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Act V, scene i

1. Explain what the following speech illustrates about Iago's character.

IAGO: I have rubb'd this young quat almost to the sense,/ And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio,/ Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,/ Every way makes my gain. Live Roderigo,/ He calls me to a restitution large/ Of gold and jewels that

bobb'd from him,/ As gifts to Desdemona;/ It must not be. If Cassio do remain,/ He hath a daily beauty in his life/ That makes me ugly; and besides, the Moor/ May unfold me to him; there stand I in much peril:/ No, he must die. But so: I hear him coming.

2. For what two reasons does Iago say he wants Cassio dead?

3. In the battle, who is responsible for the wounds?

4. Explain Othello's reaction to Roderigo's and Cassio's injuries. With what does he give Iago credit? Explain the irony in Othello's words.

OTHELLO: 'Tis he. O brave Iago, honest and just,/ That hast such noble sense of thy friend's wrong!/ Thou teachest me. Minion, your dear lies dead,/ And your unblest fate hies. Strumpet, I come!/ Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, are blotted;/

Thy bed, lust-stain'd, shall with lust's blood be spotted. (V, i, 32-37)

5. How is Iago able to manipulate the situation even further? How does his manipulation of the scene connect to the theme of the play?

6. Why does Roderigo say to Iago, "O, damn'd Iago! O inhuman dog!'?

7. Explain Iago's implication of Bianca. Explain why you believe he chooses to implicate her.

8. Read the following speech, paying particular attention to the aside. What does Iago's statement lead us to believe about him?

IAGO: Kind gentlemen, let's go see poor Cassio dress'd./ Come, mistress, you must tell's another tale./ Emilia, run you to the citadel,/ And tell my lord and lady what hath happ'd!/ Will you go on? (ASIDE) This is the night/ That either makes me or

fordoes me quite. (V, i, 138-143)

Act V, scene ii

1. Read Othello's speech at the beginning of scene. Explain othello's state of mind. How does this use of language compare with his use of language in Act Four? As he comtemplates mudering Desdemona, with what does he compare taking her life? Explain the

uses of diction as Shakespeare employs them in this speech.

OTHELLO: It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul./ Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars!/ it is the cause. Yet I'll not shed her blood,/ Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow/ And smooth as monumental alabaster./

Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men./ Put out the light, and then put out the light./ If I quench thee, thou flaming minister,/ I can again thy former light restore,/ Should I repent me; but once put out thy light,/ Thou cunning'st pattern of

excelling nature, I know not where is that Promethean heat/ That can thy light relume. When I have pluck'd the rose,/ I cannot give it vital growth again,/ It must needs wither; I'll smell it on the tree./ O, balmy breath, that dost alomst persuade/

Justice to break her sword! One more, one more,/ Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee,/ And love thee after. One more, and this the last: So sweet was ne'er so fatal. I must weep,/ But they are cruel tears; this sorrow's heavenly,/ It strike

where it doth love. She wakes. (V, ii, 1-22)

2. Why does Othello ask Desdemona if she prayed before she went to sleep?

3. How does Desdemona try to convince Othello not to kill her? What is the effect of her final conversation with Othello?

4. Explain the symbolism and recognition of the handkerchief in this final snece.

5.When Othello tells Desdemona of Cassio's death, what is her reaction? How does Othello interpret this reaction?

6. Othello believes that he has killed Desdemona. Explain his reaction to her death.

OTHELLO: Yes: 'tis Emilia. By and by. She's dead./ 'Tis like she comes to speak of Cassio's death. The noise was here. Ha! no more moving?/ Still as the grave. Shall she come in? were't good? I think she stirs again. No. What's best to do?

If she come in, she'll sure speak of my wife:/ My wife! My wife! What wife? I have no wife:/ O, insupportable! O heavy hour!/ Me thinks it should be now a huge eclipse/Of sun and moon, and that the affrighted globe/Should yawn at alteration. (V,ii,110-12

7. Explain the events in the following lines from Act Five. Why does Desdemona say what she say?

EMILIA: Alas, what cry is that?

OTHELLO: That? what?

EMILIA: Out, and alas! That was my lady's voice./ Help! help, ho! help! O lady, speak again!/ Sweet Desdemona! O sweet mistress, speak!

DESDEMONA: A guiltless death I die. EMILIA: O, who hath done this deed?

DESDEMONA: Nobody; I myself. Farewell; Commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell! (V,ii, 141-149)

8. Why does Emilia repeat the phrase, "My husband!" three times?

9. How does Shakespear reveal Iago's duplicity after Desdemona's murder?

10. How is Emilia's fate parallel to Desdemona's?

11. What is the implication behind Gradtiano's speech?

GRATIANO: Poor Desdemona! I am glad thy father's dead:/ Thy match was mortal to him, and pure grief/ Shore his old thread in twain; did he live now,/ This sight would make him do a desperate turn,/ Yea, curse his better angel from his side,/ And fall to

reprobation.

12. Explain the irony in Iago's statement. IAGO: Demand me nothing: what you know, you know:/ From this time forth I never will speak word. (V, ii, 348-349)

13. How does darkness function in the scene?

14. Explain the imagery in Othello's final speech. What is he requesting? How does the imagery speak to Othello's character?

OTHELLO: Soft you; a word or two before you go./ I have done the state some service, and they know't./ No more of that. I pray you, in your letters,/ When you shall these unlucky deeds relate,/ Speak of me as I am; nothing externuate,/ Nor set doesn augh

in malice. then must you speak/ of one that loved not wisely but too well;/ Of one not easily jeaslous, but, being wrought/ perplex'd in the extreme; of one whose hand,/ Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away/ Richer than all his tribe;