nephews neigh to you, you’ll have coursers for cousins: and gennets for
germans.” (P26 L32)
Iago is trying to get Brabantio to understand that if he allows his
daughter to have sex with this “Barbary Horse,” he cannot be a Christian.
He uses a metaphor by saying “Two backs,” giving Brabantio a violent
image of two animals having sex. Although this may seem like
intentional discrimination against Othello’s skin colour and race, Iago
most likely does not care about Othello’s race but, it is the best way for
Iago to frustrate Brabantio and allow him to see why he can not allow his
daughter to carry on in this relationship.
“Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe” (Iago to Brabantio P26 L5)
Iago is telling Brabantio that Othello is having sex with his daughter and
has been for a long time. He move’s on to say;
“arise, arise, awake the snorting citizens with the bell, or else the devil
will make a gransire of you”(P26 L5)
Here, Iago tells Brabantio that they are making a half cast baby
and Brabantio will become a grandfather to this baby. Iago often uses
Othello’s race against him to make him look like a bad person but mainly
to give Brabantio unpleasant thoughts and imagery of Othello and his
daughter together.
“Cowhig examines how several characters in the play, especially Iago,
are racially prejudice. Iago’s racism is the source of his hatred for
Othello. ” -Ruth Cowhig “The Importance of Othello's Race” 2nd Dec 1977
I envisage that Iago does not have hatred for Othello because of his colour however, as I said above, uses it to make Othello seem a bad person as Blacks were not accepted kindly at this point in history.
Honour and Reputations
“Reputation, reputation, reputation! O I have lost my reputation! I have
lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial. My
reputation, Iago, my reputation!”(P66 L4)
Cassio and Iago were told not to drink whilst being on guard at the party. Iago schemed to try and acquire Cassio’s job but Cassio explains earlier that he cannot handle alcohol and becomes drunk very easily. Iago manipulates Cassio into drinking some alcohol which inevitably results in Cassio becoming very drunk. This, later results in Cassio losing his job and Iago getting a higher up position working for Othello.
The repetition used within the quote shows how highly Cassio felt for his
job and how ashamed he is of himself for letting himself get in such a
state when ordered not to.
Jealousy/ Paranoia
“Iago, exhibits an all-encompassing jealousy directed not only against sexual love but against love itself in all its manifestations. As a result, envious hatred takes possession of his soul, motivates his actions, and turns him into the most completely villainous character in all literature.” - D.R. Godfrey
Godfrey gives important views here by telling why Iago has the jealousy towards Othello and from the text; there are many indications that his objective is to receive love back from Othello.
“Now I do love her too, (Desdemona), not out of absolute lust (though peradventure I stand accomptant for as great a sin) but partly led to my revenge, for that I do suspect the lusty Moor hath leap’d into my seat ” (P56 L15)- Iago Soliloquay
This soliloquy by Iago tells his audience that he is in love with Desdemona but he is only in love with her so he can have sex with her. We are told that he wants to get even at Othello as he believes that Othello has been “tupping” his wife. He also believes that Cassio has been sleeping with his wife Amelia. There are hints for the first time throughout the play that Iago could possibly have feelings for Othello and could be using Desdemona as a way to come closer to him.
“Make the Moor (Othello) thank me, love me, and reward me…”
This suggests that a possible subject matter of homosexuality could arise within this play.
“Oh, beware my Lord, of jealousy, It is the green-ey’d Monster, which doth mock, which doth mock the meat it feeds on” (P78 L25) - Iago
Iago has intentionally begun to stir up tensions between Othello, Desdemona and Cassio. He make deliberate remarks, knowing that Othello will hear what is being said and want to know more about goings on between Cassio and Desdemona.
Within the quote, Iago is telling Othello that because of his jealous nature, he often thinks the worst in certain situations. This shows that, again, as throughout the play, he is not lying, but this is the first time he has actually spoke about himself in a way the audience know is very true of himself. Telling Othello this, allows Iago to be able to continue telling the truth and allows him not to lie.
This leads to further questions asked by Othello to Iago, which are Iago’s original intensions.
“The critic exposes the jealousy presented by several characters Othello, Roderigo, Bianca and Iago. He compares their irrational behaviour to that of Leonte’s, the jealous husband of Hermoine in the Winter Tale”
-D.R. Godfrey
Love
"But that I love the gentle Desdemona, I would not my unhoused free condition put into circumscription and confine for the sea's worth" (P30 L14) Othello
During this scene, Iago informs Othello that Brabantio will try to end his Marriage with Desdemona. In this quote, Othello tells Iago if he did not love Desdemona as much as he does, he would have never agreed to marry her and lose all of his freedom.
"Come, my dear love, The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue; That profit's yet to come 'tween me and you" (P57 L21)
A party has been held by Othello to celebrate the marriage of Othello and Desdemona and also to celebrate the defeat of the Turkish fleet.
Within the quote, Othello says, “Come with me, my dear love. Now that the wedding's over, we can have the pleasure of consummating our marriage.”
This shows that Othello and Desdemona have not actually had sex together yet. It is clear to see that as they have not yet had sex, they are evidently not using each other for this reason and must love each other for who they truly are. From many of Othello’s quotes to Desdemona, it is inevitable to see that he has true passion for her and adores her greatly.
Linked to what is said about Iago’s Jealousy for wanting Othello, it has been said that within the quote, “Men should be what they seem. Or those that be not, would they might seem none”
Iago may possibly be talking about himself and his homosexual love towards Othello retelling the quote ‘I am not what I am’ and attempting to leave subtle hints for Othello to realise Iago’s love for him, in hope, Othello will return the love.
It is inevitable to see that some of the many themes used to construct Othello, all associate with each other in order for Shakespeare’s tragedy to archive it aims.
“The great moral lesson of the tragedy of Othello is that Black and White blood cannot be intermingled in marriage without a grass outrage upon the laws of nature” Quincy Adams, 1863
Bibliography
Bradley A.C. “Shakespearean Tragedy”
Cowhig, Ruth “The Importance of Othello's Race” 2nd Dec 1977
Godfrey, D. R.
Adams, Quincy, 1863
Word Count-1491
Daniel Hope Page English Literature
