Othello
Animal and Heaven & Hell Imagery
Animal
Imagery
Act 1: Scene 1
Act 1: Scene 1
“…an old black ram is tupping your white ewe” L89
Very strong purity vs. evil imagery. Animalistic imagery makes it seen that
what they’re doing is out of control, forced and is polygamist action by
Othello. The animal imagery would make this news more shocking to
Brabantio.
“…your daughter, and the Moor, are now making the beast with two
backs” L116
By using the word ‘beast’ it seems like a animal action, therefore it makes
Brabantio freak out even more about what could be happening
“…you’ll have your daughter cover’d with a Barbary horse; you’ll have
your nephews neigh to you, you’ll have coursers for cousins, and
jennets for germans.” L111
Animal imagery associated with sexual impulse. The Barbary coast in North
Africa was famous for the horse-breeding. Runs a parallel to the Moor, who
is presumably African – if not, from descent .
Act 1: Scene 1
“Plague him with flies” L72
A plague of flies was sent to the Egyptians who were opposing the Hebrews and
refusing to let them seek out the promised land, biblical reference exodus
8:20. Said by Iago to Roderigo, in order to tell him to use any means to
wake Brabantio and tell him what his daughters doing.
Act 1: Scene 3
“Come, be a man; drown thyself? Drown cats and blind puppies…” L337
He talks about drowning animals in such an offhand and sadistic way that
means he doesn’t really give much thought to animals, and therefore other
people, e.g. Desdemona and Othello
“The food that to him now is as luscious as locusts, shall be to him
shortly as acerb as the coloquintida.” L349
Locusts being something sweet and a delicacy. Iago describes Desdemona as a
passing fancy and something that Othello will get bored of eventually.
This demonstrates his opinion of women, being that they are an extra item
to posses and are boring and annoyingafter awhile.
The colocynth (also called coloquintida I think), is also known as the bitter
apple, bitter cucumber, egusi, or vine of Sodom, is a viny plant native to
the Mediterranean Basin and Asia, especially Turkey(from wiki). The
reference to Turkey here would make this seems even more awful as they
basically hate the Turks.
Act 2: Scene 3
“…even so, as one would beat his offenceless dog, to affright an
imperious lion: sue to him again, and he’s yours.” L267
This is Iago telling Cassio that if he wants to win back Othello’s affection
then he should impress him to prove himself. Once again it shows Iago’s
dispensable attitude towards animals.
“Drunk? and speak parrot? and squabble? swagger?
swear?...”
Parrot in this sense means to ‘talk without understanding what one is saying’
( Cassio talking about how he behaved when he was drunk )
“I do follow here in the chase, not like a hound that hunts, but one
that fills up the cry…”
Roderigo is saying that he is the ‘ hound who merely gives tongue as they
follow those who are really running the sent’ – which would be Iago. So
this quote shows he’s come to point out something to Iago, which is that
his money is spent.
Act 3: Scene 3
“It is the green-ey’d monster, which doth mock
That meat it feeds on.” L 170
Here, according to the book ‘it is concieved of as a malignant monster,
advancing from without to ravage the victims heart and mocking it’s victim
as it feeds’ This explaination is a bit of a foreshadow for things to come
between Othello and Desdemona. The usage of the word monster make it seem
like jealousy is out of control and feared.
“O curse of marriage,
That we call these delicate creatures ours,
And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad,
And live upon the vapour in a dungeon…” L 270
Toad: a recognised symbol for anything despicable and detested. Said by
Othello
Act 4: Scene 1
“As doth the raven o’er the infected house..” L21
The raven was not only meant to be the bird of ill-omen and harbinger of death but also
the carrier of infection.
“…O, she will sing the savageness out of a bear; of so high and plenteous wit
and invention!”L185
It means Desdemona will soften anyone that is vicious or wild, parallel could be drawn to
Othello being the bear and that she softened him too.
“If that the earth could teem with women’s tears,
Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile…” L240
This is said by Othello to Des. And basically translates into saying that women’s tears
and problems are fake and would act like crocodile tears in manipulating others.
“You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus…Goats and monkeys!”L259
Is said in the heat in the moment after he has striked Des. Shows his steep transition
into Iago like language, using animal imagery and language.
Act 5: Scene 2
“I took by the throat the circumcised dog,
And smote him thus.”L356
“O Spartan dog…”L364
‘Spartan’ when applied to a hound normally connotes excellence. Said by
Lodivico in last speech to Iago.
Heaven
and
Hell
Act 1: Scene 1
“God bless the mark!” L33
An exclamation of impatience.
“Zounds” L87
Iago swears by God’s wounds, which in that day was quite major.
“The devil will make grandsire of you” L92
The devil is sometimes depicted as a black man i.e. Othello. Also it’s like saying wake
up, or else Othello will make you a grandfather ( from Othello and Des. sleeping
together).
“you are one of those that will not serve God if the devil bid you” L109-10
i.e. you are the sort of person who will not take good advise because you dislike the man
who offers it.
“Give me a taper” L142
Basically means ‘give me some light’
“Get more tapers” L167
Means get more light, i.e. let God show me the truth.
Act 3 : Scene 3
“I’ faith, he’s penitent” L64
Desdemona talking to Othello about Cassio. Penitent meaning repentant, she’s
saying that cassio is ready to repent his sin of over drinking (
intoxicating himself) and therefore able to go to heaven by making it up
to Othello and regaining his dignity.
“ triffles light as air are to the jealous, confirmations strong as
proofs of holy writ……. burn like the mines of sulfur.” L 327-330
Part of Iago’s soliloquy: to people who are already jealous, vague signals
will be taken as solid proof as if it’s the holy bible and with Othello’s
surety and trust in Iago his jealousy will poison him from the inside out.
“o heaven defend me!” L379
Iago being very deceitful. he’s calling upon heaven to defend his lies about
Desdemona’s fidelity in order for Othello to believe him. This lie shows
Iago does not care for heaven or hell and is willing to do any thing to
his advantage.
Act 3 : Scene 3
Cont.
“Dame her…. fair devil” L482-485
This shows the change in Othello from being very trusting “ My life upon her
faith” to damming her to hell because of his strong belief in Desdemona’s
“betrayal.”
“Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell” Lnot too sure
Othello calling on the devils to fill him with hatred and evil in order for
him to kill Desdemona. this shows Othello’s conviction on killing Desdemona
even though he still loves her he is prepared to be taken over by the
devils to kill D simply based on what Iago has told him. Othello is very
naïve and quite disabled in the ways of the court when compared to Iago and
Cassio.
Act 4: Scene 2
Emilia “let heaven requite it with the serpent’s curse” L16
Here Emilia speaks of the man who have put Desdemona’s innocence in doubt to Othello and
describes of Iago’s plan worthy of Satin’s own doing
“come, swear by it, dame thyself, lest being like one of heaven, the devils
themselves should fear to seize thee. Therefore be double -dammed.” L36
Uses hyperbole in his rage to describe Desdemona as if she is worse than devils for
pretending to be pure and innocent and will spend eternity in hell. this is ironic
because the human being he trusts the most (iago) is doing exactly that to him but he
is pursuing an answer from someone who has always been loyal to him, again displaying
Othello’s ignorance.
“Keeps the gates in hell” L90
Othello describing Emilia as the gate keeper of hell. Othello’s complete dismissal of
Women later on in the play shows how much he has changed since the beginning of the
play this is influenced by Iago’s “poison” to give Othello the illusion that women are
all evil and deceitful.
Act 5: Scene 2
“I would not kill thy unprepared spirit, no, heaven forfend I would not kill
thy soul” L31
Othello feels the need to kill Desdemona though he still loves her so he wanted D to pray
and ask for forgiveness so her soul will go to heaven after he kills her.
“O the more angel she. and you the blacker devil.” L131
emilia tells Othello after Desdemona’s death
the more that Othello thinks of D as being false, the more he himself descend to hell and
Desdemona’s response to Othello’s harsh treatments makes herself look even purer by
contrast.
After her death Desdemona speaks a lot which in a way communicates the idea that she is
beyond the human realm and was from heaven to start off with.
Act 5: Scene 2
“Whip me, you devils,…roast me in sulfur, wash me in steep-down gulfs of
liquid fire!” L278
after the realization of Desdemona’s innocence Othello asks to be punished and go to hell
for killing Desdemona
“ I look down towards his feet, but that’s a fable, If thou be’st a devil, I
cannot kill thee” L288
Othello believes he cannot kill Iago because he is the devil himself. it is a fable that
devils have cloven hoofs because Iago clearly have none.