Othello - Act 5 scene 2. Lines 1-233

Answer in full sentences, with quotations. Type your responses and post to your blog.

1. What reasons does Othello give for having to kill Desdemona?

Othello kills Desdemona as he has been succumbed to believe that she has been unfaithful towards him, as Iago has set up a plan in which Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. Othello's reason was because 'she was as false as water', inferring that she has not been loyal towards Othello. Therefore this leads to him killing Desdemona which then leads to his hamartia and the audience experience catharsis as they have pity for Desdemona as this was all a lie in which Othello did not realise before he killed her.

2. What evidence is there to suggest that Shakespeare adhered to racial stereotypes in this scene? Consider:

• irrational behaviour
• emotions
• danger
• the 'mystical negro' stereotype
• representations of the 'other'

Shakespeare also uses racial stereotypes in Act 5 scene 2, through the characters that he uses, Emilia calls Othello 'the blacker devil!' This proves that she is angry as she is racist to him, but it is also clear that she is angry due to the use of an exclamation mark. This also proves that Shakespeare adheres to the racial stereotypes by using 'the blacker devil' as in the Elizabethan society black people were seen as devils. Shakespeare also shows the ideas of black slavery in Africa in the Elizabethan society,'O cursed, cursed slave! Whip me, ye devils.' This proves that Othello is wanting to be punished by the devils and also wants to be whipped like he used to be when he was a slave. 

3. Othello tells Desdemona that Cassio has confessed to sleeping with her (line 68). What was this 'confession'?
Othello speaks to Desdemona and tells her that Cassio has confessed to sleeping with her, Othello believed this as he was succumbed into believing it through Iagos lies and the fact that Iago gave Othello evidence of the handkerchief, which was given to Desdemona. But Cassio was caught with it, 'saw the handkerchief,' this proves that Othello had seen the handkerchief. 

4. Emilia says "Good gentleman, let me have leave to speak./ 'Tis proper I obey him - but not now!" [5.2.192-193] what does this indicate about Emilia and society? Consider the circumstances the characters are in.

Emilia says 'Good gentleman, let me have leave to speak./ 'Tis proper I obey him - but not now!' This shows that Emilia is not the kind of woman that would conform to the expectations that are expected in the society that she lives in. But she does prove that she is going to break them. This could also suggest that Emilia is accepting that she is soon to die for speaking the truth, shown when she says 'but not know' as this could prove that she has been very quiet but it is now time for her to speak out against her husband in order to speak the truth. This shows the strength of this female character as she does not seemed bothered to speak out and still knows that she could get killed because of it. 

5. How is Emilia presented in lines 125-233. Consider the language she uses, how she behaves and what she says to Othello and Iago.

6. List all of the names Emilia calls Othello when she realises what he has done. How does this contrast with how Othello was portrayed at the start of the play?

Emilia is very angry when Othello kills Desdemona as it s her mistress, therefore she is very aggressive when speaking to Othello and calls him  a lot of names. At the start of the play Othello is shown as a calm character and a valiant moor, but when he has killed Desdemona he is now called 'the blacker devil,' by Emilia. She is racial to him due to her anger. She also says 'ignorant as dirt' which is also racial as black people were stereotyped to be unitelligent. When Emilia is killed by her husband Iago, pity is evoked as the audience feel pity for her due to her dining about thinking how bad Othello is and she was just telling the truth.