1. Othello – women and love

2. Top quotations from the extract (L167-9) “What! Keep a week away? … And lovers’ absent hours/ More tedious than the dial eight score times” Repeated references to time reflect Bianca’s frustration/how Cassio has neglected Bianca/her love for him is obsessive and possibly unrequited. (L172) C: ”I shall, in a more continuate time,/ Strike off this score of absence” At Cassio’s own convenience, he will make it up to her (L 175) B: “This is some token from a newer friend!” exclamation emphasises her distress; this presumption implies she is used to such behaviour from men (L177-8) C: “Go to, woman,/ Throw your vile guesses in the devil’s teeth” Cassio’s language quickly becomes angrier/more violent here suggesting his disrespect of Bianca (L185) C: “Take it and do ’t, and leave me for this time” use of imperatives reflects the patriarchal society and women’s duty to obey men and carry out domestic tasks (L189) C: “nor my wish,/ To have him see me womaned” The reason for Cassio’s haste in dismissing Bianca is apparent here: he doesn’t want to be seen “womaned” – the implication is that involvement with women weakens a man’s reputation and could be a corrupting influence. The use of the noun ‘woman’ as a verb here also implies the commonplace objectification of women, used by men as convenient to them and then easily discarded.

3. Key sections of the play for topic of women Desdemona’s bold, atypical speech to the Senate and her unconventional relationship with Othello (Act 1) “Let me go with him” and “I saw Othello’s visage in his mind” Iago’s derogatory, humorous remarks about women at the start of Act 2- they “rise to play and go to bed to work” reflecting extreme patriarchal attitudes Emilia’s “feminist” comments: “They are all but stomachs, and we all but food. To eat us hungerly, and when they are full, They belch us.” (3:4) Tragic deaths of Emilia and Desdemona – ultimate ‘victims’ here at the hands of their husbands. Both have noble, sacrificial deaths defending someone they love (E: “thou hast killed the sweetest innocent…”/ “she was heavenly true”; D: “Nobody; I myself”). Through their tragic ends, is Shakespeare punishing women for being strong and defying the patriarchy? Could the deaths of Emilia and Desdemona make some of their more controversial acts (which we would today call “feminist” acts) more palatable for a contemporary audience? Or is he merely submitting to the genre’s conventions by incorporating multiple deaths in the final Act?

4. Desdemona Victim: submits to Othello’s jealousy, ultimately reflected when she accepts full responsibility for her own death; disowned by her father for marrying the man she loves; her goodness is manipulated by Iago in his plot to bring down Othello. Heroine: she speaks boldly in front of the Senate to defend herself and her new husband; she tries hard to get Cassio vindicated; she sacrifices herself to try and uphold Othello’s reputation – brave or foolish? Emilia Victim: Repeatedly treated badly by Iago; disrespected by Othello in the ‘brothel scene’; killed by her husband in the tragic final act. Heroine: Is fundamentally underestimated by her husband when she stands up for Desdemona and betrays him. Bianca Victim: Is given attention at Cassio’s convenience but not treated kindly; disrespected on account of her livelihood; treated poorly following Roderigo’s murder and Cassio’s assault – Iago implicates her in the fight. Heroine: tries to stand up for herself when treated poorly by Cassio and called a “strumpet” by Emilia.

5. AO4 links on topic of women “No other single writer produced anything like the variety of female roles [that Shakespeare does]”. We see variety of female characters just within Othello – Desdemona as innocent, obedient but with atypical strength of character to pursue and defend an unconventional relationship; Bianca reflecting women’s objectification by men in this patriarchal society, her low status arising out of the fact that she Cassio’s mistress/prostitute; and Emilia as the more worldly wife who embodies wisdom and wit but also cynicism. Emilia has been described as “the first feminist in Western literature” and Shakespeare greatly expanded her role from the original character in his source play, suggesting he intended to do something meaningful with her atypical attitudes towards gender stereotyping.

6. AO3 model Shakespeare conveys how women in his times suffered not only at the hands of their fathers but also faced victimisation from their husbands. Jacqueline Eales in Women in Early Modern England 1500-1700 states, ‘Before 1700 it was widely accepted that women should be kept in check by men’, suggesting that a contemporary audience would sympathise with the way Othello treats Desdemona, believing her to be deceitful. Cuckoldry was also thought to reflect badly on the husband, demonstrating that he couldn’t control his wife. This need to control a wife’s behaviour is reflected in the play when Othello interrogates Desdemona thus: ‘Are you sure of that?’ (4.1.172) and ‘Are you wise?’ (4.1.179). These questions reveal Othello’s paranoid and controlling nature through the way he challenges Desdemona’s actions, confirming that Othello is a jealous husband. Othello has ceased to trust Desdemona as his ‘mind misgives’ (3.4.80). While a Jacobean audience might be somewhat sympathetic towards Othello’s attempts to assert his authority as husband following Desdemona’s alleged infidelity, a post-feminist modern audience surely protests at this behaviour. In the 21 st century, this would surely be considered a form of domestic abuse and we therefore condemn Othello for his aggressive behaviour. Of course, both responses to this scene are complicated by the dramatic irony Shakespeare has established, since at this point the audience’s knowledge surpasses the characters’... Analysis: Shakespeare ’s intention linked to context Contextual knowledge linked to quote Jacobean audience response Compared to modern audience response

7. Read the scene Identify your key quotations from the extract Which other parts of the play could you use? How will you tackle the debate? Are you mostly for/against? What will your counter argument be? Examine the view that ‘the play presents the victory of sororal love’. (5:2:118-160)

8. Introduction – Many traditionalists would argue that due to the very nature of a tragedy, there is no real victor at the end of the play. Betrayal is widespread – between husbands and wives and ‘ancient’ and general. Othello’s tragic downfall is complete and typical to its tragic form, several protagonists have died. Even Iago cannot be proclaimed a ‘victor’ since, whilst his plan to ruin Othello has succeeded, he has been found out. However, Shakespeare does portray aspects of love to be enduring – specifically originating from and between the characters of Emilia and Desdemona. P1 – Emilia’s horror at discovering her dying mistress. P2 – Emilia’s passionate defence of Desdemona when she discovers the reason for her murder. P3 – Emilia’s bold confrontation of Othello and, later in the scene, her husband. P4 – In the falling action of the play, sororal love eclipses the once noble and romantic love between Othello and Desdemona. P5 – The willow scene is portrayed as an intimate, confessional scene, highlighting the close relationship between Desdemona and Emilia. Counter – Is there really a victor? (as introduced at start). Does Desdemona return Emilia’s love/loyalty? Or is this faithfulness inspired by her role as Desdemona’s maid and companion? Bianca’s isolation from the other two women? Conclusion – Although perhaps a rather bold, modern and feminist interpretation of aspects of love in ‘Othello’, the friendship between Emilia and Desdemona is one of the only relationships which endures at the end of the play… Use this as a structure/plan for your response. How will you incorporate evidence and tackle the AOs? Build in the necessary detail for a top band essay

9. Further Othello revision Be confident in your key quotations Build up overall knowledge of the play – what happens in each act, structure of a tragedy Detailed plan and/or write up of assessment 4 question in the handbook: ‘Othello’s conduct brings love into disrepute’ (5:2: 77-137)