A storm has dispersed the Venetian fleet so that Cassio arrives first, anxious for Othello's safety. Lies and deceits are common in society, and many individuals mask their true intentions with a veneer. Explain the incident that led to Cassio's dismissal. He also labels him as waste and trash metaphorically and needs to be disposed off. Horreur! Othello: Act II Study Questions Scene i 1. Iago's opinions show his perceived superiority in his character. Othello: Act II Study Questions Scene i 1. Kill him, kill her/Iago. Roderigo remarks, "That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse as if the strings were thine." [Act I, Scene I, Line 2]. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.2. He commits suicide claiming that His only crime was loving too much. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. The group wait, bantering on the topic of women. Also, this quote shows that Iagos overactive id, as his pleasure of revenging on Othello for taking his job overpowers his sense of instincts, superego, that he should not. His language dehumanizes the Turks and makes them seem animal, echoing Brabantio's dismissal of Othello in front of the Duke. Updating the audience about his secret plans, Iago continues to act as a "director." During the play, Othellos Noble character is challenged by Iagos devious trickery, once Iago manages to figure out Othellos Achilles heel he decides to exploit it for his own just content. Iago asks if Cassio knew who he was chasing after, but Cassio says that he can't remember anything distinctly. Who said the quote? When the actors have completed their readings, have group 1 use the worksheet 1. More. Instant PDF downloads. (2020, Jun 02). -Graham S. In changing her story, Desdemona tries to spare Othello from the punishments he will receive, proving her love and devotion to him to the very last. To Othello and the others, Iago pretends not to understand how the whole fight came about, but he defends Cassio, saying that Cassio surely received from "him that fled" (Roderigo) some "strange indignity, / Which patience could not pass." Iago had been using Roderigo for his money and none of the gifts and jewels Roderigo gave Iago to give to Desdemona actually reached her. Among these are the units of language, grammatical concepts and their origins, how languages differ and resemble each other, and the history of This represents the true characteristics of Iago through masculinity and his dominance over other characters throughout the play. Topics covered include: Getting started Making a case Examination essays Achieving clarity Written in the authors accomplished, student-friendly style, The Basics of Essay Writing is full of practical tips and guidance. Shakespeare highlights that Iago has control over the characters and everyone is vulnerable to his tricks. Both Othello and Cassio wildly misjudge Iago, revealing just how duplicitous Iago is. But Iago begins explaining the situation, saying very now, an old black ram is topping your white ewe. In the first 42 lines of the scene, . Arise, arise, awake the snorting citizens with the bell, or else the devil will make a grandsire of you. (I,I). Cassio's flawed honor and courtliness are juxtaposed in this scene with Iago's manipulativeness and deceptiveness. "I will turn her virtue into pitch," he says of Desdemona, hearkening back to the light/dark imagery earlier in the act. The EDSITEment-reviewed, appeals to reason, emotions, and character (logos, pathos, ethos), Other terms, not mentioned on this website but also useful for the study of, By giving their attention to Iago's rhetorical skills, students will see how he uses language to create a convincing, albeit deceptive, identity for himself; Iago also creates equally untrue identities for others, resulting in a fateful-if not fatal-outcome for all concerned. Before dividing students into groups, initiate a class discussion with the following observation and question: The characters in the play refer to Iago as "honest." Iago uses his deft and astute strategic acts of manipulation to undermine each characters weaknesses. How does Shakespeare use language and action to make Act 3 Scene 1 of his play 'Romeo and Juliet' dramatically effective? In line 331, Iago says Come, be a man!. Othello secretly marries Desdemona, the daughter of a Venetian Senator, which is when Iago gets his plan to get rid of Othello with the help of his subordinate, Roderigo. . The banter between Iago and Desdemona creates a nervous, uncomfortable atmosphere, in part because their levity is inappropriate, given that Othello's ship remains missing. How is Iago able to convince one and all that he is, as he is constantly called, "honest Iago"? More books than SparkNotes. 3. I think the opening scene is meant to introduce the cunning and deceitful Iago. is "tried" and found guilty, with. Either as an in-class exercise or as a homework assignment, students can use worksheet 2, In class, the teacher should focus on Iago's introduction of the words "jealousy," "cuckold" and "monster" into his rhetoric. Iago uses the same type appeal to pride in lines 355-357 when he says that it would be better to die by hanging with her rather than to die by drowning without her. Cassio greets them all, especially praising Desdemona; somehow, Iago and Desdemona enter into an argument about what women are, and Iago shows how little praise he believes women deserve. Even though Othello loved Desdemona, Iagos rumours of an affair between Cassio and Desdemona drive him to the brink of insanity and, at Othellos peak of jealousy; he plans to kill Desdemona and Cassio with Iagos help. This touches Roderigos emotions because no one wants to do something that will cause those around them to not love and cherish them when they are gone. Download Othello Study Guide. Othello's insecurities mean that Cassio is promoted over Iago, but also lead Othello to hold Cassio at a distance. Who said the quote? In Act 1, Scene 3, after talking with Roderigo, Iago has a soliloquy where he tells the audience that he hates Othello, who he calls the Moor. Shakespeare highlights that Iago has control over the characters and everyone is vulnerable to his tricks . Roderigo, on the defensive and trying to present himself and Iago as a unified front, casually refers to Othello as "the thick-lips." This epithet is both an attempt to undermine Othello's military achievements with a cheap stereotype as well as a way to pit Roderigo and Iago's physical similarity against Othello's unfamiliar appearance. He is a ladies man, he is loyal to Othello, he has a weakness for alcohol, Iago urges Roderigo to provoke Cassio by telling him that, Iago and Cassio (Iago - manipulative, hates women // Cassio - loves women, manipulated), In Scene 3, Othello becomes angry with Cassio because, while supervising the watch, Cassio got into a fight. It is the green-eyed monster as Iago so honestly and ironically puts it during the play. What are the reasons? Clearing away at the end of a lesson. The first of many examples of Iagos manipulation occurs in Scene 1, Act 1. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. By comparing Othello to an animal, and old. Delivering the pre-set work. Roderigo believes him, blinded by his love for Desdemona, and sells his land to get money for gifts. Iago, however, counsels him to approach Desdemona for help. However, all does not go according to plan; first Cassio does not die and then the entire plot is revealed to by Iagos wife, Emilia. Shakespeare uses this character to set the basis of evil. W.H. This is a common tactic in times of war, to foment national pride while denigrating the enemy. As Iago learns that Cassio has no love for her, though much respect; so it is with much irony that Cassio is charged as being Desdemona's lover, when he is perhaps the only male figure in the play who has no feelings of passion for her. Her eye must be fed. It is like one kind of play ending at the end of Act II, and another starts what looks like a political tragedy being an economic disaster. Othello is the main culprit, and thus the plot was focused on Othellos downfall, but also Roderigo as he too had feelings for Desdemona. Markus Zusak incorporates the motif of books to reveal character, symbolize abstract concepts, and reinforce the meaning of the work as a whole. Iago tells Roderigo 'I follow him to serve my turn upon him'. Francis Ferguson in Two Worldviews Echo Each Other describes the types of base, loathsome imagery used by the antagonist Iago when he slips his mask aside while awakening Brabantio: Roderigos opening lines to Iago in Act 1 Scene 1 take us to the very root of the problem: Iagos Use of Language and Villainous Behavior in Shakespeares Othello. LitCharts Teacher Editions. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Much of the answer must lie in Iago's skillful manipulation of rhetorical skills. Once there's reason to exclude him from the social group, Othello quickly is diminished to the status of outsider among the Venetians. Do you agree with Iago or with Cassio? The news that Cassio has killed Roderigo is the first sign of Iago's plots unraveling. All the noise wakes Othello, who comes down to figure out what has happened. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Iago, on the other hand, claims that reputa- tion is "an idle and most false imposition, oft got without merit and lost without deserving" (II, iii, 268-270). Shakespeare's use of soliloquies to present Macbeth and Hamlet, True Grit in the Character of Mattie in True Grit by Charles Portis. By refusing to even listen to Desdemona's denials of her suspected infidelity, Othello reveals how fully he has lost his independent perspective and succumbed to Iago's web of illusions. Fordefinitions of "Moor" contemporary with Shakespeare, go first to the, Lastly, students should be introduced to the Roman god. The hours will be flexible, paid an hourly rate PAYE. In the soliloquy he makes the difference between appearance and reality still more obscure. Once again, Iago closes the act with a speech addressed to the audience; although Othello is the title character, and his dilemma is central to the play, Iago is even more central to the events of the play, and to the audience. Now he uses honor. This way Roderigo will have a chance with Desdemona and express his love to her. He uses this particularly well with Roderigo and Othello. Chicago's Shakespeare Theatre essay, "1604 and All That,"along withWashington DC's Shakespeare Theatre Company'sA Cultural Context for Othello,and the Folger Shakespeare Library's "American Moor,"provide insights into what it meant to be a moor in Shakespeare's time. Each group should also be assigned to trace one character's "honesty" throughout the play. Montano and others come, and Iago entertains them with small talk and song; soon, Cassio is drunk, and Roderigo has approached. I still intend on fictionalizing the entirety, but this is a stop-gap until such time as I can catch up. Iago tries to control Emilia, commanding her as his wife to be silent. this quote suggests to the audience that Iago is saying his plot is so evil that hell and night shall give birth to it. Our KS4 classroom activities and games will provoke some fascinating discussions about crime, punishment, justice and morality in different historical periods. Evaluate the extent to which Othello is a tragic hero. Although Othello and Desdemona's reunion is joyful and passionate, the language of the scene hints at other emotions in Othello. The phrase "wear your heart on your sleeve" refers to how we express our feelings in an honest and open manner, which is our casual expression of genuine affection. Iago kills Emilia because she did betray himbut she betrayed him for the greater good, and Iago's violence toward her is more graphic and terrible than the smothering of Desdemona, bringing home his full villainy. Iago easily convinces him out of it by pointing out Othellos shortcomings. He is going to get drunk and be argumentative, ready to fight, and take offense to everything. In the quotation previous to this one, Roderigo is telling Iago that the plan to win Desdemona over was simply not going to work. What trouble does Iago stir up to disturb the peace of the island? "He'll be as full of quarrel and offense / as my young mistress' dog" (Scene 3, lines 46-47) What does this quote mean? Thanks Writer Lyla you are indeed awesome . In comparison to his frantic, epileptic state in the prior scenes, Othello now seems dignified. Even so, Desdemona's arrival and then exit with Othello shows her continued obedience to Othello, and, more importantly, his confidence in that obedience. All should be joyful, and Othello is celebrating the happiness of his recent marriage. This signifies that Roderigo is beginning to realize that he has been manipulated. But Iago's use of language is more complicated than this. Get your custom essay on, What does Iagos use of language in his soliloquies reveal about his true character? The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in. He uses Roderigo (292) He does not see anything wrong in his actions- (316). It also allows the audience to see the true traits, personality and characteristics of the character, in this instance where the characters keep referring Iago as honest Iago or good friend but in fact the audience knows that this is not true because they were filled in on the soliloquies and therefore builds a sense of dramatic irony. an academic expert within 3 minutes. What emotion does Iago play on to get Roderigo to provoke Cassio? Use a dictionary if necessary. Analyze Iago's arguments. Throughout the play, Iago tends to degrade those around him, whom he resents, the main perpetrator being Othello, this shows Iagos true characteristics as he has to belittle those around him in order to better himself, he decides to include Desdemona, Emila and Othello and other characters throughout into his plot, even though they only spoke highly of him. The rhyming couplets in which Iago expresses his misogynistic insults lend them an eerie, alienating quality, and Desdemona's active encouragement of Iago is somewhat puzzling. He is able to persuade Roderigo of Cassio and Desdemona's attachment by painting an innocent gesture as a sign of familiarity; yet, all the power that is in his words is in their interpretation, for Iago is also able to say everything and nothing at once, depending on the inclination of the hearer. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.4. To what extent has Othello become a tragic hero. 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