Racism, Misogyny and Motiveless Malignity In Othello

What does Kiernan Ryan believe the play is a 'searing critique' of?
Racial and sexual injustice.

What evidence does Ryan provide to substantiate this view?
Because Desdemona and Othellos relationship falls apart due to ideas about race and sexuality that where ingrained into their society and therefore themselves. 

What does Ryan believe is Brabantio's main fear regarding Othello and Desdemona's relationship?
 Brabantio argues that treating inferiors as  equals means there’s nothing to stop the  underclass or  outcasts of society taking higher places and having power over us.

Which quotations are used to demonstrate that characters 'speech is infected with contempt for "the Moor"?
‘Even now, now, very now, an old black ram / Is tupping your white ewe’ 
‘the thick-lips'
'Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom / Of such a thing as thou' 
'Your son-in-law is far more fair than black’

What type of jealousy is shown to be the 'rule' in Venice?
Sexual jealousy 

What item does Ryan believe links the three couples?
The handkerchief 


Why does Ryan believe Iago is so successful in making Othello believe that Desdemona has been unfaithful?
Because Othello's insecurities are not only supported by Iago but by the society hes living in, he also shares a warped view of women and female sexuality with Iago and other men. 

Which two quotations does Ryan use to show this to be true?
 ‘I told him what I thought, and told no more / Than what he found himself was apt and true’
‘Demand me nothing; what you know, you know’

Summarise why Ryan believes that Iago DOES NOT possess 'motiveless malignity'.
He believes that Iago is not the fundamental or sole cause of the tragedy he just initiates it because Othello and Desdemona have made a mockery of the principles of social, sexual and racial hierarchy on which Iago's  identity and sense of self-worth depend , he creates a plot to put them back in the place he thinks they belong. Iago's flaws simply mirror the flaws in society. 

Othello Mock review

Othello is an honourable man and because of this he is admired and given a significant amount of status. The senate sent 'three several quests' to find Othello and its said that he has been 'hotly called for' by the Duke this emphasises Othello's importance to the Venetians. This adds to the tragedy of the play as he ultimately kills Desdemona because he believes its honourable to save other men from getting hurt by her, he almost sees it as if he is fulfilling his duty and taking back his military status by killing her both to protect honour  and the honour of future men. He sees killing Desdemona as another service to the state. But killing Desdemona marks his downfall and the loss of his honour.

“Desdemona is presented in the play as a sexual subject who hears and desires, and that desire is punished because the non-specular or non-phallic sexuality it displays is frightening and dangerous.”

Karen Newman: Femininity and the monstrous in Othello.

To what extent do you agree with this view? 

The only time Desdemona is spoken about by other characters is as a sexual object, Iago is crude about her and  Roderigo and Othello are obsessed with the idea of her. When Cassio innocently kisses her hand Iago sexualises it. Even though Desdemona is completely pure and cant even say the word 'whore' the male characters ignore this and create and over sexualised version of her to fit to their own ideas of what women are like. Because Desdemona cant understand thats shes being seen in this way she doesn't understand what  impression she creates by acting in certain way eg letting Cassio kiss her had or by asking Emilia to put the wedding sheets on the bed . The men in the play see her in a sexual way but when she actually acts like that she is punished for it, she is killed for having an affair that Othello has made up she has given up her life for him and adhered to everything he has told her to do but he still thinks that she is disloyal because he would rather listen to Iagos view of her than to Emilia - the person closest to her , because he already holds the view that women are deceitful . I don't think she's punished for being a promiscuous woman , I think she is killed for being an attractive woman that has been oversexualised by every man in the play to the point that its easier to kill her than to confront their own views about how they see women.

Desdemona and Emilia

What differences are there between Desdemona and Emilia?

Desdemona is a higher class and Emilia works for her this puts a social barrier in their relationship. Although they are close Emilia still has to fulfill her duties and obey Desdemona. Emilia is also a lot older than Desdemona, she is more wise and less niave and less passive towards her husband. They both have different attitudes towards men and love,Desdemona is more romantic whereas Emilia sees that it is flawed and unequal. 

Why do you think Emilia does not mention the handkerchief to Desdemona? Use what you hear in the video, as well as your own ideas. Consider the relationship between Iago and Emilia, as well as the relationship between Desdemona and Emilia.

Emilia doesn't mention the handkerchief to Desdemona because she sees it as a chance to make  her and Iagos relationship better. Emilia doesn't think the handkerchief is that important but she can see It is too Iago so sees it as an opportunity to gain his affection she doesn't think that it will have any large impact on Desdemona. Emilia and Desedemona also aren't very close its still a professional and unbalanced relationship it may seem an insignificant thing to tell Desdemona or it may make Emilia look unprofessional . 

Othello Act 4 Scene 2 Questions

1) What does Othello ask Emilia at the beginning of the scene, and how does Emilia respond? 
He asks Emilia if she has seen anything suspicious between Cassio and Desdemona. Emilia is very defensive of Desdemona and is certain of her innocence although Othello still refuses to believe shes telling the truth.

2) What does Othello say to Desdemona and how does Desdemona respond? Is Othello treating Desdemona fairly? 
Othello calls her a whore and compares her to a weed and tells he that he wishes she had never been born. Desdemona is confused and says to Othello that to him she is 'your true and loyal wife'.She also admits to a sin even though she is unaware she has done anything 'what ignorant sin have I committed?' she does because she cant understand his anger. He isn't treating her fairly as he has no proof that she has been disloyal, the audience know this and can see how much she loves him but she doesn't try to defend herself to him making her look guilty in his eyes. This doesn't excuse how he's treating her but it could have been easily resolved if she could have diminished his doubt earlier.

3) When Desdemona and Emilia tell Iago about Othello’s behavior, how does Iago respond? What does Iago say he thinks is the cause of Othello’s anger? What does Emilia think is the cause? 
Iago acts shocked and sympathetic towards Desdemona and dismisses Othellos anger as work stress. Emilia however can see that for Othello to act so irrationally someone else must be reaffirming his doubts. Iago obviously wants to avoid any discussion of the truth as it risks his exposure so tries desperately to keep his wife quiet.


4) Why is Roderigo angry and how does he threaten Iago? In response, what does Iago say Roderigo must do and why? According to Iago, what will be Roderigo’s reward if he follows Iago’s advice
Roderigo is angry because he has given Iago the majority of his wealth and his saw little reward. Desdemona seems no more interested in Roderigo. He  threatens to demand for the jewels to be given back from Desdemona but she cant give them back because she never received them, this would reveal that Iago has been stealing his money. Iago says that he must kill Cassio so that Desdemona cant leave Venice with Othello. Iago tells him that it will help him win the affections of women and the respect of his peers.

Having read Act 3 how far do you agree with A.C Bradley's view of Othello?

Bradley says that Othello's trust is 'absolute' Othello at the start of the play trusted Desdemona completely and he begins to not trust her at all and places all of his trust in Iago instead. He never asks her for the truth directly and as a woman in a patriarchal society she doesn't have the power to confront him about the way he is acting. Once he has lost his trust for her there is nothing she can do to win it back. Iago is the only person Othello trusts completely due to the fact Othello relies on him to be his eyes, Bradley's view that Othello is self reliant is not true due to how reliant Othello is on Iago. Othello doesn't take advice from anyone else and his interactions with Iago are always longer than his interactions with anybody else making Iago's influence on 1ago more significant. Othello could have chosen anyone to trust but he chooses Iago as its the only person he can relate to, Iago is of lower status than any of the other charterers close to Othello and although Othello has a higher social position than Iago, he is still black in a racist society making him like Iago lower in the social hierarchy this strengthens their relationship as they can empathise with the others position (although Iago chooses to take advantage of it instead.)  Othello is vulnerable due to his race and has to rely on Iago to explain society to him this allows Iago to manipulate Othello easily , his reliance and trust in Iago is ultimately Othello's downfall.


Bradley says that to Othello 'hesitation is almost impossible' and that he 'acts instantaneously'. Othello never doubts Iago for very long he never hesitates and if he does its very short lived.He never acts on any real thought of his own and because Iago has set him on edge everything someone says that could be taken out of context makes Othello insecure, angry and jealous. He acts instantaneously and loves completely or not at all he goes from calling Desdemona his 'fair warrior' to wanting to tear her all to pieces' in a very short space of time .

Do you think Iago is an opportunist or a strategist?

Opportunist
- People don't always act the way he expects eg:nearly getting killed by Othello


Strategist
- Adapts to situations quickly and makes them work in his favour eg his bathotic story about toothache probably wouldn't have worked on anybody else but he knows how to manipulate Othello.
- He uses other people to get thinks he needs for his plans before carrying them out. eg getting money from Roderigo
- His analysis of peoples behaviour is what leads to opportunities arsing that he can take advantage of, why would he ask Emilia to steal the handkerchief if he didn't think she would become desperate enough to do it? She may be an opportunist but he knew that she would eventually make any attempt to gain his affection.