Notes on Shakespeare's 'Othello'

Just a random collection of notes from class
Characters:
Desdemona: 

• Name means misery/unlucky from Greek. This is possible foreshadowing of her death. 

• She is the one person who remained innocent, faithful and honest throughout the whole play.

• Yet, she defies her father, and lies about the handkerchief.

• She dodges his questions as a natural nervous response, and also wishes to talk about Cassio.

Othello: 

• He is justice and honesty within chaos

• He is human - suspicion and jealousy are his only weaknesses, and even the most good can be led astray.

• He loves Desdemona, and defined yet undermined by his occupation. Knowing this allows one to lead his astray.

• Accepted only by Venetian society for what he does, not who he is.

• He feels most content on the battlefield, and does not know how to recognise, let alone counter attack Iago's plan.

• When considering Des's unfaithfulness, Othello blames himself due to constant racial vilification. He believes he is too old and too black, without the 'soft phrase of speech as chamberer's do".

• His language changes, following his demise of character: It begins highly sophisticated and poetic, but ends foul and course.

• This is again seen in his personality what goes from clam, reserved, respectful, open and observant, to a man who sees only what he has been led to believe, and acts irrationally and savagely. 

Iago:

• He is an extremely strong character, all knowing and able to control the events of the play.

• He frowns upon emotion, honesty and trust and believes love is weak.

• He is very cryptic "I am not what I am"

• Audience sees and hears things that the characters don’t, as Iago keeps others uninformed. By keeping characters apart  - Cassio away from Oth during Fit, Rod does not go near Des as Iago is the essential go between - Iago is able to maintain a different 'truth' with each of them.

Context

In Shakespearian times, women were expected to marry and raise her family. Although England was ruled by a single woman, the society had high levels of patriarchy.

Daughters we expected to be polite, submissive and listen to their father (parents).  - Desdemona shows significant opposition to this.

Moor refers to a person of North Africa, sometimes Muslim. By Venetian society, they were seen as lower class, often servants. Stereotypical qualities were corruptive, sex driven savages. In contrast, the Venetians regarded themselves as a romantic, high society.

Changes to Othello's character, traits and personality

At the beginning of the play, Othello believes “[his] services which [he] have done” has earned the respect of the Venitians. Although he lives in a deeply racist society, where he is often referred to as “the thick lips” and the “old black ram”, he is able to become a member of high society. In the opening acts, Othello is calm, and avoids violence, saying “tis better as it is” that Iago did not ‘yerk’ Roderigo. Even under the sharp words of Brabantio, who accuses him of corrupting his daughter “by spells and medicine” Othello remains calm.

The first hints of Othello’s anger comes in Act 2, Scene 3. While not violent, he becomes angry that the ‘foul rout’ between Montano and Roderigo, occurred, and declares Cassio will ‘never more be an officer of [his]’.

Othello begins to question Desdemona’s love in Act 3 Scene 3, after entering the room, and seeing Cassio speaking with her, and then ‘stealing away so guilty-like’ upon seeing Othello approach. This is exemplified in the next scene when Desdemona is unable ‘fetch [him] the handkerchief’.

Othello becomes agitated when talking to Iago bout his suspicions of Cassio and Desdemona, in desbelife he cries “what hath he said?” …  “lie with her? Lie with her! … O devil!” and then “[falls] into an epilepsy”.

He wakes from his fit mad at Casio, who he calls “a horned [man who is] a monster and a beast”

Othello continues to become angrier and his adoration for Desdemona seems to completely dissolve as he sends Iago to “get [him] some poison” He seems completely different to the man who was releaved that Iago did not stab Roderigo, happy at the ‘justice’ that will come from “[strangling] in him in her bed”. He then goes on the strike Desdemona in front of the Venetian delegation.

Othello’s lowest point comes as he strangles Desdemona, as she had “turned to folly and she was a whore”. Emilia calls him “the blacker devil” for his actions, before it is revealed that it was all Iago’s plan, and thus Othello kills himself.

Iago’s jealousy of Othello is fuelled purely by racism

While much of Iago’s jealousy can be seen to stem from feelings of racial superiority, his suppressed lust for Othello also contributes. Venetian society had rigidly structured values regarding marriage and love, and a homosexual relationship would be viewed much the same as the ‘err of nature’ that Othello and Desdemona’s is. Iago, knowing this, is highly jealous of Othello and Desdemona, a couple free to love who they want unafraid to act against common values. Iago’s lust is evident as he works to ‘turn [Desdemona’s] virtue into pitch’ and drive the couple apart, by placing Desdemona into the negative light, and for she to be the one who is killed, leaving Othello an eligible bachelor. Iago’s jealous nature can be traced back to his suppressed desire for Othello, as well as belief in white supremacy.  

Othello never really loved Desdemona

Othello’s love for Desdemona was never true, but a desperate attempt to feel valued. Othello feels he is an outsider to the Venetian society, although a ‘valiant Moor’ of ‘the tented field’, the feels inferior to the ‘approved good masters’. This leads him to crave acceptance and feelings of equality. This is delivered when Desdemona would ‘come again, … with a greedy ear’ to listen to the ‘dangers [he] had passed’. Othello believes that love is something that can be acquired, that he ‘won’ Desdemona.

What Othello perceives as love, is just an overbearing craving to feel wanted, and worthy, it is not really love.

Desdemona is a typical woman of her time – weak and naïve. 

Desdemona fails victim to the trap of a being typical Venetian woman, one who is easily manipulated and naïve of character. While Desdemona begins the play as a woman of strong disposition, and ‘being not deficient, blind or lame of sense’ she defies her ‘noble father’ to marry Othello. She falls victim to the expectations enforced by society of women of the era. Far from seeking her own ‘[dangers to pass]’ as she tells Othello that she wishes to, she becomes the ‘maiden never bold’ that Brabantio thinks she is. She makes little attempt to persuade Othello that she is not ‘directly in love’ with Roderigo, and when accused she remains subdued, ‘of spirit so still and quiet’ and naïve to the situation that was unfolding around her. Desdemona, with a weak disposition and being unable to see the situation at hand, is no different from the woman of her time.