Othello Notes Essay

Submitted By kiaraaedwards
Words: 2631
Pages: 11
Open Document
Othello Notes
Context: Othello is set in a private world and focuses on the passions and personal lives of its major figures.
Plot: Othello is a highly esteemed general in the service of Venice. Iago is Othello's ambitious friend and ensign. However, he promotes the Florentine Michael Cassio to the position of personal lieutenant and Iago is deadly jealous. Iago begins an evil and malicious campaign against the hero.
Act 1 Scene 1: The opening scene introduces, at least by name, the major players in the drama and sets in motion the major action of the play: Iago’s pursuit of revenge against Othello. It tells us also that a war is going on.
Roderigo and Iago are arguing in a Venetian street. Roderigo has hopes of marrying Desdemona, the daughter of a Venetian Senator, Brabantio.
Roderigo suspects that Iago knew about the secret marriage between Desdemona and Othello- Iago defends himself by saying that he had no idea that Othello planned to marry Desdemona and that he hates Othello.
The reason he hates Othello, he says, is that Othello promoted another solider, Michael Cassio, to become his lieutenant. Iago believes himself to be far better solider than Cassio and resents being passed over.
Iago continues to serve Othello- only pretending to serve Othello’s interests. He is really only using Othello to serve his own interests.
Iago incites Roderigo to call out to Brabantio to tell him that his daughter has eloped with Othello- only Roderigo identifies himself
Brabantio doesn’t think highly of Roderigo- thinks he is causing trouble- based on the past when he was wooing Desdemona.
Brabantio discovers Desdemona is not in the house- he comes into the street and asks Roderigo to lead him to Othello and his daughter.
The Moor: Shakespeare's audience would have come to the theatre with a prejudiced view of Othello. For Shakespeare’s audience, the word ‘Moor’ carried with it many suggestions, none of them positive. A Moor was a Moslem from North Africa (North African Moslems occupied much of Spain and were seen as a real threat to Christian Europe). Because of ignorance, Shakespeare's audience viewed Moslems as evil and inspired by the devil. The devil was usually presented in the theatre of the time as black. Shakespeare's audience would make certain assumptions about any Moor who might appear in a play; he would be foreign or strange, he would be evil, that is ‘black’ of spirit, and he would be ‘bestial’, particularly in sexual terms. This is the stereotypical Moor that Shakespeare’s audience would have expected to see on stage.
They were also seen as salves or servants, not people with status or authority in society- arrived in England as a result of the conflict in Spain.
Othello's ‘blackness’ is stressed through Iago’s reference to him as ‘thicklips’ and his animal sexual nature is emphasised by Iago’s description of him as an ‘old black ram’. The sexual act is described as ‘making the beast with two back’s.’
Act 1 Scene 2: Iago returns to Othello and warns him that Brabantio is searching for him
Othello answers that he does not fear Brabantio and declares his love for Desdemona
Cassio enters with the news that Venice is on the brink of war and Othello's presence is required urgently before the Duke of Venice.
Brabantio and armed assistants now arrive on the scene and Brabantio accuses Othello of seducing Desdemona with witchcraft.
Othello informs Barbantio that the Duke has summoned him and Brabantio agrees to the Duke hearing his complaints.
Passion over reason
Avoid facing unpleasant truths- deceiving others as well as ourselves
Othello- not uncivilised- but in control of his feelings- calm

Act 1 Scene 3: The Duke and his senators are deliberating over the reports that are coming in from various quarters about the imminent war.
The Duke greets Othello first and immediately tells him that he wants him to lead the Venetian forces to defend Cyprus.
Brabantio tells the Duke of the
Show More

Related Documents: Othello Notes Essay

Essay on Othello Notes

OTHELLO – FRANTIC ASSEMBLY – LYRIC THEATRE – 4TH FEBRUARY 2015 Desdemona – inexperience, virginal, idolises Othello unaware of power to influence others. Blonde, crop top – vulnerability?? Iago – opportunist, animalistic qualities (snake arm) Venue & Staging Form Ornate intricate decoration Proscenium arch – focused attention/detail into pub and alleyway settings Intimate setting – see theatricality/physicality clearly and builds empathy for characters more, close to action has larger impact on…

Words 990 - Pages 4

The Tragedy Of Othello

tragic figure is responsible for his own actions, and therefore, for his own downfall.) Clearly, Othello is guilty of misplaced trust--he believes a man whom he didn't feel was fit for the lieutenancy over his wife, and as you note, many factors contribute to the tragedy of the play. Ultimately, though, Othello is responsible for his own actions--and is therefore at fault. While Othello does exercise poor judgment in whom to believe (especially for an experienced military leader), I think…

Words 333 - Pages 2

Act one othello Essay

Read the rest of Act 1 of the play. When you have finished, make notes on all the quotes you could use to discuss the tragic hero and an explanation as to why this is significant. SCENE 1 Iago And Roderigo discuss Othello and Desdemona’s elopement They decide to wake up Desdemona’s Father and warn her with racist language that his daughter has left him to marry Othello Presentation Othello Iago Brabantio Roderigo Duke Hero not present in opening scene so all portrayals are…

Words 356 - Pages 2

Examples Of Grit In Othello

Chrystelle Pierre-Fils Ms. Milliner EES21QH. 05 January, 20. 2017 Othello and Grit Everyone wants to be successful, but don’t necessarily have the right tools. Two of the most important tools would be grit and mindset. Both go hand in hand to make a person successful. Grit is what allows you to persevere when facing adversity. When being gritty you are less likely to give up. There are two categories when it comes down to mindset and those two are growth mindset and fixed mindset. Having a growth…

Words 1664 - Pages 7

Essay on race in othello

Race in Othello In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago attacks Othello with extremely racist remarks and a thought provoking amount of animal references to dehumanize him and fuel the illusion that he is worthy of discrimination and persecution. Act I, Scene I of Othello by William Shakespeare, Roderigo, Iago, and Brabantio engage in conversation about the alleged love between Brabantio’s daughter, Desdemona, and Othello, the black Moor, alludes the degree to which race will become an important motif and…

Words 1049 - Pages 5

Othello and Old Black Ram Essay

Othello: The Moor of Venice Notes Sheet – Act 1 Tracking Motifs – Act 1 Kinds of Information/ Evidence: “To vouch this, is no proof, Without more wider and more overt test than these thin habits and poor likelihoods, Of modern seeming do prefer against him.” The Duke is saying that there is no proof that Othello has taken control of Barbantio’s daughter, and without proof he does not need to go to jail. Colors: “Even now, now, very now, an old black…

Words 388 - Pages 2

The Oppression Of Women In Shakespeare's Othello

In the novel Othello, author William Shakespeare explores the definition of women and their role in society during the Elizabethan time period. He does this using the the plays three key women: Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca. However, Shakespeare’s examination into the social role of women does present numerous contrasts to today’s current day society and how women are treated in it. Moreover, it begs the question: was Shakespeare’s Othello, specifically the plot twists and conflict of women, a result…

Words 951 - Pages 4

Jealousy Quotes In Othello

Jealousy In Society Othello, written by William Shakespeare, is a drama that dealt with the jealousy of the tragic hero Othello leading to the death of his wife Desdemona. In Othello, jealousy is a theme that still exists in today's society. Husbands could be driven to murder as a result of misconstrued information or just out of malice while others are actually deserving of their fate. Jealousy, a major theme in Shakespeare's classic tragedy Othello, still serves as the demise to once acclaimed…

Words 681 - Pages 3

Figurative Language In Othello's Soliloquy

Othello’s soliloquy in Act V, Scene ii of William Shakespeare’s Othello serves not only as a climax for the play’s events, but also as a demonstration of the emotional conflict between Othello’s enmity for Desdemona’s infidelity and his lingering affections for his wife. The soliloquy reveals the complete shift in Othello’s character, as the initially prudent and deliberate Othello now contemplates murdering his trustworthy wife. Othello articulates his uncertainty in killing Desdemona in a confused…

Words 1425 - Pages 6

Theme Of Trust In Othello

person; as readers begin to see in a particular play Shakespeare wrote. In Shakespeare’s play, Othello, the characters that trusted Iago had their life cut short, which justifies Shakespeare’s message to be well informed before trusting a certain individual. Othello’s trusting qualities caused him to have a tragic outcome, towards the end of the play, due to his foolish choices. Cassio continues to tell Othello how Iago deceived him and said, “There is besides in Roderigo’s letter...That I was cast;…

Words 668 - Pages 3