War/Military

• "This is Venice."


  - Importance of setting; in a tragedy, the setting typically anticipates the scenes and the circumstances that are to follow.

  - Thus, in deliberately choosing the setting of Venice, a place that epitomises civilisation, wealth and the legal system, Shakespeare helps the audience anticipate that chaos, disaster or any illegal activity will be forgiven.

  - Shakespeare uses the Venetian setting to also establish Othello as an outsider. Although he serves the senate, Othello is not Italian, unlike his adversary, Iago.

  - Othello's outsider status also presents him as unable to understand the society and the rules of the society he serves. This is significant to the tragedy as his inability to familiarise himself with social conventions and become more Venetian results in his victimisation as a black person in Venice, but also results in his breaking of social conventions which ultimately impact Desdemona at the end of the play - because she "betrayed her father".

  - The setting is of importance and determines the tragedy. If the play remained set in Venice, it is very unlikely that Iago's plans and duplicitous nature would have been successful. Thus, the setting of Cyprus deliberately allows for the military conflict occurring to reflect the disaster and conflict occurring between Desdemona and Othello.

  - Venice also has the reputation as a hub of prostitution. While prostitution existed everywhere, a number of visitors to Venice published accounts of an established courtesan profession. Thus, in setting the beginning of the play in Venice and making Othello marry a Venetian woman, Shakespeare allows for Iago to prey on Desdemona's background which creates doubts in Othello's mind about Desdemona's fidelity.

  
  

  SAID BY BRABANTIO
• Setting of Cyprus


  - Cyprus is the "warlike island" under occupation.

  - The conflict and danger of the setting are mirrored in the tragic events that unfold there between Desdemona and Othello.

  - Away from the civilisation of Venice, Iago's evil schemes prosper.

  - Cyprus' threat by the turks mirrors Othello's peace of mind and marriage being threatened by Iago. Thus, in choosing a setting where conflict arises, Shakespeare foreshadows the conflict that will arise between the newly weds.

  - Cyprus is an isolated setting, which is psychologically appropriate. As it is an island, it depicts a sense of claustrophobia, reflective of Othello's feeling of claustrophobia at the hands of Iago's manipulation to the extent that his life becomes controlled by Iago's manipulation. Othello cannot escape.

  - Secure in their love in Venice, Othello and Desdemona are wrenched apart in Cyprus. It is tragically ironic that a once great soldier should die for love in a war zone.
• "Tempest"

  "For they were parted with foul and violent tempest."

  - The ships carrying Othello and Desdemona were "parted", ironically foreshadowing the permanent divide between the two by Iago's scheming.

  - Writer's device -> in deliberately using the tempest to portray danger to the extent that it could be deadly, Shakespeare foreshadows the deadly chaos caused by Iago's scheming. Significant to the tragedy -> the pathetic fallacy foreshadows the danger Iago's plan will pose to Desdemona's life and her death.

  - The storm can reflect Iago's violence.

  - The sea -> a motif throughout the play; dangerous, you could drown in it -> metaphor for Othello drowning in Iago's control and being overpowered by it.
• "O my soul's joy! If after every tempest come such calms, may the winds blow until they have wakened death."


  - Othello and Desdemona's marriage is at a peak. Their marriage's love is presented as having an impact spiritually too. Desdemona's love is presented as having a saving-grace on Othello's worries and the disasters that he experiences. She is the one that can save him from all the suffering. Their love is romanticised and at its peak -> TYPICAL OF A TRAGEDY GOOD MOMENTS ARE FOLLOWED BY NEGATIVE MOMENTS WHICH HEIGHTEN THE TRAGEDY.

  - Desdemona's love is presented as being a calming force. This is juxtaposed by the progression of the play in which Desdemona's love is no longer a calming force, rather, it is manipulated by Iago to become a destructive force which makes Desdemona a victim of her own love and Iago's manipulation.

  - Foreshadows Othello's loss of his soul's joy. As the play progresses and Iago begins to prey on Desdemona's love for Othello, Othello slowly loses his happiness, which is seen by him falling into a trance.

  
  

  SAID BY OTHELLO
• "My soul hath her content so absolute that not another comfort like to this succeeds in unknown fate."

  - Othello's feelings and love towards Desdemona are clearly strong. The strong feelings hint that the destruction and challenges the married couple face will be intensified because of their extent of their love.

  - Prophetic - foreshadows a greater storm which is about to happen. A storm between the newly weds as Iago begins to put his plan to action.

  - Foreshadows the moment in which the marriage has reached ultimate destruction to the extent that the destruction could no longer be reversed. Their love is temporary and short, like a storm. Iago's plan is also temporary but with an immense impact.

  
  

  SAID BY OTHELLO
• "I cannot speak enough of this content; it stops me here; it is too much joy."

  - Intense and strong feelings of love. Their destruction of love will be even more tragic because of their extent of love. It can be argued that the deterioration of their relationship would have not been so tragic if they were not so in love with each other or their marriage was on-going for a few years. Therefore, it can be argued that Othello and Desdemona are deliberately given little time together which intensifies their feelings of love and want towards each other, heightening the tragedy.

  
  

  SAID BY OTHELLO
• "Our wars are done."

  - Othello's naïveté and innocence. Although he fulfils his job as a general and saves Cyprus from the threat of Ottomans, he is about to go head-to-head with another threat. This time, the war threat will be in terms of marriage.

  - It can be argued that the setting is deliberate. Conflict and chaos between the marriage of the two would have not been allowed in Venice. Should Othello have found out of Desdemona's infidelity in Venice, a divorce would have likely to be gone forward, not Desdemona's wrongful killing - thus, making Iago's plans fail.

  - It could also be argued that in making Iago's plan cause emotional and physical conflict between the married couple, Shakespeare makes Othello hold onto his general role in the conflict that faces the couple. Like he does in war, Othello is likely to result to violence to solve the issue. This is tragic as Othello cannot abandon his role as a general as that is what makes him him, and therefore, Desdemona is undoubtedly going to become a victim of his violence.

  
  

  SAID BY OTHELLO
• "I have found great love amongst them."

  - Othello says this about Cyprus and the Cypriots; it is a place of love.

  - This is tragic. Although he may feel welcomed by the people, it could be merely because of his military successes in saving the country. It can therefore be argued that the initial feelings he feels are not accurate and representative of the true nature of Cyprus. Rather, Cyprus is a place of minimal civilisation which would allow Iago's plans to go forward that has no "love amongst it".

  - Aristotle: After every moment of happiness, there is destruction. Destruction will follow. Othello feels content because there aren't anymore distractions which can stop him from enjoying his wife...

  - Tragic; it could be argued that Othello's view of the Cypriot people and their love is what influences his manipulation. In holding the view that Cyprus is abundant in love, Othello may confuse Cassio's lies with love and therefore, tragically fall victim to his plans.

  
  

  SAID BY OTHELLO
• "Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation. I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial."


  - This quote makes it evident that not only is Othello a tragedy of love and loss of power, it is also a tragedy based around the arrogance and pride of men who live for their military ranks. This is reflective of Cassio's desperation as a result of him losing his military position, which brings him into desperation. Therefore, it would be plausible to argue that although this quote does not focus on Iago, it gives an insight into Iago's motives. Iago is evidently manipulating and exploiting the weaknesses of other characters for his own win - in attempt to gain military reputation, showing the extent of Iago's immorality.

  - The repetition of "reputation, reputation, reputation" shows the desperation of Cassio and reflects how he is as a character. Although he is respected by many and he was a respectful character too, it can be argued that much of his actions and attitudes towards characters were because of his concern in relation to his reputation. It is clear that Cassio cares about what other characters care about him.

  - This quote is also ironic. Although at this moment in the play Cassio loses his reputation, at the end of the play, he will be the only character whose reputation is restored, as he becomes a general. The change in dynamics and power at the end of the play is deliberately done by Shakespeare to suggest that good always overcomes evil and that although Iago was successful in his plans, he will likely face the punishments deserved. Likewise, Desdemona and Emilia will be saved for their innocence.

  - This quote is also significant to the tragedy because it foreshadows Othello's decision to kill Desdemona. He kills Desdemona to save himself from being regarded as a "horned man" but also to save the reputation of other men because of the possible dangers she poses to them.

  
  

  SAID BY CASSIO