Achievement Standard 3.3 - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Achievement Standard 3.3

William Shakespeare’s OthelloSlide2

NEXT YEAR ...

READ THE NOTES FROM IAIN’S REVISION LESSONS – SUPERB

More emphasis on imagery – beasts, monsters, animals, Heaven and Hell Black and white

Emphasis on Setting and Order Vs Chaos

Character and dramatic devise as a means through theme is presented.

Wider theme net – appearance

vs

reality – reputation, loyalty and disloyalty, Trust

vs

Jealousy–

THEMES

as BINARY OPPOISTESSlide3

Othello Independent Learning

Rationale – to enable you to learn anywhere, any time – in a snow cave, under Mt Cook, even in Ash-Vegas on Tournament

To develop your ability to learn

independently in preparation for

tertiary study

To get through all we need to get throughSlide4

Key Resource - Wiki

http://mrschaumannsenglish.wikispaces.com

/

Key Resource – the cloud –

google

docsSlide5

The key product …

In groups of

three, working in the cloud … complete the following …

Act/Scene

Brief Summary

Analysis

Key Quotations

1.1

Roderigo

and

Iago

argue.

R

knows D married O

Iago

reassures

Roderigo

that he hates O

because of

recent promotion of Michael

Cassio

to the post of lieutenant.

Iago

only pretends to serve Othello.

I immediately

deceptive and manipulative – R foolish

I = Villain – part of WHY he hates Othello explained

Themes – Corrosiveness

of

Jealousy –

Iago

jealous of

Cassio

– plots revenge (revenge

drives plot)

Theme – appearance

Vs

Reality (

Iago

appears loyal, in reality treacherous)

In following him I follow but myself;Slide6

Lesson One – not losing the plot ...

Goal: To understand the storyline of Othello; what the characters do, who they do it to, where they do it, how they do it ... And begin to understand why they do it.

Who said English isn’t street ...

C:\Users\DSC\Desktop\Othello in Three Minutes [www.keepvid.com].mp4

But seriously ... The animated tale

Plot summary task ...Slide7

Dates

11.8

Film

12.8 Film

15.8

Pe

Pe

Pe

Pe

TW

TW

TW

TWSlide8

Summary Task

Either in a flow chart, or using sub-headings and bullets, create a plot summary using the following clip (Look for the error in the last slide)Slide9

Character Mind MapSlide10

Othello

 -  The play’s protagonist and hero. A Christian Moor and general of the armies of Venice, Othello is an eloquent and physically powerful figure, respected by all those around him. In spite of his elevated status, he is nevertheless easy prey to insecurities because of his age, his life as a soldier, and his race. He possesses a “free and open nature,” which his ensign

Iago

uses to twist his love for his wife, Desdemona, into a powerful and destructive jealousy (I.iii.381). Read an

in-depth analysis of Othello.

]Slide11

Desdemona

.

 -  The daughter of the Venetian senator

Brabanzio

. Desdemona and Othello are secretly married before the play begins. While in many ways stereotypically pure and meek, Desdemona is also determined and self-possessed. She is equally capable of defending her marriage, jesting bawdily with Iago, and responding with dignity to Othello’s incomprehensible jealousy. Read an in-depth analysis of Desdemona. Slide12

Iago

 - 

Othello’s ensign (a job also known as an ancient or standard-bearer), and the villain of the play.

Iago

is twenty-eight years old. While his ostensible reason for desiring Othello’s demise is that he has been passed over for promotion to lieutenant,

Iago’s motivations are never very clearly expressed and seem to originate in an obsessive, almost aesthetic delight in manipulation and destruction. Read an in-depth analysis of Iago

.

Slide13

The also-rans

Michael

Cassio

 -  Othello’s lieutenant.

Cassio

is a young and inexperienced soldier, whose high position is much resented by Iago. Truly devoted to Othello, Cassio is extremely ashamed after being implicated in a drunken brawl on Cyprus and losing his place as lieutenant. Iago uses Cassio’s youth, good looks, and friendship with Desdemona to play on Othello’s insecurities about Desdemona’s fidelity.

Emilia

 - 

Iago’s

wife and Desdemona’s attendant. A cynical, worldly woman, she is deeply attached to her mistress and distrustful of her husband.

Roderigo

 -  A jealous suitor of Desdemona. Young, rich, and foolish,

Roderigo

is convinced that if he gives

Iago

all of his money,

Iago

will help him win Desdemona’s hand. Repeatedly frustrated as Othello marries Desdemona and then takes her to Cyprus,

Roderigo

is ultimately desperate enough to agree to help

Iago

kill

Cassio

after

Iago

points out that

Cassio

is another potential rival for Desdemona. Slide14

Lesson Two: Getting to grips with he lingo ...

Goal: To be prepared to process the dialogue from Othello ... By understanding some of the key differences between Shakespeare’s language and our ownSlide15

Top Tips for Reading Shakespeare

Read

to the punctuation, not the ends of the lines. Punctuation makes meanings clearer.

Inversion is common in Shakespeare so rearrange the words into a natural speaking order.

subject – verb – object

the verb is the most important part of the sentence: find itRead with intonation, not in a monotone. Try to look for the actors’ inflexions. Thou and thee mean “you” and thy and

thine

mean “your.”

Expect a great deal of metaphorical language. No CGI or SFX in Shakespeare’s day. He used IGI.

Consider the purpose of each scene and speech. The most common purposes are:

to advance the plot, often by foreshadowing

to build suspense (a plot function)

to illustrate a character trait

to develop a theme

to describe the settingSlide16

A Taster – What do you notice about the language here?

RODERIGO

Tush

! Never tell me. I take it much unkindly

That thou, Iago, who hast had my purseAs if the strings were thine, shouldst

know of this.

IAGO

'

Sblood

, but you’ll not hear me! If ever I did dream of such a matter, abhor me.

RODERIGO

Thou

told’st

me

Thou didst hold him in thy hate

Obscure vocabulary

Different word endings – Hast = had,

shouldst

= should

Changing word usage – ‘Never’ for ‘Don’t

Different Pronouns –

thine

for yours, thee/thou for you

Apostrophes to contact

Different word order “If I ever dreamed ...

Metaphorical language (Hate him)Slide17

Fear Not!!!!!!

RODERIGO

I would not follow him then.

IAGO

O sir, content you.

I follow him to serve my turn upon him.We cannot all be masters, nor all mastersCannot be truly followed. You shall markMany a duteous and knee-crooking knave

That (doting on his own obsequious bondage)

Wears out his time much like his master’s ass

For naught but provender, and when he’s old, cashiered.

Whip me such honest knaves. Others there are

Who, trimmed in forms and visages of duty,

Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves

And, throwing but shows of service on their lords,

Do well thrive by them. And when they have lined their coats,

Do themselves homage. These fellows have some soul,Slide18

RODERIGO

I would not follow him then.

RODERIGO

If you don’t like him you should quit.

IAGO

O sir, content you.I follow him to serve my turn upon him.We cannot all be masters, nor all mastersCannot be truly followed. You shall mark

Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave

That (doting on his own obsequious bondage)

Wears out his time much like his master’s ass

For naught but provender, and when he’s old, cashiered.

Whip me such honest knaves. Others there are

Who, trimmed in forms and visages of duty,

Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves

And, throwing but shows of service on their lords,

Do well thrive by them. And when they have lined their coats,

Do themselves homage. These fellows have some soul,

IAGO

No, calm down. I’m serving under him to take advantage of him. We can’t all be masters, and not all masters should be followed. Look at all the devoted servants who work for their masters their whole lives for nothing but their food, and then when they get old they’re terminated. They ought to be whipped for being so stupid. But then there’s another kind of servant who looks dutiful and devoted, but who’s really looking out for himself. By pretending to serve their lords, these men get rich, and when they’ve saved up enough they can be their own masters. Guys like that have soul, and that’s the kind of guy I am. Let me tellSlide19

Othello Act One, Scene One (I.i

.)

Goal: To understand HOW Shakespeare shapes your response to

Iago

in this scene.

The Big Question

How do the creators of texts shape the response of the receivers of texts?

What might the goal of today’s lesson be?Slide20

Key Analysis – What to look for

Othello is a play of

CONTRAST

– of oppositional forces:

Trust

V JealousyOrder V ChaosAppearance V RealityWhite V BlackHonour and Reputation DishonourAnd one character bridges the divide – turning the one into the other… turning ‘virtue into pitch’Slide21

That is WHY …

“It might be Othello’s tragedy but it is

Iago’s

play”

Harold Bloom – The Richie McCaw of Shakespearean critics…Slide22

Reading – Act One, Scene One

Interplay of characterisation and theme

Listen out for the following lines:

He, in good time, must his lieutenant be,

And I--God bless the mark!--his

Moorship's ancient.Call up her father,Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight,

Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul;

Even now, now, very now, an old black ram

Is topping your white ewe

Farewell; for I must leave you:

It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place,

To be produced--as, if I stay, I shall--

Against the MoorSlide23

First, the facts ...

Answer the following to clarify the plot in this act.

What does

Iago

think of Othello?

Does Othello know this? (Explain)What does Iago think of Cassio

? Why is he seemingly jealous of him?

What has happened between Othello and Desdemona?

What does

Brabantio

know about this?Slide24

Technique (S)

Quotation (X)

Characterisation (Y)

Thematic Connection (Y)

Characterised through how he speaks

Characterised by what is said about him

Characterised through what he says

Characterised through his actions

Characterised Through his interactions

Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul;

Even now, now, very now, an old black ram

Is topping your white ewe

That thou,

Iago

, who hast had my purse

As if the strings were

thine

[

Cassio

]

in good time, must his lieutenant be,

And I--God bless the mark!--his

Moorship's

ancient.

Farewell; for I must leave you:

It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place,

To be produced--as, if I stay, I shall--

Against the Moor

But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve

For daws to peck at: I am not what I am.Slide25

Technique (S)

Quotation (X)

Characterisation (Y)

Thematic Connection (Y)

Characterised through how he speaks

Characterised by what is said about him

Characterised through what he says

Characterised through his actions

Characterised Through his interactions

Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul;

Even now, now, very now, an old black ram

Is topping your white ewe

That thou,

Iago

, who hast had my purse

As if the strings were

thine

[

Cassio

]

in good time, must his lieutenant be,

And I--God bless the mark!--his

Moorship's

ancient.

Farewell; for I must leave you:

It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place,

To be produced--as, if I stay, I shall--

Against the Moor

But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve

For daws to peck at: I am not what I am.

Base and low

–

uses shocking animal imagery

–

appaling

to a father and audience

Iago exploits, manipulates and decieves

–

spening all this fops money

Jealousy drives him

–

he feels overlooked, taken for granted and is VERY bitter about this

Deceptive and manipulative

–

and very good at it

–

he creates chaos, then leaves Roderigo to deal with the fall out

Decietfulness

–

he is almost never open and honest

–

in fact he IS not what he IS (Or appeasrs to be

Chaos

and Order

–

here Iago is bringing Chaos to Brabantio

–

notice the imagery of black and white too

Appearance Vs Reality

–

Iago has, and continues to appear honest

–

we know better

The corrosiveness of jealousy

–

how much it can drive someone to seek vengeance

Appearance Vs Reality

–

Iago takes great pains to APPEAR honest

–

can’t be seen to be against Othello

Appearance Vs RealitySlide26

Goal: To understand HOW Shakespeare shapes your response to characters

Complete a SXY paragraph on the following topic:

How does Shakespeare present

Iago

in Act One, Scene One.

Challenge – synthesise – use More the one technique, more than one quotation.Slide27

Model Mediocity

Iago’s

language in Act One, scene one, signify that he is dishonourable.. When he shouts:

Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul;

Even now, now, very now, an old black ramIs topping your white eweThe audience is repelled by the graphic nature of the metaphor. This shockingly graphic language is used to manipulate

Barbantio

: clearly an action with no honour.Slide28

Model much more like it ...

Iago’s

language and actions in Act One, scene one, signify that he is untrustworthy, deceitful and dishonourable – clearly and immediately he is established as the villain. He admits his deceit to

Rodergio

, asserting he only appears to follow Othello in order to, ‘Serve my turn upon him.’ A more shocking impression is created through the language Shakespeare gives him. When he shouts:

Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul;Even now, now, very now, an old black ramIs topping your white ewe

The audience is simultaneously impressed by the strength of emotion and repelled by the graphic nature of the metaphor. Thus, one sees

Iago

openly admitting his deception of Othello, and using shockingly graphic language to appal and manipulate

Barbantio

: clearly actions with no honour, in a social context in which honour is of singular import.

We see immediately that it is

Iago

who will drive the conflict and themes: he will manipulate appearances to erode trust in order to create chaos through the corrosiveness of jealousy Slide29

Act One, Scene Two (I.ii

)

Goal: To explore how Shakespeare creates a powerful first impression of Othello Slide30

Listen out for these key lines?

Reading and comprehension – what happens here?

Iago

:

Nay, but he prated,

And spoke such scurvy and provoking termsAgainst your honourThat, with the little godliness I have,I did full hard forbear him.

Othello:

Which, when I know that boasting is an honour,

I shall promulgate--I fetch my life and being

From men of royal siege

IAGO

He's married.

CASSIO

To who?

OTHELLO

Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.

Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it

Without a prompter. Where will you that I go

To answer this your charge?

Why is this significant (The social and historical context?

Who’s ‘he’s?

Dramatic Irony?

What is Othello saying here?

What’s the implication of this imagery?

Who’s more in Othello’s confidence? Slide31

Group Character Analysis

Your group will be allocated a section of the act. Your job is to...

Find and annotate at least three quotations that reveal something about Othello’s characteristics

Remember – it could be what he says, how he acts, how he interacts, how he speaks or how he is spoken about.

Feedback and quotation fileSlide32

My services which I have done the

signiory

Shall o

Not I

I

must be found:My parts, my title and my perfect soulShall manifest me rightlyut-tongue his complaints.And many of the consuls, raised and met,Are at the duke's already: you have been

hotly

call'd

for;Slide33

SXY paragraph time ...

How does Shakespeare present Othello in

I.ii

of

Othello

?Think techniques – through his actions – responding to the men fightingThrough his dialogue – his faith that he won’t be misjudged for marrying Desdemona, because of the service he has done Venice – his reputation and honour are very soundThrough his interaction with Barbantio – the dignified, aloof manner he responds to the insulting slanders

Through other characters dialogue – who seems more in his confidence? Is this wise?Slide34

Act One Scene Three – The Political the Personal and the vindictive

Goal: To understand the two movements within the scene and analyse how Othello’s dialogue reveals more about his character; and understand the purpose of soliloquy

Reading – The first movement – discussion

The Second Movement – close analysis of Othello’s dialogue

The third movement – what more do we find out about

Iago?Slide35

OTHELLO

Most potent, grave, and reverend

signiors

,

My very noble and approved good masters,

That I have ta'en away this old man’s daughter,It is most true. True, I have married her.The very head and front of my offendingHath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech,

And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace,

For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith

Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used

Their dearest action in the tented field,

And little of this great world can I speak, More than pertains to feats of broils and battle,

And therefore little shall I grace my cause

In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience,

I will a round unvarnished tale deliver

Of my whole course of love. What drugs, what charms,

What conjuration and what mighty magic—

For such proceeding I am charged withal—

I won his daughter.

OTHELLO

Noble,

honorable

gentlemen whom I serve: it’s true that I’ve taken this man’s daughter from him and married her. But that’s my only offense. There’s nothing more. I’m awkward in my speech and I’m not a smooth talker. From the time I was seven years old until nine months ago I’ve been fighting in battles. I don’t know much about the world apart from fighting. So I won’t do myself much good by speaking in my own

defense

. But if you’ll let me, I’ll tell you the plain story of how we fell in love, and what drugs, charms, spells, and powerful magic—because that’s what I’m being accused of—I used to win his daughter.Slide36

Iago’s

First Soliloquy

Forget Not – Soliloquy is powerful for revealing character – it allows the audience to read the character’s private thoughts

What do we find out here about ...

Iago’s

motivesHis understanding of OthelloHis intentionsSlide37

Iago’s

Soliloquy

IAGO

Thus do I ever make my fool my purse.

For I mine own gained knowledge should profane

If I would time expend with such a snipeBut for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor,And it is thought abroad that ’twixt my sheetsHe’s done my office. I know not if ’t be true,

But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,

Will do as if for surety. He holds me well.

The better shall my purpose work on him.

Cassio’s

a proper man. Let me see now,

To get his place and to plume up my will

In double knavery. How? How? Let’s see.

After some time, to abuse Othello’s ear

That he is too familiar with his wife.

He hath a person and a smooth dispose

To be suspected, framed to make women false.

The Moor is of a free and open nature

That thinks men honest that but seem to be so,

And will as tenderly be led by

th

' nose

As asses are.

I have ’t. It is engendered! Hell and night

Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light.Slide38

Act Two: Iago

At Work

Goal: To explore the means through which

Iago

manipulates, and the role of dramatic irony in presenting his character

Starter: A definition – what is dramatic irony?Viewing – Branagh’s film – all of Act TwoSlide39

Act Two, Scene Three

As we read through this scene, underline any

part where

Iago

is being manipulative

Sneaky, sneaky ...Find a quotation which shows Iago at work, manipulating the following characters in this scene:Cassio Montano Othello Roderigo

The audience

For each one, explain HOW he is being manipulativeSlide40

Focus - Iago’s

Three Soliloquys

How do these

soliloquys

:

Add to the dramatic Irony and build dramatic tension? Develop our understanding of Iago’s character? Further develop the themes? Annotate the test on the

google

doc …

Slide41

And what's he then that says I play the villain?

When this advice is free I give and honest,

Probal

to thinking and indeed the course

To win the Moor again? For 'tis most easy

The inclining Desdemona to subdueIn any honest suit: she's framed as fruitfulAs the free elements. And then for herTo win the Moor--were't

to renounce his baptism,

All seals and symbols of redeemed sin,

His soul is so

enfetter'd

to her love,

That she may make, unmake, do what she list,

Even as her appetite shall play the god

With his weak function.

How am I then a villain

To counsel

Cassio

to this parallel course,

Directly to his good?

Divinity of hell!

When devils will the blackest sins put on,

They do suggest at first with heavenly shows,

As I do now:

for whiles this honest fool

Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes

And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,

I'll pour this pestilence into his ear,

That she repeals him for her body's lust;

And by how much she strives to do him good,

She shall undo her credit with the Moor.

So will I turn her virtue into pitch,

And out of her own goodness

make the net

That shall enmesh them all.

Re-enter RODERIGOSlide42

The Final Word ...

Two things are to be done:

My wife must move for

Cassio

to her mistress;

I'll set her on;Myself the while to draw the Moor apart,And bring him jump when he may Cassio findSoliciting his wife: ay, that's the wayDull not device by coldness and delay.Slide43

IAGO

That

Cassio

loves her, I do well believe it;

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 DesdemonaA most dear husband. Now, I do love her too;Not out of absolute lust, though peradventureI stand accountant for as great a sin,

But partly led to diet my revenge,

For

that I do suspect the lusty Moor

Hath

leap'd

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

even'd

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 trash

For his quick hunting, stand the putting on,

I'll have our Michael

Cassio

on the hip,

Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb--

For I fear

Cassio

with my night-cap too--

Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward me.

For making him egregiously an ass

And practising upon his peace and quiet

Even to madness.

'Tis

here, but yet confused:

Knavery's plain face is never seen tin used.Slide44

Iago’s

Soliloquy

IAGO

Thus do I ever make my fool my purse.

For I mine own gained knowledge should profane

If I would time expend with such a snipeBut for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor,And

it is thought abroad that ’twixt my sheets

He’s done my office. I know not if ’t be true,

But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,

Will do as if for surety.

He holds me well.

The better shall my purpose work on him.

Cassio’s

a proper man. Let me see now,

To get his place and to plume up my will

In double knavery. How? How

? Let’s see.

After some time, to abuse Othello’s ear

That he is too familiar with his wife.

He hath a person and a smooth dispose

To be suspected, framed to make women false.

The Moor is of a free and open nature

That thinks men honest that but seem to be so,

And will as tenderly be led by

th

' nose

As asses are.

I have ’t. It is engendered!

Hell and night

Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light.Slide45

Act Three

Goal: To explore what drives Othello to so quickly suspect and condemn Desdemona.

Starter: Copy and fill the blanks: The t_____ of events is very

i

________ in Act III.

Iago ant______ and ___________tes the other characters so s________ that they seem to be acting si____________ly of their own free will and as Iago’s

p_______s

.

Viewing – Act Three, scenes I – III.Slide46

Being the teacher ...

As you watch, come up with at least five questions, with answers, that you could use to test someone’s understanding of this scene.

At least ONE must contain a quotation.Slide47

Act Three, Scene Two – the ending

Goal: To explore how the central theme of the corrosive effects of jealousy is explored through this scene.

Starter – exploring connotation – what does it actually mean ...

Beware jealousy my lord, it is the

green-eyed monster

which doth mock the meat it feeds on.Reading and annotation – look for evidence of jealousy corroding Othello’s piece of mind.Slide48

Explore how Act Three, Scene Three, develops the relationship between

Iago

and Othello.Slide49

Act 3, Scene

4: Trifles light as air ...)

Goal:

To explore

the dramatic tension created by Othello and Desdemona talking past each other in this scene

Activities:

Reading Act 3, Scene 4.

Annotating scene with emphasis on

lines which are misinterpreted or misleading.

Questions

What does Desdemona say has happened to the handkerchief? WHY?

Desdemona tries to distract Othello from thinking about the handkerchief by changing the subject. What is the irony here?

What effect does this conversation have on Othello? WHY?Slide50

Act 4, Scene

1: The eyes have it ...

Goal:

To use drama to explore how

Iago

manages to provide Othello with “ocular proof”.

Activities:

Annotating Act 4, Scene 1, lines 1-90.

Drama activity: Act 4, Scene 1, lines 91-161.

In

groups of 4 – Othello,

Iago

,

Cassio

and Bianca –

find FIVE KEY LINES

Produce FIVE TABLEAUX to match these lines

, thinking about positioning, actions and gestures to make plausible Othello’s words at line162, “How shall I murder him,

Iago

?”

Reading and annotating lines 162-273. Slide51

IV.ii & IV.iii

To be able to illustrate the extent to which Othello’s reason and judgement has been corroded by jealousy.

Focussing questions –

IV.ii

H

ow does Othello respond to Emilia’s answers to his interrogation?

In what ways does this, ‘violate the principle of listening to both sides of the story before passing judgement.’ (York Notes

Othello

, p51)

Look at Othello’s dialogue with Desdemona – what does he do with her words?

What does this reveal about him?

What evidence can you find of him being obsessed with the idea that he is now a model for all cuckolds? (Look to IV.ii.52-54)Slide52

IV.iii

Goal: To appreciate how the timing of this scene and the contrast between characters shapes the audience’s sympathy.

Reading and annotation – look for Xs for the SXY paragraphs below

Discussion: Why here, why now?

Annotating with a focus on what the scene reveals about Desdemona’s character, and how the sense of tragedy is mounting.

Contrasting ideals: 3 SXY paragraphs:

Explore the ways in which Desdemona is presented

Explore the ways in which Emilia contrasts with this

Comment on Shakespeare’s purpose in creating this contrast. (Think sympathy, irony, tragedy) Slide53

Act Five Scene One

Goal: To appreciate how the ending of Othello conforms to the conventions of tragedy.

Starter: What is tragedy in the sense of the genre?

Tragic Flaw?

Noble, high ranking protagonist?

Deaths of Principle Characters?Role of Chance?Increasing pathos?Influence of higher powers/gods/supernatural figures?Slide54

Othello - Themes

Starter: If theme is an abstract concept or idea being explored through the interaction of characters in a text – what are some of the key themes of

Othello

?

The corrosive effects of jealousy

Appearance Vs RealityReputation and honourTrust and manipulationConstancy and LoyaltyRevenge?Slide55

Topic Tracking Via ‘Book Rags’

Topic Tracking: Jealousy

Jealousy 1: The play opens with a discussion of jealousy.

Iago

is upset because Othello selected Michael

Cassio as his lieutenant. He is jealous of Cassio's position both in the military and with Othello's service. This initial jealousy is the catalyst for the play's sequential plot of mixed jealousy and destruction.Jealousy 2: Brabantio is partially jealous of the Moor for stealing his daughter's love. He no longer may be the most important man in Desdemona's life. Furthermore,

Roderigo

is in love with Desdemona, and is slightly jealous of her relationship with Othello.

Jealousy 3: The lovesick

Roderigo

has trouble with his hidden feelings for Desdemona and is jealous watching the two in love. He follows

Iago's

directions easily, perhaps partially because of his jealousy of Othello's relationship with Desdemona.

Jealousy 4:

Iago

openly divulges his plan of destruction, which incorporates jealousy as the key factor. He intends to create a strong sense of jealousy in Othello by setting up the mirage of an affair between Desdemona and

Cassio

.

Jealousy 5:

Iago

plants seeds of jealousy in Othello and then speaks of the 'green-eyed monster' as a force to be feared. Jealousy is personified as a monster.

Jealousy 6: When

Iago

tells Othello of the handkerchief, he has the evidence necessary to prove Desdemona's unfaithfulness. It is now that the jealousy sinks deep into Othello's soul and starts to vividly destroy his psyche.

Jealousy 7: Bianca,

Cassio's

common lover, also becomes sick with jealousy. She sees the planted handkerchief in

Cassio's

room and believes him to also have taken a lover. Her jealousy exists on a much smaller scale, but illustrates that the sentiment is universal.

Jealousy 8: As the play concludes, all causes of jealousy are proved false. Desdemona was never unfaithful, but Othello realizes the truth too late. Jealousy is the source of pain and death for these tragic characters; the green-eyed monster has succeeded in killing them.Slide56

To abuse Othello’s ear

That he is too familiar with his wife;

Iago

– Why, there’s no remedy. ‘tis the curse of service;

Preferment goes by letter and affection,

Iago- Two things are to be done. My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress ill set on her. Myself the while to draw the moor apart, and bring him jump when he may Cassio find soliciting his wife.“It is silliness to live, when to live is torment...”

-

Roderigo

“By Heaven, I rather would have been his [Othello’s] hangman”

-

Roderigo

“This is some token of a newer friend”

-Bianca

“This is some minx’s token”

-Bianca

“She is

abus’d

,

stol’n

from me, and corrupted”

-

Brabantio

O beware, my lord, of jealousy:

It is the green eyed monster which doth mock

The meat it feeds on.

-

Iago

(rather mischievously

tbh

)

That

cuckhold

lives in bliss

Who certain of his fate loves not his

wronger

;

But O what damned minutes tells he o’er

Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet fondly loves?

-

Iago

“

i

have a salt and sorry rheum offends me;

Lend me thy handkerchief.” -OthelloI here do give thee that with which, but thou hast allready, with all my heart I would keep from thee-Brabantio