Vous êtes sur la page 1sur 3

What is good about the character of Othello?

What
is negative?

What traits allow Othello to be so easily


manipulated?

Othello describes himself as a man not easily made


jealous. What do you make of this statement? Is
this an example of his lack of self-knowledge, or is
there some truth to this description?

What is good about Desdemona? Negative? What is


it in her that prevents her from laying blame on
Othello for her murder?

What is the relationship between Desdemona and


Brabantio like? Is their relationship affected by
The fact that Othello is a career soldier has a
no real mention of her mother? Othello and
profound effect on his character and his responses.
Brabantio?
How does his influence of this show in his actions?

How are women portrayed throughout the play?


What is the difference between Desdemona,
Emilia, and Bianca?

How does the setting affect the play? Venice


Cyprus

What is the worst act or lie that Iago does or


tells? Why?

Why is Roderigo a character in the play? Does


he serve a specific purpose? If he was removed,
how would that change things?

Discuss the different meanings of honest. Who uses


the word most, and how does it change meaning for
different characters?
What do you make of Cassio and his character?
What is his purpose?

Why do you think Iago is so successful in


deceiving Othello? By skill or luck? What do you
think of him being caught in the end but not killed?

Why is Iago so effective as a villain?

What are Iagos motives for hating Othello (the


ones he states and ones that can be inferred)?

What is the significance of the handkerchief? Do


you truly believe it has magical powers?

What causes Othellos downfall? What is his


tragic flaw?

How does Othellos age and race affect his


relationship with Desdemona?

Compare and contrast jealousy in Othello and


Iago.

Are villains and victims equally responsible for the


unhappiness they cause?

Should Othello be pitied? Or does he get what he


deserves?

Discuss the significance of Othello being an


outsider.

How is Iagos language offensive? Explain his


comparison of characters to animals.

Why does Othello never go directly to the source,


Desdemona, about her possible affair? Is this out of
character for him? Explain.

Who would you consider to be the tragic hero of


the play? Why?

Are any acts of revenge justified? Why or why


not? Think about history and other literature.

How do the different thematic considerations


(appearance vs. reality, jealousy and betrayal,
love, honesty, isolation) influence your
interpretation of the play?

Can Iago be considered the main character of a play


that bears the name of another man as the title?

Where does light/dark and black/white come into


play? What is Shakespeares purpose using these
contrasts?

What would you define as a theme? What can we


learn from this?

Compare and contrast Othellos suicide with


Desdemonas claim of suicide.

Which couple Othello & Des or Iago & Emilia


would have the greater potential to survive in
the real world? Compare and contrast both
relationships.
Do audiences today demand moral endings to
movies and to dramas on TV and stage? What
does that show about modern society?

The war between Othello and Iago is


fundamentally a dispute between the goodness and
evil of the world. True or False? Why?

Early critics of Othello were disturbed by what


they thought was an immoral ending. Were you
satisfied with the ending of the play?
Do you see any connections to Romeo and Juliet
or A Midsummer Nights Dream. Explain.

Vous aimerez peut-être aussi