OTHELLO LANGUAGE

The Language of FearOthello: ‘… Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devilWhy he hath thus ensnared my soul and body.’Iago: ‘Demand me nothing. What you know, you know.From this time forth I never will speak word.’ (5:5)At the conclusion of the play Iago commits to eternal silence and refuses to explainwhat has motivated his manipulative behaviour in the play.1. How do you explain of his behaviour?2. What drives him to act the way he does?

Evidence in the playIago attempts to justify his actions a number of times throughout the play.Find evidence in the play to support Iago’s motives and record them with ordered and referenced quotes.

Your response to the playHow do you interpret Iago’s actions?Referring to the script and the performance, write a paragraph response to each of thesequestions, considering Iago’s explanations of his motivation.1. Is he just evil?2. Is he a psychopath or psychologically disturbed?3. Is he a racist who fears any loss of power or prestige to a man he sees as his inferior?4. Is he a misogynist or someone who has an obsessive hatred of women?5. Is he a working class man who has become resentful of how those with aristocraticconnections appear to get all the opportunities?6. Is Iago a repressed homosexual who is subconsciously jealous of Desdemona’srelationship with his beloved Othello? Does he destroy the handsome Cassio becausehe realizes a relationship with him is impossible?

Imagine you are Iago. You have been taken back to Venice from Cyprus by Lodovico and you are in prison. The next morning you will be taken to a cell to be tortured so that you will confess why you have behaved so unspeakably against Othello. You have vowed never to speak again.Compose a monologue or soliloquy in which you privately explain your actions in the play. The monologue should capture Iago’s most private and intimate thoughts and feelings.Write in contemporary English if you wish.When you write you should try to keep in mind the kinds of imagery Iago has used throughout the play (consider his references to hell, disease, animals, pollution, weeds).

The Language techniques of the Play

SymbolismDesdemona’s handkerchief, given to her as a wedding present, is a symbol of something precious between Desdemona and Othello. It is carelessly mislaid and then used by Iago for his own evil purposes.1. Identify other symbols they find in the play. List these and their specific references, explain them in regards to their context within the play.

ForeshadowingOthello:...If it were now to die,

Twere now to be most happy; for I fearMy soul hath her content so absoluteThat not another comfort like to thisSucceeds in unknown fate.(II, i, 187-191)

1. Search for other examples of foreshadowing and note them in your workbooks.

2. How we can recognize foreshadowing even before we know the climax of the play.

IronyIago: O, beware, my lord, of jealousy!

It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mockThe meat it feeds on.(III, iii, 165-167)

1. After providing definitions for verbal irony and dramatic or tragic irony, the two most common types, have identify where the example above fits. Remind them that verbal irony occurs when the attitude of the writer or speaker is opposite what is literally stated. Dramatic or tragic irony, on the other hand, occurs when the reader or audience understands that a character’s words have a double meaning. Likewise, dramatic irony may arise from the structure of the play. 2. Search for other examples of irony in the play including examples of all the types you have defined.

EpithetsAn epithet is an adjective or describing phrase added before a noun that is used to describe a character or a thing. An example would be ‘valiant Othello’ or ‘honest Iago’.1. Find epithets in the play that are used to describe the characters listed: Iago, Desdemona, Othello, Cassio, Emilia. Record in a table using dot points and annotated quotes. 2. Sometimes the epithets in the play are used ironically. Write an ‘I’ next to those epithets which you believe are used ironically.

ImageryIago: ‘It is impossible you should see this,Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys,As salt as wolves in pride…’ (3:3)

Investigation of the playThe imagery used by Iago provides striking insights into his character.1) Find two examples of the imagery he uses to describe each of the following:• Women• Othello• Relationships between men and women.2) Explain the meaning of each example.3) Experiment: write a contemporary image that holds the same meaning as that byIago.