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 theyre 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

youll have your daughter coverd with a Barbary horse;

youll have your nephews neigh to you, youll 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 doesnt 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 annoying after 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 hes yours. L267
This is Iago telling Cassio that if he wants to win back Othellos
affection then he should impress him to prove himself. Once again it
shows Iagos 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 hes come to point out something to Iago,
which is that his money is spent.

Act 3: Scene 3
It is the green-eyd monster, which doth mock
That meat it feeds on. L 170
Here, according to the book it is conceived of as a malignant
monster, advancing from without to ravage the victims heart and
mocking its victim as it feeds This explanation 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 oer 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 womens tears,

Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile L240
This is said by Othello to Des. And basically translates into saying that womens
tears and problems are fake and would act like crocodile tears in
manipulating others.

You are welcome, sir, to CyprusGoats 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 dogL364
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 Gods 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 its 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, hes penitent L64

Desdemona talking to Othello about Cassio. Penitent meaning repentant,

shes 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 Iagos soliloquy: to people who are already jealous, vague signals
will be taken as solid proof as if its the holy bible and with Othellos
surety and trust in Iago his jealousy will poison him from the inside out.

o heaven defend me! L379

Iago being very deceitful. hes calling upon heaven to defend his lies
about Desdemonas 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 Desdemonas 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 Othellos 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 nave 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 serpents curse L16
Here Emilia speaks of the man who have put Desdemonas innocence in doubt to
Othello and describes of Iagos plan worthy of Satins 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 Othellos ignorance.

Keeps the gates in hell L90

Othello describing Emilia as the gate keeper of hell. Othellos 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 Iagos 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 Desdemonas death
the more that Othello thinks of D as being false, the more he himself descend
to hell and Desdemonas response to Othellos 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 Desdemonas innocence Othello asks to be punished
and go to hell for killing Desdemona

I look down towards his feet, but thats a fable, If thou best 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.