Othello Questions and Answers Graded A+

Othello Questions and Answers Graded A+ Does othello show megalopsychia? [ARISTOTELIAN] Othello is of high military status and respected by many being described as 'noble' and he is 'far more fair than black' However it's his journey from 'sold to slavery' and escaping 'cannibals' to his military position is what perhaps gives him his greatness of soul. He describes himself of having a 'perfect soul'. What adds to this is that due to racism not everyone sees him like this but he still sees himself like this (until manipulated) His megalopsychia is again proved at the end when he accepts what has happened and his ending 'blow me about in winds, roast me in sulphur'; just like Oedipus from Oedipus Rex he accepts his fate. What is Othello's hamartia? [ARISTOTELIAN] To a modern audience especially his fatal flaw would be to have blind trust in Iago: "I am bound to thee forever"; he trusts Iago so much Desdemona 'must die else she'll betray more men'. LINK to Shakespeare's purpose But Othello has know Iago a lot longer than Desdemona and Iago has a 'honest' reputation compared to stereotypes of women: "she has deceived her father, and may deceive thee". Iago also seems to know Othello better than Desdemona as she believes he is not jealous type: 'my noble Moor is true of mind' Othello's fatal flaw could be seen to doubt himself and cave to society pressures e.g. patriarchy, race. He calls Desdemona a 'strumpet' and Iago says 'tis a strumpets plague to beguile many' His jealousy could also be seen as a fatal flaw: [he falls in a trance] he falls into an epileptic fit due to jealousy NEED MORE ON OTHELLO'S JEALOUSY When is the peripeteia in Othello? [ARISTOTELIAN] Othello's downfall is shown from the start by Iago's intentions 'put the moor into a jealousy so strong that judgment cannot cure'. We are aware of Othello's fate. By using dramatic irony Shakespeare brings a sense of inevitability which is typical for a tragedy. But where is downfall really is is in A3S3. Othello's state of mind goes from 'for she had eyes and chose me' and 'I'll see before I doubt' to then claiming 'I'll tear her all to pieces'. All because Iago told Othello that Cassio mentioned Desdemona in his sleep. This leads to Desdemona and his death When is the anagnorisis in Othello? [ARISTOTELIAN] First signs of anagnorisis in Othello is immediately after he murders Desdemona 'my wife, my wife! What wife? I have no wife.' Repetition of 'wife' as well as change in punctuation emphasises his franticness and shows his realisation of wrongdoing. Which is highlighted again has he [falls on the bed]. This change in speech structure from the start where Othello speaks orderly shows his change. After he realises his wrongdoing he accepts his ending which shows him having megalopsychia. However Othello wants to be remembered as 'one that lov'd not wisely but too well' - explaining he killed her due to his love shows perhaps he didn't realise the true nature of situation What's Iago's reputation like and how does this impact his role as a tragic villain? First of all Iago has a good reputation: 'honest' and risen through the army on merit 'I know my price'. He's very good friend of Othello, councillor to Cassio and advices Desdemona so he is trusted. Shakespeare scholar BLOOM said Iago was an 'artist of evil' which could perhaps imply he intentionally set up his reputation and is evil by nature. Is Iago evil by nature? [TRAGIC VILLAIN] His various motives could be seen to be just a facade for himself; tries to find justification for his pleasure? He enjoys the torture he brings to people, he described it as 'for my sport and profit'. He takes pleasure in destroying love he does not understand; either interracial or perhaps he just doesn't know love due to being evil by nature: "he hath daily beauty in his life. That makes me ugly" He can be read as a devil incarnate. God says to Moses "I am that I am" to show he's god. Iago says in a soliloquy "I am not what I am" therefore could Iago be the opposite of God? He's also described as a 'viper'; devil in adam and eve which contrasts to the 'good' of Desdemona 'divine desdemona' He has a love of evil: he makes promises with no intentions of keeping and he leads people to their destruction; he sees people's vulnerabilities and exploits them which are all qualities of the devil in Renaissance plays. However what makes Iago truly evil is that he sets out to destroy Othello, but arguably the biggest victims in the play are the women. He has no regard or respect for women Is Iago fuelled by racism? [TRAGIC VILLAIN] He refers to Othello as 'the devil', 'barbary horse', 'making the beast of two backs', 'black ram