https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r Othello theme tracker en-us 2018-11-20 15:10:35 UTC 2025-11-07 11:28:04 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Lightdecrease.png 3603412 https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/306383626 On the dark streets of Venice, Iago is telling his puppet Roderigo about his 2-faced nature. Iago explains,  "I follow him to serve my turn upon him. ... Others there are who, trimmed in forms and visages of duty, keep their hearts attending on themselves and, throwing but shows of service on their lords, do well thrive by them. ... I AM NOT WHAT I AM"   
(Shakespeare, 1.1.44-67)

Explanation:  to Iago tries to reassure Roderigo that he is actually pretending to be loyal to Othello so that he can eventually find a way to destroy his new marriage. ]]> 2018-11-20 15:10:35 UTC https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/306383626 3603412 https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/306383627 Brabantio has just realized that his fair, young daughter is missing and he is slowly starting to believe what Roderigo (Iago) is telling him.    Brabantio complains to Roderigo,  “oh heaven, how got she out? Oh treason of the blood! Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters’ minds by what you see them act. Is there not charms by which the property of youth and maidhood may be abused?? “ (Shakespeare, I, i, 172-175)

Explanation: Brabantio thinks of his daughter as his property. He is shocked that his own daughter would betray a powerful, noble man like himself. He is afraid that his reputation will be damaged by this betrayal.


]]> 2018-11-20 15:10:35 UTC https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/306383627 3603412 https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/306383628 From the dark streets of Venice, Iago and Rodrigo wake up the senator with shocking news.     In an attempt to damage the reputation of Othello and infuriate the senator, Iago shouts up to Brabantio,  "... you have lost half of your soul.  Even now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe. ... you'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse.  You'll have your nephews neigh to you"   
(Shakespeare, 1.1.89-91 and 114-116)

Explanation: This shows Iago’s racist attitude towards Othello.   He uses animal imagery to make true love and an honest, loving sexual encounter between Othello and Desdemona seem bestial, violent, and nasty.  ]]> 2018-11-20 15:10:35 UTC https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/306383628 3603412 https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/306383629 1.   Context (who?where? when?)
2.  A set-up (who is in the quote? Where? When?)
3.  A speaker tag
4.   The quote... written in Shakespeare’s words
5.   Reference:  (Shakespeare, 1.2.45)
6.   Explanation of the link between the quote and the theme.  (***most important part***)]]> 2018-11-20 15:10:35 UTC https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/306383629 3603412 https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/311373044 As Othello's suspicion of Desdemona grows, thanks to Iago, he becomes very insecure. He is also furious. He doesn't trust Micheal Cassio anymore. ]]> 2018-12-05 14:36:03 UTC https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/311373044 3603412 https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312740387 Othello making his case for his love for Desdemona : "My story being done,/ She gave me for my pains a world of sighs./She swore, in faith, twas strange, 'twas passing 
   strange,/'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful./She wished she had not heard it, yet she wished/That heaven had made her such a man. She thanked 
   me,/And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her,/I should but teach him how to tell my story,/And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake./She loved me for the dangers I had passed,/And I loved her that she did pity them." (Shakespeare, 1.3.159-69)

Explanation : An interpretation could be that Desdemona wishes she had as much power as men had in the time. She would like to go to war to show her strength. she is amazed by Othello's stories, not because she loves him, but because she wishes she can do the same things as him and have the same position. Women were not "suited" for that type of adventure in the time.]]> 2018-12-10 00:34:53 UTC https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312740387 3603412 https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312740877 Talking to Brabantio about Desdemona and Othello : "Even now, now, very now, an old black ram/ Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise;/ Awake the snorting citizens with the bell,/ Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you./
Arise I say!" (Shakespeare, 1.1.91-95) 

Associating the devil to black people was common back then. People of darker skin color weren't accepted at all. Othello is one of the rare cases where he worked up to his position and now people respect him; except iago.]]> 2018-12-10 00:38:50 UTC https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312740877 3603412 https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312742807 Iago goes to see Brabantio and tell him all about Othello and Desdemona : "Awake! What ho, Brabantio! Thieves, thieves!/ 
Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags!/
Thieves, thieves"  (Shakespeare, 1.1.81-83)

Explanation : Iago refers to Desdemona as Barbantio's stolen item. He is objectifying her, which is pretty common for men to do in that time (they actually still do it now in 2018!). Women did not have many rights, they were their fathers property, and once they got married, they were their husbands property.]]> 2018-12-10 00:55:11 UTC https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312742807 3603412 https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312744000 After the party, where Iago and Roderigo put their plan to action he states : "I do follow here in the chase not like a hound that hunts but one that fills up the cry" (Shakespeare, 2.3.343-44)

Explanation : Love jealousy is what Roderigo is clearly showing here. it isn't rare that people get jealous of other's relationships. Roderigo is clearly frustrated with the fact that Desdemona is giving Othello and Micheal Cassio attention. Clearly love jealousy doesn't help anyone ever, so the plan for Roderigo to get close to Desdemona fails.]]> 2018-12-10 01:04:26 UTC https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312744000 3603412 https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312745379 Iago's soliloquy after Roderigo leaves : "But partly led to diet my revenge, For that I do suspect the lusty Moor Hath leaped into my seat" ( Shakespeare, 2.1.288-90)

Explanation : Another common jealousy is relationship jealousy. It partially causes Iago's anger and revenge.]]> 2018-12-10 01:15:21 UTC https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312745379 3603412 https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312745632 When finding out he didn't get the position he wanted "I hate the Moor./ Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against him." (Shakespeare, 1.3.369-61)

Explanation : Iago's jealousy leads him to seeking revenge against Othello. He is jealous of the position Othello gave to a stranger, and the honor that comes with it.]]> 2018-12-10 01:17:14 UTC https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312745632 3603412 https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312746129 At the party, drunk Cassio gets drunk and fights Montano "Thus do I ever make my fool my purse" (Shakespeare, 1.3.374)

Explanation: Iago has Roderigo wrapped around his finger. He convinces him to sell his land to impress Desdemona. But iago truly just wants to steal Roderigo's money.]]> 2018-12-10 01:20:53 UTC https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312746129 3603412 https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312747347 At the party, drunk Cassio fights Montano and gets hurt, Iago asks : What are you hurt, lieutenant? (Shakespeare, 2.3.247)

Explanantion : Iago acts as if he cares for Cassio, but it is just part of his plan.]]> 2018-12-10 01:30:58 UTC https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312747347 3603412 https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312747639 After Iago gives what seems to be good advice to Cassio, Cassio leaves and Iago states : When deils will the blackest sins put on They do suggest at first with heavenly shows As do I now" (Shakespeare, 2.3.331-33)

Explanation : Iago gives what seems to be good advice to Cassio. It is just part of Iago's evil scheme.]]> 2018-12-10 01:32:40 UTC https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312747639 3603412 https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312748078 A part of Iago's plot consists of getting Cassio drunk at the party. When Cassio indeed gets humiliated he states : "Reputation, reputation, reputation! Oh, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation! (Shakespeare, 2.3.250-54) 

Explanation : Micheal CAssio is foolish and thinks reputation is all that matters in a person. He gets drunk and makes a fool of himself. He has no honour.]]> 2018-12-10 01:35:38 UTC https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312748078 3603412 https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312748551 After Brabantio explains his case to the Duke, Othello  describes his honest relationship with Desdemona : "She loved me for the dangers I had passed" (Shakespeare, 1.3.168)

Explanation : Compared to the others, it is extremely important for Othello to have honour, because it is the only thing people respect him for. without his honour he wouldn't have Desdemona. She was attracted by his honour courage, and manhood. ]]> 2018-12-10 01:38:55 UTC https://padlet.com/3603412/8z1i40gj5x6r/wish/312748551