English Literature: BIG question

Reflect on Act 3 scene 3 so far. Do you think Iago is an opportunist or a strategist? You must give reasons for your response, with quotations from the play to support your opinion. 


I believe that Iago is an opportunist, as Emilia provides him with a small item that can make such a big difference in Iago's hands. the handkerchief she gives him allows Iago to provide 'proof' for Othello that his wife is cheating on him. When Iago and Othello talk, Iago plants seeds in his head when Cassio and Desdemona are talking he says ' ha, I like not that' he gives Othello the impression that something is going on and there is reason to be suspicious. When Othello asks him about it, Iago replies with 'Nothing' this is a crude reference as back in the Shakespearean times it meant that they were having sexual relations. After this conversation of Othello denying that she would cheat as he says 'she had eyes and chose me. No Iago, I'll see before I doubt, when I doubt, prove.' this gives Iago's next plan as Othello has told Iago what he must do to make him believe. this links back to the fact Emilia gives Iago the handkerchief thinking she will receive affection and sexual gratification in return, but she has just aided to Iago's evil plan to destroy Othello.

English Literature: Othello Act 3 Scene 3 questions.

Scene 3:

For what two reasons does Desdemona agree to plead Cassio's case?

She wants to get them back to being best friends and she believes he is good at his job so that’s why she will try to persuade Othello to give Cassio his job back.

What is Iago referring to when he says, "Ha! I like not that."

Iago gives the impression that he should not being saying something and he is holding back important information.

After Othello repeatedly urges Iago to tell him what's on his mind, Iago says "O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;/It is the green eyed monster, which doth mock / The meat it feeds on." What is Othello's response? What does he want from Iago?

Othello wants to know what Iago is holding back and why he keeps inferring that his wife is a cheat and this just winds up Othello more as it just makes Iago appear innocent and Desdemona even more guilty.

What does Iago say about the women of Venice?

Iago says that women of Venice only go for men who are of their own ‘clime, complexion and degree’ this is Iago saying how not in any way is Othello suited to her because he is not of the same age, skin colour or social class as Desdemona.

What contextual evidence do we have to support Iago's views of Venetian women?

Venetian women were seen to be prostitutes and even married women are said to sleep around with any man that they can get their hands on.

Why might this cause Othello to believe this or, at least, not dismiss it immediately?

Othello has always worried that their age gap may affect things, but I believe that he just doesn’t want to believe that his wife would even cheat on him, let alone before he knows the reasons behind it.

Who echoes Brabantio's earlier warning to Othello?

Iago warned Othello that just like back in Venice, Desdemona had deceived her father with Othello, so there’s reason she may do it to Othello with another man. 

Desdemona's handkerchief becomes an important piece of stage business. Why did Desdemona produce it? What happens to it? What might this symbolise? What happens to it? What does Emilia plan to do with it?

Desdemona produces the handkerchief as Othello gets a headache and she want to make him feel better, as they believed that helped headaches. When Othello says it’s too small, inferring that her love is not enough, she drops it and doesn’t realise. This could symbolise their loss of love. Emilia finds it and picks it up as she knows Iago wants it, she doesn’t know what he plans  do with it, but she thinks she may receive sexual gratification in return.

What does Iago plan to do with the handkerchief?

Iago wishes to plant it in Cassio’s bedroom so that Othello can see him with it and start to believe that his wife is cheating on him with his second man.

When Othello returns to the scene upset, what warning does he give Iago?

He indicates to Iago that he is angry and believes that what Iago has told him is false information. He takes it out on Iago because he is confused and doesn’t know what to believe as he trusts Iago but prays that his wife hasn’t cheated on him either.

What 'proof' of Desdemona's disloyalty does Iago give Othello?

Iago’s ‘proof’ is that when they were asleep together, Iago couldn’t sleep and heard Cassio talking in his sleep saying to Desdemona that they must hide their love, as Cassio started kissing Iago’s hand and humping his leg as if it was Desdemona. 

What is Iago's final 'proof'?

Cassio wiping his beard on the strawberry handkerchief as it was an ordinary napkin and worthless.

What is noticeable about Othello's language in this scene? 

It becomes mono-syllabic when talking with Iago, until he produces a massive speech on how he now believes that Desdemona has cheated on him and he is heartbroken and insults her.

English Literature: Act 1 Othello Questions.

Act 1

1.	How does Shakespeare present the world of Venice in the first act, and how does he construct the interactions of his central characters (Iago, Othello, and Desdemona) with that Venetian world and with each other. How are these interactions complicated by the fact that Othello is a Moor and that Desdemona is a young women? Venice is shown to be a bastion of civilization, and is relatively a quiet place. Iago is very cunning and wants to destroy Othello. However, surrounded by his men Othello is very well protected and of high authority, his presence is strong and Iago is jealous of that, because a 'Moor' is higher status to him. Othello and Desdemona's love is very strong and the passion is shown in the first act as they are newly together. But even when Desdemona's father questions and disapproves of Othello she has his back but of their society's attitudes, his love even called him a 'Moor' which is offensive. So that shows how respected and how it complicates them later on in the acts. She is a young woman, and he is older therefore and from the previous lack of being offensive, it could mean that gullible Othello is easier to persuade.
2.	What sort of person is Iago, as he appears in act 1? Are you satisfied by the reasons he gives for hating Othello? What is Iago's relationship with Roderigo?I believe that Iago is a jealous, malicious psychopath. from the values and attitudes made by society against culturally different people, Iago cannot bare the fact that a 'Moor' is of higher status to him. Iago, clearly has psychological issues, as no one else in the play has issues with Othello being in authority. Iago is very psychological manipulative and persuading, as just by his  words he can very quickly influence Roderigo. Roderigo is very foolish and jealous of Othello and Desdemona's marriage so he is very easily persuaded into ruining their relationship in order to be with Desdemona, but that isn't Iago's plan.
3.	What sort of language does Iago use? What sort of language does Othello use? What might be the significance of this difference? Iago uses rhetoric language, as he is very persuasive in order top exploit Roderigo, and in the end get he wants, but by manipulation no evidence will be upon him after it, because he has got Roderigo, the exploited participant to do his work. However, Othello uses restricted code, because he is not as well elaborative. This results in it being inconsistent, throughout the play his language continues to change and vary the more Iago get into his head. Iago is intelligent than Othello, and he puts his trust in Iago by calling him 'honest Iago', this is what allows Iago to have more significance in manipulating Othello to his wife's infidelity. the opposites in their language suggest that Othello will be the weaker character, as he does not have the power with words, where as Iago having rhetoric means that it is very easy to persuade people to do or think  what he wants.

English Literature: Othello Questions.

Why do Iago and Roderigo wake Brabantio?
Iago and Roderigo wake Brabantio as they need to tell him that his daughter has married a man, without him knowing, and that he is black.


How does Brabantio believe Othello ‘won’ his daughter, Desdemona?
Brabantio believed that Othello enchanted her with his 'chains of magic'.


How does Othello believe he ‘won’ Desdemona?
Othello on the other hand believes that he just wooed her .


What two reasons are there for Othello appearing before the senate?
Othello appears before the senate to explain of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Then Brabantio accuses Othello of spells so he has to explain his relationship and speak for himself before the Duke.
What do we learn about Othello’s past?
We learn that Othello was a slave in the past and he managed to escape but his marks show the memories.


What terms are used to describe Othello whilst in front of the senate?
A term used is a ' black ram' and is used to say when he is having intercourse with Desdemona.
Also, the 'moor' which is even used by his wife, which is a racist term.




What is significant about Brabantio’s rhyming couplet “Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to
see. She has deceived her father, and may thee.”?
The rhyming couplet shows that if she can deceive once, she will do it again. And when Iago makes a rumour, it is easier for Othello to believe it as she has done it once to his father. This foreshadows the future events.


Can you find an example of dramatic irony in Othello’s retort?
Iago calls himself honest to Othello, when it will be him who deceives him as he makes a rumour up. Also, the audience know this so it creates dramatic irony.


What does Iago persuade Roderigo to do?
Iago contradicts him “Put but money in thy purse,” Iago tells this to Roderigo repeatedly, and urging him to Cyprus. Iago promises to work everything out from there.


What do we learn from Iago’s soliloquy?
Iago is jealous and psychotic as he is jealous of the others in the army and Othello, therefore he goes out to only serve himself and ruin Othello's relationship, as he doesn't care about Roderigo either.