Themes in 'Othello'

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  • Created by: Rose2508
  • Created on: 06-02-18 10:43

Jealousy

"the green eyed monster, which doth mock/ the meat it feeds on."

The use of personification is foreboding, with Iago suggesting that he's aware of his capabilities. Ideas of flesh and hell foreshadow the death and destruction that will ensue.

"a monster/ begot on itself, born on itself."

Emilia mirrors her husband's language unwittingly to Desdemona, extending the metaphor even further. She believes it is a character trait/flaw, as opposed to something caused by others.

"Away at once with love and jealousy!"

Othello's promising, short half line which becomes heavily ironic in the later play

"Of one not easily jealous but wrought and perplexed in the extreme."

An honest, eloquent line. A change from the erratic mid stopped lines leading up to his death.

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Heaven and Hell

"hell and night/ must bring this monsterous birth to the world's light."

The rhyming couplet used by Iago suggests a sense of finality, although it also sounds like a piece of dark humour. Hell and darkness are once again associated- perhaps harkening to racist ideals

"Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell"

Juxtaposition of heaven/hell serves as an emphasis of Desdemona's purity. 

"Burn like mines of sulfur" (Iago) "Blow me about in winds! Roast me in sulfur!" (Othello)

Sulfur links to the Aeolian Islands which draw parallels with Cyprus- suggest imminent disaster. Also suggestive of hell and torture, contrasts between the two characters.

"Confess? Handkerchief? O devil!"

Erratic, apostrophe, exclamation and question filled fit suggested demonic possession in Jacobean England (Malleus Malificarum)

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Animals and Insects

"An old black ram is tupping your white ewe"

Here the base metaphor is not only crude, but also racist. 

"I had rather been a toad/ And live upon this vapour of a dungeon"

Toads are linked to the 7 day plague in Egypt- to a Jacobean audience this would be a clear reference. Suggests Othello wishes for torture over cuckolding.

"As prime as goats, as hot as monkeys." "You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus. Goats and monkeys!"

Iago uses animal imagery to disgust Othello, his use of simile being eloquent and manipulative. This contrasts with Othello's midstopped line which juxtaposes honour and paranoia.

"ensnare as great a fly as Cassio"

This also links to poison, linking Iago to danger. It also suggests it is his innate nature to 'entangle' people in his lies.

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Poison

"I'll pour this pestilence in his ear."

The plosive alliteration coupled with metaphor serves as foreshadowing, creates fear in the audience

"Get me some poison, Iago, this night."

A declaritive, mid stopped line shows certainty and forebodes what is to come.

Dangerous conceits are in nature's poisons/ which at first are scarce found to distaste."

Iago's use of metaphor suggests he feels confident in his success. Also suggests he sees his actions as natural

"What drugs, what charms/ what conjuration and what mighty magic/ For such proceedings I am charged withal/ I won his daughter."

The repetition of 'what' mocks the accusations, and the alliteratve 'mighty magic' further ridicules the racist association of Othello with poison and witchcraft.

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Sexual and Physical parts

"Virtue? A fig!"

Iago's short question and exclamation would be coupled with a rude gesture suggesting sex. Here he is derogatory to women, but also suggests he does not see the sanctity of marriage.

"Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on?/ Behold her topped?"

The alliteration and quick fire questions make Iago seem incessant- with the shocking imagery showing Iago's baseness and manipulative nature

"and the moon winks/ The bawdy wind that kisses all it meets."

Unable to escape idea of Desdemona cuckolding him he uses personification when accusing her. The semantic field of romantic language suggests jealousy.

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The sea and military heroism

"my journey's end, here is my ****/ And the very sea mark of my utmost sail."

Before his death Othello describes his life metaphorically, with this being his final voyage. Although he claims to lack eloquence, this military metaphor is very poignant.

"It was a sword if Spain, the ice break's temper"

Chekhov's gun theory- the sword strategically sits there for Othello to kill himself with. Spain was an enemy of England in Jacobean times, and a military super power. This shows the extent of Othello's bravery.

"O my fair warrior!"

Othello equates Desdemona as a hero, who has fought for them- no higher honour in military terms.

"Like to the Pontic sea/ whose icy current and compulsive course/ Ne'er feels retiring ebb."

Harsh alliterative sea and metaphor show Othello's determination to kill Desdemona.

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Other themes

  • Black and white
  • Appearance vs Reality
  • Deception and lies
  • Antithesis
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