McNamara
English 197
Reading questions for Othello:
Act I Scene 3
- Notice the reason that Iago gives in his final speech for wanting to get even with Othello. How does it compare with what he’s earlier claimed?
Act II Scene 1
- Compare Cassio’s view of Desdemona with Iago’s view of all women. Pay attention, too, to how Iago represents Desdemona’s desire for Othello.
- How does Roderigo’s representation of Desdemona compare to others we’ve seen in the play?
- Pay close attention to the way Iago develops his plot. What more do we learn about what motivates his plot? About his enmity toward Cassio?
Act II Scene 3
- Again, notice how Cassio and Iago talk about Desdemona. Does this further confirm out sense of Cassio as naïve? Is there a more positive way to phrase this?
- In line 115, Iago says of Cassio that his vice is “to his virtue a just equinox.”
- Do you think he’s right, or is he just selling Montano a version of Cassio that will help lead to Cassio’s undoing?
- Might it be more accurate to say that Cassio’s virtue is also, in some sense, his vice?
- Trace the moves that Iago makes in setting his trap for Cassio. Pay attention not only to what he does but also to what he says to Cassio and others.
- Why is Othello so angered by the quarrel?
- After the quarrel, Cassio speaks with Iago about his loss of reputation. How easy is it to sort lies from truth in what Iago says? If it’s hard, what makes it so?
Act III Scene 3
- Describe in detail how Iago uses language to lead Othello to distrust Desdemona. Lies? Truth? Speaking? Holding back?
- What particular comments stand out? Which seem to move Othello most?
- Trace Othello’s movement toward belief in Desdemona’s guilt and the effect that his belief has on Iago’s tactics.
- Pay close attention to the device of the handkerchief. Notice what it means to each of the characters involved with it.