Othello

Act I, Scene i

1. How does Iago contrast himself with Cassio? What universal opposition does that contrast suggest?
2. What do you expect when you hear Iago say, “In following him, I follow but myself”? (58) What do you expect when you hear him say, “I am not what I am”? (65)
3. What may you conclude when you contrast lines 96 - 98 with line 173?
4. What kinds of images does Iago use in referring to Othello? What does he give Brabantio as his principal reason for not expecting the Duke to exile Othello?

Act I, Scene ii

1. In line 33 Iago swears by Janus, the Roman god with two faces. Explain the appropriateness of this allusion in Iago’s case.
2. What seems to constitute Brabantio’s essential objections to Desdemona’s marriage to Othello?
3. What qualities of Othello’s personality have already emerged? What evidence points to each?

Act I, Scene iii

1. Explain the “spell” by which Othello charmed Desdemona.
2. What explanation does Othello offer for his love for Desdemona and hers for him?
3. What do you make of the Duke’s remark in line 287?
4. What prediction can you make on the basis of lines 289 - 290?
5. What seems to be Iago’s belief about the love between any man and woman?
6. In scene i, Iago complains that Othello passes him over for promotion in favor of Cassio. What further reason for his hatred of Othello does he offer in this scene?
7. How does Iago explain his high expectation that he will be able to manipulate Othello?

Act II, Scene i

1. How does Shakespeare create suspense in this opening scene?
2. How does Iago’s speech in lines 100 - 102 explain his relationship with his wife? How does it connect - if at all - to his theory of the relationship between men and women?
3. Does Iago believe Cassio and Desdemona are attracted to one another? What may this answer reveal about Iago himself? Does Iago find Desdemona attractive? What may that answer reveal about him? What does Iago mean in line 311?

Act II, Scene ii

No questions.

Act II, Scene iii

1. Explain Cassio’s succumbing to Iago’s machinations in terms of Plato’s theory of the soul.
2. Explain Othello’s mood or thoughts in lines 192 - 194 in terms of Plato’s theory of the soul.
3. What is Iago’s view of reputation?

Act III, Scene i

1. Consider the play on word in the exchange between Cassio and the Clown (19 - 20). What kind of humor appealed to the audience of the day? May lines like these have appealed to one part of the audience more that it did to another?
2. According to Emilia, what are Desdemona’s and Othello’s feelings about Cassio currently?

Act III, Scene ii

NO QUESTIONS

Act III, Scene iii

1. How strong a promise does Desdemona make to support Cassio’s efforts to regain his lieutenancy and his general’s good graces?
2. Why does Cassio leave when he sees Othello approaching?
3. Explain the innuendo in Iago’s reply to Othello’s question regarding Cassio’s departure from Desdemona. How is the line “[Cassio] errs in ignorance, and not in cunning” a tacit comparison of Cassio and Iago?
4. What does Desdemona reveal about the relationship between Cassio and Othello?
5. We know that Iago is trying to use Cassio and Desdemona to destroy Othello. How then do lines 91 - 93 serve as a foreshadowing of how events - and Othello’s life - may unfold?
6. What misinterpretation of Iago’s character lead Othello to listen to and even to believe his ensign? What confession does Iago make to Othello that borders on an admission of guilt?
7. Contrast lines 156 - 162 in Act III, Scene iii to lines 241 - 243 in Act II, Scene ii. What do these lines reaffirm about Iago?
8. How does Othello propose to avoid jealousy?
9. Why are lines 206 - 208 so powerful?
10. What is the double meaning of Othello’s declaration to Iago, “I am bound to thee for ever”? What commission does Othello give Iago just before the ensign departs from him? Which lines reveal Iago’s success in planting suspicion in Othello’s heart?
11. What does Othello perceive to be his faults as a fitting husband for Desdemona? How does he justify his growing jealousy?
12. When Othello actually sees Desdemona the next time, what effect does she immediately have upon him?
13. With what lie about Cassio does Iago make his final assault on Othello’ suspicions? With what prop does Iago seal his seduction of Othello into jealousy?
14. What is the significance of Othello’s and Iago’s closing speeches in this scene?

Act III, Scene iv

1. What gross misinterpretation of Othello’s character prevents Desdemona from foreseeing her own fate or even from understanding Othello’s behavior in this scene?
2. How does Desdemona misinterpret Othello’s strange behavior?
3. What is the thematic role of Bianca and Cassio’s exchange at the end of this scene?

Act IV, Scene I

1. Iago says that a woman’s honor is “an essence that’s not seen” (16). What does he mean when he continues, “They have it very oft that have it not” (17)?
2. After Bianca’s appearance and departure, how can you explain the fact that Othello does not conclude that Iago and Cassio have been talking about her rather than about Desdemona? Which of Bianca’s lines could have ended Iago’s plot if Othello had interpreted correctly?
3. What kind of “justice” does Othello see in strangling Desdemona in their bed?
4. Explain Othello’s misinterpretation of Desdemona’s expression of pleasure when Lodovico tells her that Cassio is to become governor of Cyprus and Othello is to return home.
5. According to Lodovico, for what virtue or virtues is Othello most famous? Why might Shakespeare interject this reminder at this point in the drama?

Act IV, Scene ii

1. In the face of Emilia’s eyewitness testimony concerning Desdemona’s dealings with Cassio, Othello says only, “That’s strange.” Which of the skills that have gained him his high reputation must have departed from him to allow him such a comment?
2. What does Desdemona suspect to be the reason for Othello’s wrath?
3. After Othello berates her and after she sends Emilia to fetch Iago, Desdemona asserts, “‘Tis meet I should be used so, very meet” (107). What do you think she means? What does it reveal about her character at that moment?
4. What facts does Emilia recall to lie in contrast to Othello’s accusing Desdemona of being a whore?
5. What does that comment reveal about her character at that moment? How is Emilia’s speech in lines 130 - 133 ironic? What do Iago’s and Desdemona’s responses reveal about each of them?
6. How does Emilia explain Iago’s suspicion that she had cuckolded him with Othello? Does her comment shed any new light on our understanding of Iago? Or on Shakespeare’s intentions?
7. Iago has promised Othello to kill Cassio, but at the end of this scene he convinces Roderigo to do the deed. What does this maneuver reveal about Iago’s character? How can you explain Roderigo’s willingness to accept Iago’s plan to murder Cassio?

Act IV, Scene iii

1. What is the tone of the “Willow Song”?

Act V, Scene I

1. How does Roderigo feel about murdering Cassio? Why does he go ahead with it?
2. By what line of reasoning does Iago decide that it is Cassio he most wants dead?
3. How can you explain the fact that Cassio does not recognize Iago as the man who stabbed him in the leg?

Act V, Scene ii

1. Why is Othello reluctant to “shed [Desdemona’s] blood,/Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow” (3 - 4)? Why does he say, “I would not kill thy unprepared spirit./No, heaven forfend! I would not kill thy soul.” (31 - 32)?
2. When Emilia asks Desdemona who has tried to kill her, Desdemona says, “Nobody ‑ I myself.” How can you explain her reason for giving this response? What does it reveal about her character?
3. What is the tone of Emilia’s often repeated “My husband?”
4. To what extent are lines 177 - 178, spoken by Iago, true?
5. Emilia asserts that Desdemona is “the sweetest innocent/that e’er did lift up eye.” Is her appraisal accurate?
6. What does Othello mean when he calls himself “one who loved not wisely, but too well” (343)?