OTHELLO

1
OTHELLO

• Act I Notes

2
In Medias Res

• Latin phrase meaning into the middle of things
• Therefore, the conversation is lacking concrete
  meaning
• Relationship to the text?

3
Recurring Imagery

• Animal Imagery
• Body Part Imagery

4
Animal Imagery

• Often in reference to Othello and sex
• Even now, now, very now, an old black ram/ Is
  tupping your white ewe(I.i.87-88)
• Racism?
• Images suggest Othello is not human

5
Purpose of Body Part Imagery

• I will wear my heart upon my sleeve/ For daws
  to peck at(I.i.63-64)
• The interior becomes vulnerable when it is placed
  on the exterior.

6
Iago

• Iago seems to be proud of himself but hints he
  would like to be someone else
• a sense of fear is presented
• ..I will wear my heart upon my sleeve/ For daws
  to peck at(I.i.63-64)
• If he opens up, he will be devoured
• I am not what I am.(I.i.64)
• Makes sense (I am not who you think I am or I am
  not what I appear to be)
• Makes no sense (if taken literally)

7
Difference Between Iago and Othello

• Othello, on the other hand, says I am who I am
• Let him do his spite./ My services which I have
  done the signory/ Shall out-tongue his
  complaints(I.ii.17-19)
• My parts, my title, and my perfect soul/ Shall
  manifest me rightly(I.ii.31-32)

8
Difference Between Iago and Othello

• Perfect soul
• In its original Latin, the word perfect meant
  put through no cracks.
• Extremismif a small crack appears, then
  perfection is spoiled and therefore that which
  was once perfect has now crumbled.

9
More Differences Between Iago and Othello

• Iago focuses on the interior, or soul
• working for yourself shows the most soul
• (I.i.43-54)

10
Iago and Humanism vs. Animalism

• Controlling Others
• servant/master relationship
• two types of servants

11
Two Types of Servants

• (I.i.43-47)
• the servant who only lives to serve the master
  will one day be disposed of when he becomes
  useless to the master
• this type of servant is not selfish and therefore
  will suffer because of his lack of selfishness

• (I.i.47-54)
• This type of servant gives the false appearance
  of selflessness
• In reality, this servant is focusing completely
  on self
• Therefore, he gets something out of the
  relationship

12
Cyclical Nature of the Text

• Opening act begins and ends the same way
• Iago explaining the events to Roderigo
• Happens quite frequently
• Iago often ends acts re-explaining what has
  happened