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Deception in Othello
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A full, in-depth A* essay plan exploring the theme of deception in Shakespeare's "Othello", for the Pearson Edexcel A-Level English Literature.
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By: mischacarr1 • 4 months ago
By: graceelizabethsothcott • 6 months ago
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deceptionIntroduction
o Drives plot: male expectation of female deception due to stereotypes of Venetian
women
o Worrall claims Bianca’s is honest, exposed through her name despite her deceitful
reputation
o Desdemona’s honesty can be explored through her last words and motif of the
handkerchief despite the adulterous, deceitful accusations held against her
Othello’s inability to understand honesty v deception
1) Iago as dishonest
o “I am not what I am” and lying, manipulation – devil. Well known biblical motif that
God appears saying the phrase “I am that I am”, so the reversion of this shows a
devilish side (Coleridge “motiveless malignity”)
o Manages to deceive people, Machiavellian – devil traditionally in Elizabethan
stereotypes presented as initially charming/alluring but then realise identity after too
late - extreme dishonesty with no guilt YET Othello thinks he is “honest Iago”
2) Desdemona
o “Strumpet”, accuses her of adultery despite honesty – Blamires says it is Othello’s
inability to understand people’s true natures that leads to the tragic ending
Desdemona’s reputation as deceitful
o Venetian women typically promiscuous (“she has deceived her father, and may
thee”)
o Female deception - strawberries horticulturally related to rose, associated with the
serpent - represents devil, temptation, original sin where Eve is blamed by Adam for
the fall of mankind (represents all women’s in-built tendency to commit sin, arguably
suggesting Othello was destined to accuse Desdemona of adultery due to
handkerchief’s promiscuous message) – Shakespeare explores Venetian women’s
stereotype of disloyalty/promiscuity: since symbols of pure Virgin Mary are sown onto
white handkerchief using “maidens’ hearts”, handkerchief becomes symbol of
purity/fidelity – which is exactly what it becomes to Othello. When Desdemona loses
handkerchief, Othello interprets this as disloyalty/deceit, accusing her of adultery
(handkerchief’s red and white could signify consummation, but that of Desdemona
and Cassio instead of with Othello, OR strawberries are implicit sexual allusion to
female genitalia - when Desdemona loses handkerchief and it ends up with Cassio,
Othello interprets this as Desdemona giving away purity to someone else, showing
disloyalty and adultery
Desdemona’s true identity as pure and honest despite deceitful reputation
1) Last words
o Although Burton says “wives are slippery, often unfaithful”, and Coryat said they
“open their quivers to every arrow”, there is much evidence Desdemona is in fact
pure
o “I am” – repeated motif in Bible to represent Jesus (e.g. “I am that I am”) directly
translating to ego eimi, “I myself”
o Links to Desdemona's last words and biblical events e.g. crucifixion where Jesus, like
Desdemona, wrongly accused and killed
o Shakespeare included this to defend her innocence as it could be used in
Desdemona's defense to prove her innocence
o Strawberries on the handkerchief link Desdemona to the Virgin Mary
o Elizabethan audience would pick up on this motif (same way picked up on “I am not
what I am” meaning Iago was devil)
o (Blamires: results in tragically ironic ending; “strumpet” and accused of adultery yet
supposedly dies a virgin) – women are expected to deceive since Genesis implies it
(especially Venetian women have stereotype of deception) – men’s misunderstanding
of deception Blamires: results in tragically ironic ending; “strumpet” and accused of
adultery yet supposedly dies a virgin)
2) Handkerchief
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