Othello… random

Who is a “fellow almost damned in a fair wife?” Othello
Who gave Othello “a world of sighs?” Desdemona
From whom does Othello “fetch his life?” Men of Royal Siege
What does Othello mean when he says: “My parts, my title and my perfect soul/Shall manifest me rightly”? He means that his reputation will pull him through the accusations against him
What is the point of Iago’s “Virtue, a fig” speech and what is the “new” elizabethan philosophy behind it? The speech is depicting the idea that man makes his own life, and is intended to show the new ideas of self betterment that arose from the enlightenment
Who, according to Iago, is “our captains captain”? Desdemona
As Emelia prepares her mistress’ wedding bed, Desdemona talks of her mother’s servant Barbary who was forsaken by a mad lover, then she and Emilia talk about whether they would be unfaithful to their husbands or not. What is the significance of this conversation? The conversation shows that Desdemona knows of Othello’s suspicions, and foreshadows her coming demise
Often at the end of a play, Shakespeare’s tragic heroes hace a moment of insight: what is Othello’s insight into himself? He has loved not wisely but too well
Define briefly Shakespearian tragedy. Suffering can only be eased by death
What kind of proof does Othello demand of Iago before he will believe Desdemona’s infidelity? The Ocular Proof
What does Iago promise to pour in Othello’s ear? Pestilence
Whose “bark is stoutly timbered, and hi pilot of very expert and approved allowance”? Othello
Quote: “I cannot speak enough of this content/It stops me here; it is too much of joy/And this, and this, the greatest dischords be/ That eer our hearts shall make” Othello to Desdemona; expression of his love
Quote: “Rude I am in speech and little blessed with the soft phrase of peace…and little of this great world can I speak” Othello to Duke of Venice; about to prepare his defense for the city. Shows Othello’s formal diction
Quote: “The moor is of a free and open nature/ Who thinks men honest that but seem to be so.” Iago’s commentary on Othello about nature and trust
Quote: “Is this the nature/ Whom passion could not shake? whose solid virtue/ the shot of accident, nor dart of chance/ could neither graze nor pierce?” Ludovico; astonished by Othello’s slapping Desdemona and his lost calm
Quote: “Farewell the tranquil mind! Farewell content!/ Farewell the plumed troops and the big wars that makes ambition virtue!/ Farewell! Othello’s occupation is gone!” Othello; realizing that he has lost his station in venice if Desdemona was truly false, and lost his reputation
Quote: “What is that they do/ When they change us for others? Is it sport? I think it is. And doth affection breed it?/ I think it doth. Is’t frailty that thus errs? It is so too. And have not we affections/ desires for sport, and frailty, as men have? Then let them use us well: else let them know/ The ills we do, their ills instruct us so.” Emilia; Commenting on the behavior of men and the logical consequence that women can also cheat if men do
Quote: “It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul/ Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars! It is the cause. Yet I’ll not shed her blood/ Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow, And smooth as monumental alabaster/ Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men. Put out the light, and then put out the light.” Othello; soliloquy about his justification of his killing his wife
Quote: “Trifles light as air/ Are to the jealous confirmations strong/ as proofs of holy writ.” Iago; commenting on the power of the handkerchief to induce jealousy
Quote: “When you shall these unlucky deeds relate/ Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate Nor set down aught in malice. Then, must you speak/ of one that loved not wisely but too well/ Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought/ perplexed in the extreme; of one whose hand/ Like the base indian, threw a pearl away/ Richer than all his tribe.” Othello’s death speech, trying to restore dignity to his character
August 1, 2019