.3
- Manipulation of Othello: Iago presents himself ‘ill pour this pestilence into his ear’ – Iago
as an honest individual to Othello, enabling 2.3
Othello to place his trust in him. He also ‘I know our country disposition well. In
manipulates Othello’s insecurities to convince him Venice they do let God see the pranks
that Desdemona is unfaithful from Act 3 Scene 3. they dare not show their husbands’ –
- Manipulation of Roderigo: Iago manipulates Iago 3.3
Roderigo’s love for Desdemona in order to ‘Iago, who hast had my purse/as if the
persuade him that he can win Desdemona’s hand strings were thine’ – Roderigo
in marriage. ‘put money in thy purse’ – Iago
- Manipulation of Cassio: Iago controls Cassio by
, making use of his good character and low
tolerance for alcohol, enabling Iago to obtain his
lieutenant position
Iago as a misogynist ‘the wine she drinks is made of grapes’ –
Iago holds extremely cynical veiws of women, and Iago 2.1
serves as a mouthpiece for misogyny, frequently ‘players in your housewifery, and
making offensive comments about women in both housewives in your beds’ - Iago 2.1
private asides and soliloquys and public ‘villainous whore’ – Iago 5.2
conversations. Iago’s misogyny manifests with his
trait of toxic masculinity, defined by his sexual
jealousy and exaggerated pride.
Iago as a racist a black ram is tupping your white ewe’ –
Racially motivated hatred and xenophobic Iago 1.1
ideology is associated with Iago, undermining the ‘ram’, ‘barbary horse’ – Iago 1.1
legitimacy of this ideology. With the play condemning ‘hellish villain’ – Lodovico 5.2
Iago’s deeds, it scrutinises the racial stereotyping of ‘we cannot all be masters nor all masters
contemporary English society. cannot be truly followed’ – Iago 1.1
gross clasps of a lascivious moor’ - Iago
1.1
Iago as vengeful ‘I hate the moor’
Iago obsessed over the idea that Emilia has slept with I follow him to serve my turn upon him’ –
Othello, and is intent on revenge, despite the lack of Iago 1.1
proof that this event ever occurred. He also wishes He plans a ‘double knavery’ to destroy
revenge on Cassio, who he also believes to have slept Cassio and Othello
with his wife, but also because Iago believes Cassio ‘I know my price, I am worth no worse a
shouldn’t have been promoted to the role of place’ Iago 1.1
lieutenant. ‘nothing can or will content my soul until
I am evened with him wife for wife’ - Iago
Emilia:
Emilia becomes a parallel to Desdemona, as another woman killed by her husband for
insisting on a truth that he did not want to hear.
Emilia as a defiant woman ‘the ills we do, their ills instruct us so’ –
Emilia is the only female character which shows Emilia 4.3
contempt for the patriarchal society in which they ‘I think it’s a husband’s fault if their wives
live, being an advocate for gender equality, as do fail. Let them know their wives have
demonstrated through her conversations with sense like them’ Emilia 4.3
Desdemona, in which her veiw is contrasted with
Desdemona’s naïve outlook of life.
- Emilia’s character symbolises women who were
trying to break free from the established
renaissance order and gain more power. This is
highlighted through her veiws that women should
be able to act in a similar way to men without
being punished.
Emilia with conflicting loyalties ‘my stubborn husband hath a hundred
Emilia has conflicting loyalties in terms of her loyalty times wooed me to steal it ’ – Emilia 3.3
to her husband and her loyalty to Desdemona as her ‘I nothing but to please his fantasy’ 3.3
mistress. ‘but she so loves the token’ – Emilia 3.3
- She follows Iago in wifely duty, even staying ‘I know not madam’ – Emilia 3.4 in reply to
loyal to him over Desdemona in terms of the Desdemona asking where her
handkerchief, when Emilia retrieves it for her handkerchief is.
husband despite knowing the sentimental ‘lay me by my mistress’ side’ – Emilia 5.2
significance of it to Desdemona.
- However, at the end of the pay she demonstrates
her loyalty to her mistress, denouncing Iago’s
lies and asking to be laid next to Desdemona in
her dying moments, despite it being tradition for
husband and wife to be buried next to each other,
Act 1 (Venice)
- Iago reveals to Brabantio that Othello has married Desdemona (Scene 1)
- Othello recalls how he and Desdemona fell in love (scene 3)
- Othello is sent to Cyprus to fight an enemy fleet
Act 2 (Cyprus)
- Othello and Desdemona arrive in Cyprus (scene 1)
- Iago forms his plan (scene 1)
- Cassio gets drunk, and is fired (scene 3)
- Iago develops his plan
Act 3 (Cyprus)
- Iago first suggests Desdemona’s infidelity to Othello, but he refuses to believe him without
proof (scene 3)
- Desdemona loses her handkerchief (scene 3)
- Othello asks Desdemona to show him the handkerchief, and she cant find it (scene 4)
Act 4 (Cyprus)
- Iago stages a conversation with Cassio about Bianca, but makes it seem to Othello that
they were talking about Desdemona
- Iago provokes Othello with more graphic images of Desdemona’s infidelity, leading him to
enter a epileptic fit
- Othello accuses Desdemona of cheating on him, but she strenuously denies it
- Othello hits Desdemona
- Roderigo confronts iago, but iago convinces him that he needs to kill Cassio
- Iago reassures Desdemona
- Emilia and Desdemona talk about Othello, with Emilia being concerned about his actions
whilst Desdemona remains loyal to him
Act 5 (Cyprus, with a return to Venice at the end of the Act)
- Othello kills Desdemona (scene 2)
- Othello oversees what be believes to be Cassio’s murder (scene 1)
- Emilia reveals Iago’s plot to Othello, which her husband kills her for (scene 2)
- Othello kills himself, dying next to his wife (scene 2)
- Ludovico and the others return to Venice to recall the events of Cyprus (scene 2)
Act 1 Key Quotes
Scene 1:
‘mere prattle without practice’ – Iago about Cassio’s soldiership
‘in following him I follow but myself’ – Iago about his following of Othello
‘I follow him to serve my turn upon him’ – Iago about his following of Othello
‘I am not what I am’ – duality within Iago
‘an old black ram is tupping your white ewe’
‘we cannot all be masters nor all masters cannot be truly followed’
,‘or else the devil will make a grandsire of you’
‘making the beast with two backs’
‘O treason of the blood!’ – Brabantio of Desdemona and Othello’s union
Scene 2
‘by Janus’ – Iago
‘she has deceived her father, and may thee’ – Brabantio to Othello
‘it was a violent commencement, and thou shalt see an answerable sequestration’ – Iago
‘these moors are changeable in their wills’ – Iago
O treason of the blood!’ – Brabantio
Scene 3
‘the valiant moor’
‘she loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity them’
‘she has deceived her father, and may thee’ Brabantio
‘Will as tenderly be led by the nose, as asses are’ Iago about Othello
‘The Moor is of a free and open nature, that thinks men honest that but seem to be so’ – Iago
‘I know not if it be true, but I for mere suspicion will do as if for surety’ – Iago
‘twixt my sheets’ – Iago about Othello
‘Hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light’
‘my life upon her faith’
Act 2 Key Quotes
Scene 1:
‘tis a worthy governor’ – Montano describing Othello
‘and the man commands like a full soldier’ – Montano describing Othello
‘players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds’ – Iagos cynical veiw of women
‘oh my fair warrior’ ‘my dear Othello’ – affectionate exchanges between the reunited couple
‘O, you are well tun’d now, but ill set down the pegs that make this music’ – Iago
‘I do suspect the lusty moor hath leap’d into my seat’ – Iago on Othello’s affair with Emilia
‘excels the quirks of blazoning pens’ – Cassio
‘heavenly Desdemona’ – Cassio
[they kiss]
Scene 2
‘these moors are changeable in their wills’ Iago
Scene 3:
,‘honest Iago’ – Cassio and Othello
‘I will turn their virtues into pitch, and out of her own goodness make the net that shall
enmesh them all’ – Iago in his scheming
Act 3 Key Quotes
Scene 1:
‘I never knew a Florentine more kind and honest’ – Cassio of Iago
Scene 3:
‘it is the green eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on’ – Iago to Othello
‘I’ll see before I doubt’ – Othello to Iago
‘ Iknow our country disposition well’ Iago
‘She did deceive her father, marrying you’ – Iago to Othello
‘my wayward husband hath a hundred times woo’d me to steal it’ ‘I nothing to please his
fantasy’ – Emilia about the handkerchief
‘ill tear her all to pieces’ – Othello about Desdemona
‘I will in Cassio’s lodging lose this napkin and let him find it’ Iago
Scene 4:
‘is he not jealous’ Emilia to Desdemona, who replies with ‘I think the sun where he was born
drew all such humours from him’
Act 4 Key Quotes
Scene 1:
‘A fine woman, a fair woman, a sweet woman’, ‘let her rot, and perished, and be damned
tonight, for she shall not live’ – Othello about Desdemona after seeing the handkerchief,
conflicted.
‘strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated’ – Iago of how Othello should kill
Desdemona
‘a customer’ – Cassio
‘I will chop her into messes. Cuckold me!’ – Othello 4.1
Scene 2:
‘alas, what ignorant sin have I committed’ – Desdemona to Othello
‘what, not a whore?’ – Othello
‘his unkindness may defeat my life, but never taint my love’ – Desdemona to Iago
‘my love doth so approve him that even his stubbornness, his checks, his frowns’ –
Desdemona
‘strumpet’ - Othello
, Scene 3:
‘dismiss your attendant there. Look’t be done’ – Othello commanding Desdemona
‘that there be women do abuse their husbands in such gross kinds?’ – Desdemona
Act 5 Key Quotes
Scene 1:
‘yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men’ – Othello
Scene 2:
‘nobody, I myself’ – Desdemona claiming she killed herself
‘thy match was mortal to him’ – Desdemona and Othello’s marriage killed Brabantio
‘Fall’n in the practice of a damned slave’ – Lodovico about Othello’s fall from a position of
authority
‘killing myself, to die upon a kiss’ – Othello after stabbing himself
lay me by my mistress’ side’ – Emilia
‘Hellish villain’ – Lodovico describing Iago
‘a guiltless death I die’ – Desdemona
‘o the more angel she, and you the blacker devil’ – Emilia
Character analysis
Iago:
Name meaning supplanter (to take over the place of someone else). This is Iago’s intention in
the play, to take over Cassio’s place as Othello’s lieutenant, being unhappy with the
conventional order of society and attempting to rise too quickly, paying the price for his
ambition when his plot is revealed at the end of the play.
Iago as a tragic villain Manipulative
The tragic villain directly affects the fortune of the ‘I know our country disposition well. In
hero, and is partly responsible for the hero’s demise, Venice they do let god see the pranks
with their actions causing destruction and tragedy. they dare not show their husbands ’ –
Iago 3.3
Manipulative of other peoples weaknesses: Iago
uses Othello’s insecurities to start to convince him
that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio in 3.3
Manipulating and conniving:
Iago as a Machiavellian villain ‘Will as tenderly be led by the nose, as
A Machiavellian villain is a character portrayed in asses are’ Iago 1.3 about Othello
literature who is a ‘puppet master’, using other ‘The Moor is of a free and open nature,
characters as tools in order to get what they desire. that thinks men honest that but seem to
They always operate in secrecy, concealing their true be so’ – Iago 1.3
intentions from everyone but revealing themselves in ‘I know our country disposition well. In
soliloquies. Venice they do let god see the pranks
they dare not show their husbands ’ –
‘one who deceives will always find those who allow Iago 3.3
,themselves to be deceived’ – Niccolo Machiavelli ‘oh you are well tun’d now, but ill set
down the pegs which make this music, as
Traits of a Machiavellian villain: honest as I am’ – Iago 2.1
- Manipulating and conniving (Iago uses
Othello’s insecurities to start to convince him that Lack of morality:
Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio in 3.3) ‘strangle her in her bed, even the bed
- Ambitious (Iago is ambitious in subverting the she hath contaminated’ Iago 4.1
conventional order of society, and wishes to rise
though it as quickly as possible by disrupting the Ambitious:
social hierarchy that betrays him by refusing to ‘we cannot all be masters nor all masters
follow his superior (Othello) cannot be truly followed’ 1.1
- Lack of morality (Iago is a liar, as well as seeing
others greatest vulnerabilities and using them to ‘hellish villain’ 5.2
destroy them, as he did with Othello’s jealousy, all
for no good reason but his love of evil) Two faced, revealing themselves in
- Two faced, revealing themselves in soliloquies:
soliloquies. (Iago presents himself as ‘honest ‘I am not what I am’ – Iago 1.1
Iago’, but reveals his true intentions in his ‘by Janus’ – Iago 1.2
soliloquys to the audience) ‘for I now thour’t full of love and honesty’
- Convinced means are justified (Iago uses the – Othello about Iago 3.3
rumour that Cassio and Othello have slept with ‘in following in him I follow but myself’
Emilia, although this is not true, he believes it as it Iago 1.1
is convenient for his agenda). ‘I follow him to serve my turn upon him’
- Self interested individualist (Iago only acts in ‘honest Iago’ – Othello and Cassio
self interest) ‘I never knew a Florentine more kind and
honest’ – Cassio 4.1
Convinced means are justified:
‘that twixt my sheets has done my office’
‘I do suspect the lusty Moor hath leaped
into my seat’ – Iago 2.1
‘I fear Cassio with my nightcap too’
‘I know not if it be true, but I for mere
suspicion will do as if for surety’ – Iago
1.3
Self interested individualist
‘put money in thy purse’ Iago 1.3
‘in following him, I follow but myself’ Iago
1.1
‘I follow him to serve my turn upon him’
Iago 1.1
‘but for my sport and profit’ – Iago 1.3
Iago as manipulative ‘O beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the
Iago attempts to manipulate the characters by green-eyed monster which doth mock
revealing and exploiting their fatal flaw to bring about the meat it feeds on’- Iago 3.3
their downfall. Iago effectively manipulates Othello, ‘turn her virtue into pitch, and out of her
Roderigo, and Cassio. His cunning manipulation sets own goodness make the net that shall
the tragic events of the play into motion. enmesh them all’ – Iago 2.3
- Manipulation of Othello: Iago presents himself ‘ill pour this pestilence into his ear’ – Iago
as an honest individual to Othello, enabling 2.3
Othello to place his trust in him. He also ‘I know our country disposition well. In
manipulates Othello’s insecurities to convince him Venice they do let God see the pranks
that Desdemona is unfaithful from Act 3 Scene 3. they dare not show their husbands’ –
- Manipulation of Roderigo: Iago manipulates Iago 3.3
Roderigo’s love for Desdemona in order to ‘Iago, who hast had my purse/as if the
persuade him that he can win Desdemona’s hand strings were thine’ – Roderigo
in marriage. ‘put money in thy purse’ – Iago
- Manipulation of Cassio: Iago controls Cassio by
, making use of his good character and low
tolerance for alcohol, enabling Iago to obtain his
lieutenant position
Iago as a misogynist ‘the wine she drinks is made of grapes’ –
Iago holds extremely cynical veiws of women, and Iago 2.1
serves as a mouthpiece for misogyny, frequently ‘players in your housewifery, and
making offensive comments about women in both housewives in your beds’ - Iago 2.1
private asides and soliloquys and public ‘villainous whore’ – Iago 5.2
conversations. Iago’s misogyny manifests with his
trait of toxic masculinity, defined by his sexual
jealousy and exaggerated pride.
Iago as a racist a black ram is tupping your white ewe’ –
Racially motivated hatred and xenophobic Iago 1.1
ideology is associated with Iago, undermining the ‘ram’, ‘barbary horse’ – Iago 1.1
legitimacy of this ideology. With the play condemning ‘hellish villain’ – Lodovico 5.2
Iago’s deeds, it scrutinises the racial stereotyping of ‘we cannot all be masters nor all masters
contemporary English society. cannot be truly followed’ – Iago 1.1
gross clasps of a lascivious moor’ - Iago
1.1
Iago as vengeful ‘I hate the moor’
Iago obsessed over the idea that Emilia has slept with I follow him to serve my turn upon him’ –
Othello, and is intent on revenge, despite the lack of Iago 1.1
proof that this event ever occurred. He also wishes He plans a ‘double knavery’ to destroy
revenge on Cassio, who he also believes to have slept Cassio and Othello
with his wife, but also because Iago believes Cassio ‘I know my price, I am worth no worse a
shouldn’t have been promoted to the role of place’ Iago 1.1
lieutenant. ‘nothing can or will content my soul until
I am evened with him wife for wife’ - Iago
Emilia:
Emilia becomes a parallel to Desdemona, as another woman killed by her husband for
insisting on a truth that he did not want to hear.
Emilia as a defiant woman ‘the ills we do, their ills instruct us so’ –
Emilia is the only female character which shows Emilia 4.3
contempt for the patriarchal society in which they ‘I think it’s a husband’s fault if their wives
live, being an advocate for gender equality, as do fail. Let them know their wives have
demonstrated through her conversations with sense like them’ Emilia 4.3
Desdemona, in which her veiw is contrasted with
Desdemona’s naïve outlook of life.
- Emilia’s character symbolises women who were
trying to break free from the established
renaissance order and gain more power. This is
highlighted through her veiws that women should
be able to act in a similar way to men without
being punished.
Emilia with conflicting loyalties ‘my stubborn husband hath a hundred
Emilia has conflicting loyalties in terms of her loyalty times wooed me to steal it ’ – Emilia 3.3
to her husband and her loyalty to Desdemona as her ‘I nothing but to please his fantasy’ 3.3
mistress. ‘but she so loves the token’ – Emilia 3.3
- She follows Iago in wifely duty, even staying ‘I know not madam’ – Emilia 3.4 in reply to
loyal to him over Desdemona in terms of the Desdemona asking where her
handkerchief, when Emilia retrieves it for her handkerchief is.
husband despite knowing the sentimental ‘lay me by my mistress’ side’ – Emilia 5.2
significance of it to Desdemona.
- However, at the end of the pay she demonstrates
her loyalty to her mistress, denouncing Iago’s
lies and asking to be laid next to Desdemona in
her dying moments, despite it being tradition for
husband and wife to be buried next to each other,
