OTHELLO Literary Analysis Exercise By: Arash, Eila, Erika & Yeshema

Identification & Significance Othello was preoccupied with the way people thought of him after his death. Wanted to be remembered as a soldier who had done his state some service. Seems to think that strangling Desdemona is a crime against the Venetian state. By the end, Othello seems himself as a savage outsider (like a “turk”), → characters have been calling him that all along. Othello seems to have internalized the racist ideas that he has encountered. → Allows us to internalize and question whether it’s true - if society continuously brands us as something, do we soon become what we are branded?

Characters Explanation of each character's demeanor Othello: Jealous rage → seeds of jealousy and suspicion were already inherent in Othello, and only had to be coaxed forth Concerned with his reputation and public image → justification for killing Desdemona Very possesive. Pain, folly, and misfortune tie together when you analyze the situation Othello put himself in. Sympathetic and noble (Throughout the play)

Desdemona: Naive Innocent (oblivious to what was going on and how she was being set up). Loyal → knew she was going to die but loved Othello so much that she continued to be a loving and loyal wife. Doesn't care much for reputation (She put her father to shame by running away with Othello). Loving and serene (Throughout the play she comes off as very inaudible and always being there to support Othello).

Iago: Conniving. Very shadowed and underplayed → no one suspects him of anything because he comes off as a mediator to everyone till the last scene, where everything is uncovered. Manipulating → He got his wife Emilia to steal for him, Othello to trust him, and Roderigo to slave for him. Very smart. Deceptive. Doesn't respect women. Doesn't care much for reputation → since he created all this havoc, he obviously doesn't care much for reputation since he started this all.

Emilia: Loyal wife to Iago. Cares a lot about reputation. Best friend to Desdemona, and unknowingly took part in helping Iago with proving Desdemona’s lack of innocence to Othello. Does everything in her power to try and please Iago. Trying so hard to gain his attention. Very desperate for attention. Honest? → In the end she came forward and exposed Iago’s deceptive plan (knew the consequences), because of grief for the loss of her friend and the knowledge that she had a part in it.

Cassio: Loyal in his friendship with Othello. Very oblivious to Iago’s intentions till the end. Care’s a lot about reputation (How much shame he felt after stabbing someone from his drunken stupor). Easily manipulated. Play boy/ flirt. Light hearted

Roderigo: In love and obsessed with Desdemona. Puts his trust and money in safekeeping with Iago to corrupt the marriage of Othello and Desdemona. Hates Othello and most likely a racist. Loyal to Iago (he didn't leave Iago throughout the entire plan till the end when he came to his senses) Inaudible and not very active in part taking of the mishaps of what has occurred in the play (He just had Iago be the one to do all his dirty work).

Plot Othello wants to kill Desdemona for cheating on him with Cassio He justifies this by images, metaphors and ideas of her rebirth after death Emilia brings the news of Roderigo’s death and Cassio’s wounding and encounters Desdemona lying in the bed. She thinks she’s dead. After few words by Desdemona, she dies and Emilia screams for help. Everyone comes into the room and discovers the truth about what's happening around them. After discovering Roderigo’s letter that exposed Iago (that was never shown or even known of throughout the play) they realize what Iago was up to Emilia comes out with more evidence against Iago and he kills her when she does not follow his orders. Othello injures Iago. Othello kills himself because of guilt and grief. Cassio is given a promotion and he now decides the fate of Iago. → from this we can assume that he’s going to leave Iago for dead.

Themes & Mood Themes: Betrayal Deception Reputation Grievance Mood: The mood towards the end is very perpetual and gloomy, since many news are unraveled there's a lot of confusion and mystery. The mood overall with be a feeling of betrayal or deception. Betrayal is a feeling everyone feels from Iago’s actions, as well as deception.

How does the passage fit into the timeline of the play? Previous scenes have built up to this scene Climax and falling action Showcases outcome of Iago’s plan How is the scene significant in the sequence of events? Significance: builds up tension relieves tension

How is the scene significant in the development of the play? Showcases: final development of Iago’s plan conclusion of Iago’s plan Why has Shakespeare written this scene at this particular point in the story? Previous scenes have left a feeling of suspense Act 5, scene 2 answers all the questions. Will he die? Will he succeed? Will he kill?

Dramatic Techniques Dramatic Irony -Emilia arriving to tell Othello that there has been a murder. She does not know that Othello has also committed murder. -The audience knowing that Desdemona is going to be murdered by Othello, without her fully knowing. -Audience knowing about Iago’s plans while the audience have no idea about it. Soliloquy -Othello’s soliloquy reveals his inner thoughts and how he really feels about Desdemona. Suspense -Readers want to know about Iago’s motives and how it all ends. Will he get caught or not?

Symbolism, Imagery, and Motifs Symbolism -The handkerchief : a symbol of Desdemona and Othello's love. It symbolizes marital fidelity, since losing the handkerchief will supposedly make the husband unfaithful to his wife. -The willow song: represents heartbreak and women being left behind by their lovers Motifs -The knife: passed around and used to kill the characters one by one. This is similar to the way jealousy directly or indirectly affects almost every character in the story.

Rhetorical Devices REPETITION “It is the cause...” ( ) “Put out the light…” ( ) “One more, one more!...” ( ) “My husband?...” ( ) “You told a lie, an odious damned lie…” ( ) “Villainy, villainy, villainy!...” ( ) “O Desdemon! Dead Desdemon! Dead! O! O!” ( )

ALLUSION “I know not where is that Promethean heat” ( ) PARADOX “But they are cruel tears: this sorrow’s heavenly” (5.2.21) SIMILE “Pale as thy smock” ( ) IMAGERY “Blow me about in winds!...” ( )

METAPHOR “Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow…” (5.2,4-5)

DISCUSSION 1. We know that Iago was manipulating the characters, is it possible that he could have been manipulating the audience/ reader as well? 2. Why did Othello let himself block out all the sign’s that could have told him Desdemona was not cheating?