Othello Notes

Othello Exam Notes

Character Analysis

Othello:

Throughout the first scene Othello was not referred to by name

He was referred to as "he" or him

Once they (iago and roderigo) are under Brabazio's window they refer to him through racial slurs (Including)

The Moor

Moors come from the African country of morocco

The Thick-Lips

an Old Black Ram

A barbary horse

While Othello appears at the beginning of scene 2, we do not hear his name until line 48 of act 1 scene 3

Othello is the Play's protagonist and hero

He's a christian moor

he's a general to the armies of venice

Othello is an eloquent and physically powerful figure

he is respected by those around him

despite his elevated status he is an easy prey to insecurities because,

his age

his race

his life as a soldier

He has a free and open nature

Iago uses this to twist his love for desdemona into jealousy

later, othello will be on the last of 3 ships to arrive in cyprus

othello will stand apart while cassio and iago supposedly discuss "desdemona"

He also believes Cassio is dead without being present when the fight takes place

othello's status as an outsider is considered one of the reasons he was such an easy prey for iago

Although Othello is a cultural and racial outsider, his skill as a soldier and leader is valuable and necessary to the state

he is in great demand by the duke and society

that is evident by cassio's comment that the senate "sent about three several quests" to look for othello.

the venetian government trust othello enough to put him in full martial and political command

in his death speech othello reminds the venetians of all the service he's done

those who consider Othello their social and civic peers, such as desdemona and brabazio

othello is able to captivate peers with his speech

othello often makes a point of presenting himself of himself as an outside

possibly because he knew of his exotic appeal or he was self conscious and defensive about his differences from other venetians

Example: "rude am I in my speech./ And little blessed with soft phrases of peace (1.3.81-82)

While othello is never rude in his speech, he does allow his eloquence to suffer as he is put under increasing strain by Iago's plots

during the final moments of the play, Othello regains composure and once again seduces his on and off stage audiences with his words

The speech that precedes his suicide is the tale that could woo almost anyone

It is the tension between Othello's victimisation of the hands of a foreign culture and his own willingness to torment himself makes him the tragic figure rather than a murderer and Iago's puppet.

Iago:

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

Iago is 28 years old.

while his ostensible reason for despising othello because he's been passed over for promotion to lieutenant

Iago's motivations are never clearly expressed and seem to originate in an obsessive almost aesthetic delight in manipulation and destruction

possibly the most tenuous villain in shakespeare

he is fascinating for his most terrible characteristics

his utter lack of convincing motivations for his actions

in the first scene he seems to be angry at othello for passing him over as lieutenant

at the end of act 1 scene 3, iago says he thinks othello may have slept with his wife Emilia (1.3.369-370)

Iago mentions suspicion again at the end of act 2 scene 1 explaining he lusts after desdemona to get even with othello "Wife for Wife" (II.i.286)

none of these claims adequately explain Iago's deep hatred for othello and iago's lack of motivation or his inability or unwillingness to express his true motivation that makes his actions all the more terrifying

he is willing to take revenge on anybody, Othello, desdemona, cassio, roderigo, even Emilia

he enjoys the pain and inflicts

will inflict pain at the slightest provocation

Iago is also funny, especially in scenes with roderigo

Roderigo's foolishness serves as a showcase of Iago's manipulation abilities

he seems to almost revel in his own skill