Othello Questions and Answers
Othello
Explain this quote from act 1, scene 3 of Othello: "Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see: she has deceived...
At this point in the play, Brabantio has had to accept that Othello did not use witchcraft or sorcery to win the heart of his daughter, and he has had to accept also that there is nothing he can do...
Othello
What reason does Iago give for his hatred of Othello?
We don't know for sure exactly why Iago hates Othello so much and wishes to destroy him. All we have are Iago's own explanations, and given that Iago is notoriously devious and untrustworthy, it's...
Othello
How does Iago convince Othello that Desdemona is cheating?
In act 3, scene 3, Iago suggests to Othello that it is suspicious that Desdemona, a white woman, did not try to marry a white man, somebody of "her own clime (and) complexion," but instead chose to...
Othello
What is Iago's plan and purpose in act 1, scene 3 of Othello?
In act 1, scene 3 of Shakespeare's Othello, the villainous Iago has already met with a nasty setback in his plan to ruin Othello's reputation. Iago hates Othello and despises serving him in the...
Othello
Explain how Iago is manipulative in Othello, including specific examples and quotations.
Iago is an interesting villain. Whereas many of Shakespeare's villains—like Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Angelo (in Measure for Measure), Tamora (in Titus Andronicus), and Richard III—generally take care...
Othello
Why does Iago think that Emilia has slept with both Othello and Cassio, and where in the play does he voice these...
It's fair to say that Iago has a bit of a chip on his shoulder. A soldier from the lower-classes, he believes that he's been constantly passed over for promotion in favor of the likes of Othello...
Othello
How is the fear of being a "cuckold" relevant to William Shakespeare's Othello?
A cuckold is a man whose wife has been unfaithful to him. She has had sexual relations with another man, and now her husband cannot be sure if the children she bears are even his own. He may be...
Othello
How did Brabantio react to the marriage of Othello and Desdemona in Othello?
A rich and powerful man, Brabantio isn't used to people going against his wishes, especially not his own daughter. In common with the prevailing social standards, Brabantio enjoys complete control...
Othello
In Othello, what does,"Put out the light, and then put out the light" mean?
Othello is literally putting out the light of the candle and then poutting out the light of Desdemona's life. The light of Desdemona's life, however, is also an allusion to Prometheus of mythology....
Othello
What is the meaning of the following quote from Shakespeare's play Othello? "Tis not a year or two shows us a man....
In act 3, scene 4 of Othello, Desdemona has just seen a side of Othello that she's never seen before: a jealous, unpleasant side that makes her wonder whether her husband's been bewitched by some...
Othello
What is Othello's tragic flaw that causes his downfall?
In literature, a tragic flaw (or hamartia in Greek) is a trait that causes a character's downfall. Othello's tragic flaw is often identified as jealousy, and he is indeed a jealous man. The thought...
Othello
What are some quotes that reveal Othello's low self esteem?
It is Iago's pernicious and consistent manipulation in his desire for revenge that exposes Othello's insecurity. At first, the general's remarks come across as humility but, as the situation...
Othello
What is the relationship between Iago and Roderigo in Othello?
One is a puppet master; the other, a puppet. Iago plays Roderigo like a puppet. He uses him and his money for his own ends, chief of which is to harm Othello. Othello has supposedly humiliated Iago...
Othello
What is the significance of "Men should be what they seem; / Or those that be not, would they might seem none" in...
The main significance of this quote is its irony: this is Iago saying people should be what they seem to be and that if they are being deceptive, they shouldn't look like they're being honest (in...
Othello
What is significant in Iago's monologue in act 1, scene 1 of Othello?
As Iago readily admits, we cannot all be masters. And in Venice's rigidly hierarchical society, there's absolutely nothing he can do about that. There is a natural order of things; some people give...
Othello
What are some quotes that demonstrate Iago's manipulations in Othello?
Iago is a very manipulative character who does everything he can to destroy Othello. From the start, he uses Roderigo as a puppet to get at Othello by promising he will get what he wants. Since...
Othello
"He hath a daily beauty in his life" Othello, Act 5, Scene 1. What does that quote means?
The quote refers to the level of everyday attractiveness (not just physical, but also in character and personality) that Cassio possesses. This line is often cited to show Iago's insecurity...
Othello
Compare and contrast Desdemona and Emilia in Othello by Shakespeare.
Desdemona, Othello's wife, and Emilia, Iago's wife, are the two main female characters of the play. There are several differences between the two. However there are also some similarities which...
Othello
Who Dies In Othello
"That death's unnatural that kills for loving," Desdemona says to her husband in Act V, Scene 2 of this play. Desdemona, like the audience, knows that Othello is about to kill her, not because of...
Othello
What lies does Iago tell in the play Othello?
The best way to seek out Iago's lies, it to focus on what he says he motives are. These motives can be found in each soliloquy, which, in turn, forwards the plot of the play. Iago begins the play...
Othello
EXPLAIN "Cassio's a proper man. Let me see now:/ To get his place and to plume up my will/ In double knavery." I am...
This quote, which occurs in the final scene of Act 1, shows the beginnings of Iago's plan to get back at Othello. In reading this soliloquy, we learn that Iago hates Othello not just because...
Othello
In Othello, why does Emilia give the handkerchief to Iago?
As part of Iago's evil scheme to avenge Othello for passing him over as lieutenant and possibly sleeping with his wife, he plans to obtain Desdemona's handkerchief, which was Othello's first gift...
Othello
How do Othello and Desdemona win each other's affections?
After Iago causes an uproar with Brabantio, Desdemona and Othello explain to the Venetian council in act 3, scene 1 that they eloped because they are in love and describe the nature of that love....
Othello
In Othello, what does Iago mean by "Tis the curse of service preferment goes by letter and affection and not by old...
Iago is saying that the curse of military service is that preferment, or promotion, does not go by seniority or experience but by favoritism. In Shakespeare's time it was easy for an aristocratic...
Othello
In William Shakespeare's play Othello, what does Iago mean when he says, "But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve /...
In William Shakespeare's play Othello, Iago (addressing Roderigo) promises that he will never wear [his] heart upon [his] sleeve For daws to peck at: I am not what I am. (1.1.64-65). In other...
Othello
What is the significance of this quote from Othello? "Ere I would say, I would drown myself for the love of a...
The above quote originates from Act 1 Scene 3 in Othello where Roderigo complains bitterly about losing Desdemona to Othello. Iago, of course, is unsympathetic. He advises Roderigo to pull himself...
Othello
In William Shakespeare's play Othello, was Othello himself villain or victim?
Othello is primarily a victim in the play, although it's important to remember that he is a villain to the extent that he kills Desdemona. Othello is the victim of both Iago's manipulations and his...
Othello
What lie does Iago tell Roderigo about Desdemona in Othello?
Towards the end of act 2, scene 1, Iago lies to Roderigo by telling him that Desdemona is infatuated with Michael Cassio. When Roderigo disagrees, Iago continues to lie by telling Roderigo that...
Othello
What judgments does Iago pass on women in his conversation with Desdemona and Emilia? What is the purpose of his...
When Iago talks with Desdemona and Emilia in Act II, Scene 1 of Othello, he expresses his view that women are deceiving and hypocritical. In this scene, Iago observes his wife, Emilia, being kissed...
Othello
What is the importance of the quotation, "Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore; Be sure of it. Give me the...
Othello's demand for ocular proof, that is, tangible evidence of his wife's adultery, is the turning point in the play. It places Iago in a perilous position. He has to produce physical evidence to...
Othello
What is a good way to conclude an essay about Othello?
The best way to conclude an essay about Othello or about any topic is to recap what you said throughout the essay itself and emphasize the point that you want your readers to take away from reading...
Othello
In Othello, how is Iago's control of Roderigo demonstrated?
Iago uses whatever is within people to manipulate them. What is in Roderigo is lust and a desire to have Desdemona at all costs. Iago works him by convincing him that his money (along with Iago's...
Othello
What is a jealousy thematic statement for Othello?
A good thesis statement for jealousy in Othello could revolve around examining the close link between jealousy and insecurity, in particular how jealousy homes in and exploits people's innermost...
Othello
In Othello, one of Iago's soliloquies once again gives us a glimpse into his plans. He concludes, "So will I turn her...
The quote is taken from Act 2, scene 3. Iago is referring to Desdemona, Othello's wife, in this instance. He is saying that he plans to besmirch her good name and destroy the virtue that she holds....
Othello
In Shakespeare's Othello, why does Iago feel that he should have Cassio's job?
At the beginning of the first scene in Shakespeare's Othello, Iago is complaining bitterly to Roderigo that Othello has chosen someone other than Iago to be his lieutenant, his second-in-command....
Othello
What are some quotes about the status of women in Shakespeare's Othello?
In act 4, scene 3, Emilia delivers an impassioned monologue about the expectations and perceptions of women prevalent in Jacobean England. She lambasts men for being hypocritical, and she tacitly...
Othello
Why might Shakespeare choose to begin Othello in the middle of a conversation between Iago and Roderigo?
Shakespeare begins Othello in media res, in the midst of things, for the play opens with a dialogue between Iago and Roderigo. As we listen in on this conversation, we learn that Iago hates the man...
Othello
What is the significance of Othello's suicide at the end of Shakespeare's Othello, and does it achieve anything?
Othello's suicide signifies his acceptance of his crime of murdering Desdemona and his understanding that, although Iago manipulated him into his actions, he is ultimately the one responsible for...
Othello
How might the character of Iago be described as "Machiavellian"? What is the meaning of "Machiavel"?
Iago does what he needs to do to accomplish his goals. He is willing to resort to lying, cheating and trickery to get what he wants. This is Machiavellian because he gains power by manipulation...
Othello
Why did Desdemona decide to marry Othello?
The other characters assume that Othello must have used magic to make Desdemona consent to be his wife. After all, she is young and he is much older, and she is white while he is a Moor. Even a...
Othello
In Othello, act 3, how does Iago make Othello jealous?
In act 3, scene 3, Desdemona urges Othello to reenlist Michael Cassio before leaving the scene. Iago then begins asking Othello questions regarding Cassio's role in his relationship with Desdemona....
Othello
In act 1, who accuses Othello of witchcraft? why?
It is true. Brabantio accuses Othello of winning his daughter's heart through witchcraft: O you foul thief, where have you hidden my daughter?Damned as you are, you have cast a spell on...
Othello
In act 1 of Othello, how does Iago use his power of persuasion with Roderigo, Brabantio, and Othello to create his...
In the opening scene of the play, Iago expresses his contempt and hatred toward Othello for offering the revered lieutenant position to the inexperienced Florentine, Michael Cassio. Iago feels...
Othello
"Put out the light, and then put out the light." What figure of speech has been used in this statement? Explain.
The first part of the sentence is literal. Othello is actually referring to putting out the light of a candle. The second part is metaphorical. Putting out the light is a metaphor for the killing...
Othello
How does Iago trigger Othello's insecurities and exploit Othello's preexisting vulnerabilities? Provide relevant quotes.
Even with all of his personal achievements and military accomplishments, the title character of Shakespeare's Othello demonstrates character flaws and deep-seated insecurities that Iago exploits to...
Othello
In Othello, Act 1, Scene 1, why does Iago leave Roderigo alone at Brabantio's house?
Iago leaves Roderigo alone at Brabantio's house because he says that it is not fitting for a man of his inferior rank to be caught sullying the name of Othello. Iago says, "It seems not meet, nor...
Othello
How can Iago be blamed for Othello's downfall?
Iago is primarily responsible for Othello's downfall because he carefully plans and executes a malevolent scheme to make Othello jealous, which influences the esteemed general to misinterpret his...
Othello
In Othello, what is the significance of Iago's final line? "Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. / From this...
IAGO. I have told thee often, and I retell thee again and again, I hate the Moor. My cause is hearted ... (Othello, 1.3.28–30) Early in Shakespeare's Othello, Iago tells Roderigo time and again...
Othello
How is betrayal shown in Othello? Why did Iago betray each character in Othello?
Othello's trusted ensign, "honest Iago," is the personification of evil in Shakespeare's Othello. Iago does nothing in the play without an evil ulterior motive. Othello begins with Iago expressing...
Othello
In lines 4-6 of Othello, Iago states: "I hate the Moor, . . . done my office." Discuss why Iago hates Othello.
The key to understanding Iago is that he hates. We are never given, within the context of the play, solid reasons; his statement that the "Moor has done my office," referring that his wife Emilia...
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