Summary
Summary 2018 A* AQA ENGLISH LITERATURE OTHELLO SCENE ESSAY - Iago Second Soliloquy
2018 A* AQA ENGLISH LITERATURE OTHELLO SCENE ESSAY - Iago Second Soliloquy
[Show more]
Connected book
Book Title:
Author(s):
- Edition:
- ISBN:
- Edition:
Content preview
2018 Othello – William Shakespeare Read theextract below and then answer the question.
[Iago's Second Soliloquy]
2018
Othello – William Shakespeare Read the extract below and then answer the question. Explore
the significance of this extract in relation to the tragedy of the play as a whole. Remember to
include in your answer relevant analysis of Shakespeareʼs dramatic methods. [25 marks]
Iagoʼs place as the tragic Machiavellian Malcontent villain.
The extract revealing an aspect of Iagoʼs motivation.
Roderigo as a tragic victim and the method in which Iago manipulates him.
The extract comes from Act II Scene I as the characters arrive in Cyprus marking the shift from
order and democracy to chaos and disruption. It begins in the middle of Iagoʼs manipulative
villainy being enacted on the tragic victim Roderigo as he uses his love for Desdemona and
sensitive class position to make his fool his purse. The scene therefore begins with an
immediate sense of the end as we already witness a character enmeshed in Iagoʼs web of lies
and deceit. The scene is also pivotal as it provides the current turning point in the play where
Iago hatches out his plan with the tragic themes of the tragic victims, Iagoʼs place as the tragic
villain, and motivation are all explored in the extract. Using this I will explore the significance of
the extract in relation to the tragedy of the play as a whole.
The extract presents the audience with the second of Iagoʼs soliloquys within the play
representing and foreshadowing the power which he will have as the play progresses. In
Shakespearian tragedies soliloquys are usually given to the tragic hero the man who is “highly
renowned and prosperous” (Aristotle) in an attempt to connect the audience with the hero as
that the tragedy becomes so much more cathartic. However, as Shakespeare subverts his usual
tragic presentation by giving Iago the soliloquys, he causes the “audience to become complicit
in Iagoʼs intentions and vengeful plotting” as Sean McEvoy. This causes Iago to become almost
likeable in the audiences minds as he reveals so much of his schemes and plotting so that even
the audience becomes manipulated. This acts as dramatic irony in the play so the audiences
know what to expect and instead anticipate how it will play out placing focus on the action of
the novel not the possible surprises.
However, the extracts soliloquy further makes the audience complicit through the interaction
between Roderigo and Iago. It not only introduces the first tragic victim who Iago not only
psychologically betrayals but also physically as “Roderigo goes to the devil with his eyes open
yet blindly” as critics have stated. He describes Roderigo as the “poor trash of Venice” causing
the audience to laugh at Roderigo alongside him, so he acts as a comedic relief character. He is
also the man Iago squeezes for money; “put money in thy purse” but also kills in Act V to tie up
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller ramiriam. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £4.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
67096 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy revision notes and other study material for 14 years now