● “Old black ram tupping your white ewe”
- Shakespeare interrogates racial prejudices through the line “old black ram
tupping your white ewe.” The zoomorphic imagery coupled with the chromatic
juxtaposition of “black” and “white” emphasise this relationship as defying
Jacobean ideals about race. This serves as a visual representation of Othello’s
insecurities of his race.
● “She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved that she did pity them”
- Shakespeare introduces the instability in Othello and Desdemona’s marriage by
stating “She loved me for the dangers I had passed.” Not only does this function
as an encouragement to Othello’s military prowess, but also suggests that their
relationship is founded conditionally on Othello’s past endeavours and not
present self. This underscores Shakespeare’s attempt to suggest that their
relationship was never as stable as it appeared to be as it is built on a one-sided
admiration grounded in military and patriarchal ideals. Moreover, it could also be
argued that the verb “passed” carries connotations to the “past,” therefore
exposing Othello’s insecurities about his age.
● “I do perceive here a divided duty”
- Shakespeare highlights the tension between the state and the heart with
Desdemona’s assertion that "I do perceive here a divided duty.” Shakespeare’s
use of alliteration portrays her “duty” to Othello and Brabantio as a constant
internal battle. The repeated plosive sounds create a sense of emotional
heaviness reflecting Desdemona’s conflicting loyalties. As a Venetian
noblewoman, Desdemona must abide by societal expectations of marrying
appropriately, however, as a wife, she is tied to Othello and also has the
expectation to remain loyal to him.
● “Look to her Moor if thou hast eyes to see, she deceived her father and may thee”
- One can interpret the line “she has deceived her father and may thee” as
functioning as a prophetic warning foreshadowing Othello’s later distrust of
Desdemona. However, when considering the racialised term “moor” being used,
it is evident that Brabantio is attacking Othello’s biggest insecurity about his race
to make him more susceptible to manipulation. The rhyming couplet of “see” and
“thee” enhances the authoritative tone and gives the statement a sense of finality
and weight to it.
● “Excellent wretch, perdition catch my soul/ But I do love thee! When I love thee not/
Chaos is come again”
- Othello asserts “perdition catch my soul” evoking imagery of damnation and hell.
This enhances the authority of Othello’s voice as she proclaims certainly that
Desdemona loves him. Moreover, the phrase “chaos is come again” depicts a
subversion of the natural order where all sense and reason has been subverted.
Shakespeare suggests that Othello’s wavering of love was the cause of this
“chaos” and the tragedy. However, critics such as Loomba say that Othello was
as much a victim of society as Desdemona.
- Othello’s assertion of “perdition catch my soul” employs imagery of damnation to
suggest that Othello would risk his eternal soul for Desdemona. This is ironic, as
- Shakespeare interrogates racial prejudices through the line “old black ram
tupping your white ewe.” The zoomorphic imagery coupled with the chromatic
juxtaposition of “black” and “white” emphasise this relationship as defying
Jacobean ideals about race. This serves as a visual representation of Othello’s
insecurities of his race.
● “She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved that she did pity them”
- Shakespeare introduces the instability in Othello and Desdemona’s marriage by
stating “She loved me for the dangers I had passed.” Not only does this function
as an encouragement to Othello’s military prowess, but also suggests that their
relationship is founded conditionally on Othello’s past endeavours and not
present self. This underscores Shakespeare’s attempt to suggest that their
relationship was never as stable as it appeared to be as it is built on a one-sided
admiration grounded in military and patriarchal ideals. Moreover, it could also be
argued that the verb “passed” carries connotations to the “past,” therefore
exposing Othello’s insecurities about his age.
● “I do perceive here a divided duty”
- Shakespeare highlights the tension between the state and the heart with
Desdemona’s assertion that "I do perceive here a divided duty.” Shakespeare’s
use of alliteration portrays her “duty” to Othello and Brabantio as a constant
internal battle. The repeated plosive sounds create a sense of emotional
heaviness reflecting Desdemona’s conflicting loyalties. As a Venetian
noblewoman, Desdemona must abide by societal expectations of marrying
appropriately, however, as a wife, she is tied to Othello and also has the
expectation to remain loyal to him.
● “Look to her Moor if thou hast eyes to see, she deceived her father and may thee”
- One can interpret the line “she has deceived her father and may thee” as
functioning as a prophetic warning foreshadowing Othello’s later distrust of
Desdemona. However, when considering the racialised term “moor” being used,
it is evident that Brabantio is attacking Othello’s biggest insecurity about his race
to make him more susceptible to manipulation. The rhyming couplet of “see” and
“thee” enhances the authoritative tone and gives the statement a sense of finality
and weight to it.
● “Excellent wretch, perdition catch my soul/ But I do love thee! When I love thee not/
Chaos is come again”
- Othello asserts “perdition catch my soul” evoking imagery of damnation and hell.
This enhances the authority of Othello’s voice as she proclaims certainly that
Desdemona loves him. Moreover, the phrase “chaos is come again” depicts a
subversion of the natural order where all sense and reason has been subverted.
Shakespeare suggests that Othello’s wavering of love was the cause of this
“chaos” and the tragedy. However, critics such as Loomba say that Othello was
as much a victim of society as Desdemona.
- Othello’s assertion of “perdition catch my soul” employs imagery of damnation to
suggest that Othello would risk his eternal soul for Desdemona. This is ironic, as
