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Othello by Shakespeare

 

 


 
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Symbols

 

 


 

Handkerchief:

  • Symbolizes Othello's love for Desdemona

  • Is also portrayed as Iago's form of manipulation

 

The "Willow" song:

  • Desdemona sings this song as she suffers the same way the widow in the song did

  • Leads Desdemona to askEmilia about infidelity

Themes


 

Love:

  • Love pushes the barriers of many characters

    • Roderigo will do anything Iago tells him in order to "win" over Desdemona's love

    • Othello married secretly for love and expresses a strong bond with Desdemona

    • Othello loves Cassio and it was difficult for him to fire Cassio as one of his officers

 

Reality and Appearance:

  • Iago is thought of as the most honest man by all of the characters

    • In reality, he is manipulative and full of lies

 

Jealousy:

  • Iago plays with Othello's insecurities and causes Othello to become jealous

  • Iago is jealous of Cassio receiving the position he wanted

Major Conflicts


 

  • Iago wants to be second in command

  • The war with the Turks

  • Iago plans to destroy Cassio and Othello

  • Roderigo wants Desdemona to love him, despite her being already married to Othello

  • Othello fighting with Iago in the final scene after the truth is revealed

Characters

Othello:

  • Is a Moor (African American)

  • Is the General of Venice's army

  • Is respected and powerful

  • Suffers from his insecurities

  • Is in love with his wife, Desdemona

  • Questions his wife of committing adultery

 

Desdemona:

  • Is the daughter of Brabantio

  • Secretly married to Othello

  • Speaks out for the justice and rights of women

    • Uses her wits

  • Defends herself when accused of cheating

Iago:

  • Lies and manipulates his way to be second in command

  • Is very malicious and evil

  • Lies to get what he wants

  • Does not care about the feelings of others


 

Cassio:

  • Is originally second in command before getting fired by Othello

  • Has a drinking problem

  • Young and inexperienced soldier

  • Good friends with Desdemona

 


 

Emilia:

  • Is Iago's wife

  • Is Desdemona's attendant and friend


 

Roderigo:

  • Is in love with Desdemona

  • Rich and foolish

  • Easily manipulated by Iago

    • Believes if he does what Iago tells him, he will win over Desdemona

    • Agrees to kill Cassio

 

Brabantio:

  • Is Desdemona's father

  • Is a senator

  • Does not like Othello for marrying his daughter

Motifs

Sight and Blindness:

  • Desdemona loves Othello aside from him being of a different ethnicity

    • Sees Othello for the man he truly is

  • Characters stare out into the sea as the play begins

  • Characters are blinded by Iago's "honesty" and don't realize he is manipulating and lying to them

  • Othello accuses Desdemona of cheating

    • Is blinded by Iago's lies and doesn't believe Desdemona

Significant Quotes

"But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at. I am not what I am." Iago

 

"I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs." ~Iago

 

"I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking." ~Cassio

 

"O! I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial." ~Cassio

 

"O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock
the meat it feeds on." ~Iago

 

 

Setting

  • 16th century

  • Venice and Cyprus

  • During the wars between Venice and Turkey


 

Author's Purpose

 


 

To show the effects of jealousy on a man's life

  • To show that not everyone is who they are thought to be

  • Be careful who you trust and find "honest"

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