Othello by William Shakespeare | Motifs

Summary

The script explores the themes of darkness and light in Shakespeare's 'Othello', highlighting Iago's manipulation through darkness and the ironic portrayal of Othello as the 'devil' despite his dark skin. It contrasts Othello's and Desdemona's skin colors and Iago's use of beastly imagery to stir racial tensions. The script also notes the characters' descent into beastly behavior, reflecting the play's deeper commentary on race and morality.

Takeaways

• 🌙 Iago uses darkness as a metaphor for his deceptive nature, often operating in the shadows.
• 🕯️ Light is used symbolically to represent Desdemona's life, which Iago plans to extinguish.
• 🖤 Iago's light skin color juxtaposed with Othello's dark skin challenges racial stereotypes.
• 🐾 Iago manipulates the play's racial tensions by invoking beasts and demon imagery.
• 🐺 Iago's language infects other characters, causing them to adopt his beastly metaphors.
• 🌓 Othello's dark skin is associated with the devil figure, subverting the conventional good vs. evil dichotomy.
• 🦢 Emilia's final act of defiance is symbolized by her declaration to 'play the swan'.
• 👫 Desdemona is portrayed as 'white' and 'fair', contrasting with Othello's 'black' descriptions.
• 🌌 Iago's nighttime activities are indicative of his secretive and malevolent character.
• 🔍 The script encourages readers to track the spread of Iago's manipulative language throughout the play.

Q & A

What is the significance of darkness and light as motifs in the play?

In the play, darkness and light serve as motifs to represent the hidden and the revealed, respectively. Darkness is used by Iago to hide his true intentions and manipulate others, while light is used to symbolize Desdemona's innocence and life.

How does Iago use darkness to his advantage?

Iago hides in the darkness during the early hours of the morning to avoid being seen while stirring up trouble about Desdemona's elopement. He also uses the cover of darkness to instigate a fight between Cassio and Roderigo.

What does the candle in Desdemona's bedchamber symbolize?

The candle in Desdemona's bedchamber is a metaphor for her life, which Iago plans to extinguish, indicating his intention to ruin her.

How are Desdemona and Othello's contrasting skin colors used in the play?

Desdemona is described with terms like 'white' and 'fair', while Othello is referred to as 'black'. This contrast is used to highlight racial differences and plays with the audience's expectations of characters based on their appearance.

What is the situational irony in the portrayal of Iago and Othello?

Despite the conventional association of dark with evil and light with good, Iago, who is light-skinned, plays the role of the villain in the play, while Othello, who is dark-skinned, is the tragic hero. This undercuts racial stereotyping.

How does Iago use beast and demon imagery?

Iago uses beast and demon imagery to associate blackness with negative connotations, manipulating the play's racial tensions. He refers to Othello as an 'old black ram' and suggests that Othello and Desdemona are 'making the beast with two backs'.

How does the use of beast imagery spread throughout the play?

The beast imagery starts with Iago's insinuations and spreads to other characters. Cassio, influenced by Iago, refers to himself as a 'beast' after getting drunk, and Othello uses similar language when expressing his jealousy.

What does Emilia mean when she declares she will play the Swan in the final scene?

Emilia's declaration to play the Swan is a reference to the myth of Leda and the Swan, where Zeus, in the form of a swan, impregnates Leda. Emilia implies that she will reveal the truth about Iago's manipulations, similar to how the swan's actions led to the birth of Helen of Troy.

How does Iago's manipulation affect the language and actions of other characters?

Iago's manipulations lead other characters to adopt his language and actions. For example, Cassio and Othello begin to use animalistic and hellish references to express their feelings, showing how Iago's influence has permeated their thoughts.

What is the significance of the term 'a fellow' in the context of the play?

The term 'a fellow' is used to refer to Othello and is a way of dehumanizing him. It reflects the prejudice and racism present in the society depicted in the play, as well as Iago's disdain for Othello.

How does the play challenge traditional racial stereotypes?

The play challenges traditional racial stereotypes by showing that it is Iago, the light-skinned character, who is the villain and Othello, the dark-skinned character, who is the hero. This subversion of expectations questions the simplistic association of darkness with evil.