5. Othello, the Moor: A
general in the
Venetian military.
Desdemona: Othello's
wife and daughter of
Brabantio
Iago: Othello's ensign
and Emilia's husband.
Antagonist.
Cassio: Othello's
lieutenant.
Emilia: Iago's wife and
Desdemona's
maidservant
Bianca: Cassio's
girlfriend
6. Brabantio: a Venetian
senator, Gratiano's brother,
and Desdemona's father
Roderigo: a dissolute
Venetian, in love with
Desdemona
Duke of Venice: or the "Doge"
Gratiano: Brabantio's brother
Lodovico: Brabantio's
kinsman and Desdemona's
cousin
Montano: Othello's Venetian
predecessor in the
government of Cyprus
Clown: a servant
9. QUESTIONS
3. What more do we learn about the nature of Iago in
act 2? What is the effect of having him share his
thoughts and plans with us through his
soliloquies? Pay attention to the language used
in Iago's soliloquies. What sorts of descriptive
language does he use? How does it contribute to
the picture of Iago that Shakespeare is drawing?
11. IAGO’S SOLILOQUY: ACT 2, SCENE1, LINES 308-334
That Cassio loves her, I do well
believe ’t.
That she loves him, ’tis apt and of
great credit.
The Moor, howbeit that I endure him
not,
Is of a constant, loving, noble
nature,
And I dare think he’ll prove to
Desdemona
A most dear husband. Now, I do love
her too,
Not out of absolute lust (though
peradventure
I stand accountant for as great a sin)
But partly led to diet my revenge
For that I do suspect the lusty Moor
Hath leaped into my seat—the
thought whereof
Doth, like a poisonous mineral,
gnaw my inwards,
And nothing can or shall content my
soul
Till I am evened with him, wife for
wife,
Or, failing so, yet that I put the
Moor
At least into a jealousy so strong
That judgment cannot cure. Which
thing to do,
If this poor trash of Venice, whom I
trace
For his quick hunting, stand the
putting on,
I’ll have our Michael Cassio on the
hip,
Abuse him to the Moor in the garb
(For I fear Cassio with my nightcap
too),
Make the Moor thank me, love me,
and reward me
For making him egregiously an ass
And practicing upon his peace and
quiet
Even to madness. ’Tis here, but yet
confused.
Knavery’s plain face is never seen
12. QUESTIONS
4. At the beginning of 3.3 Othello is
completely in love with Desdemona. By the
end of that scene, 480 lines later, Othello is
ready to murder her for having an affair with
Cassio. How have we gone from the first
position to the second position so quickly?
How does Iago plant the idea of
Desdemona's infidelity in Othello's mind,
and how does he make it grow?
13. QUESTIONS
5. What sort of person is Emilia,
and what seems to be the
nature of her relationship with
her husband Iago? How does
Desdemona's handkerchief
come into play within that
relationship between Emilia and
Iago?
14. How does the handkerchief
function in act 4? Why is the
handkerchief so important to
Othello?
Let me
ask you!
15. How is Othello changing in
act 4? What is the effect of
his public humiliation of
Desdemona by slapping
her?
16. QUESTIONS
What is the nature of the relationship
between Emilia and Desdemona?
What especially is the effect of 4.3,
in which we get an extended scene
between these two women alone?
How effective is Shakespeare in
portraying this private world of
women?
17. QUESTIONS
How does Othello
approach the killing
of Desdemona?
What does he think
he is doing, and
why?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QERWOhfXubA&index=24&list=PL13
5A41AF3B965ABF
18. QUESTIONS
What is the effect of
having Emilia play
such an important role
after the murder? Why
is she now standing up
to Othello and her
husband? What is her
reward?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1u0lOUDA_Y&index=25&list=PL135A41AF3
B965ABF
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds_1ACovFH4&list=PL135A41AF3B965ABF
&index=26
19. QUESTIONS
Does Othello justify his killing of
Desdemona? What is he doing in his last
long speech?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRAt4aisiLI&list=PL135A41AF3B965ABF&
index=28
20. Writing: Essay #1
Post #14: Part of your
essay
Essay introduction and
thesis, at least two
good body
paragraphs.
Essay Due Friday, Week
7 at noon
