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Love in Othello
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A full, in-depth A* essay plan exploring the theme of Love in Shakespeare's "Othello", for the Pearson Edexcel A-Level English Literature.
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LoveIntroduction –
- Love is an omnipresent theme, in which, can be seen through practically every character and their
relationships in the play, explored through romantic, homoerotic, platonic and unrequited love
- Largely drives plot due to Venetian women's stereotypes as being disloyal, so despite Desdemona's genuine
romantic love for her husband, Othello still believes she has been promiscuous
- Shakespeare subtly hints at female relationships or friendships being stronger than those between women
and men; platonic love is stronger than romantic love, since Desdemona and Emilia's relationship bears out
right until the play's close, whereas Desdemona and Othello's relationship is what causes the tragedy.
Emilia and Desdemona –
- Arguable that they have a deeper relationship than we may first imagine. One of Emilia’s last requests was
to “lay me by my mistress’s side” – burial next to someone else is traditionally romantic, reserved for
husband and wife. Shows eternal devotion to each-other Women should be loyal to husbands (seen through
Desdemona) but Emilia dedicates her last words to Desdemona instead “she was chaste”
- Willow scene only included in folio, not quarto, making her critical interpretation challenging. Willow
scene enables us to access emotional side of Emilia with Desdemona shown through high emotional state
(singing) - both sing Willow – united in their emotional state (only included in folio, not quarto, making her
critical interpretation challenging)
Iago’s homoerotic feelings for Othello
- Draper – “unholy alliance” – alliance made apparent through quasi-marriage in Act 3 Scene 3 – “I am
bound to thee forever” and imperatives “look”, “trust”, “you shall” – contemporary new-historicist audience
may associate this to slavery, but can also interpret as a wedding due to stage directions as O “kneels” and
very meaningful statements
- Constant and incessant mention of Othello and Desdemona’s sex life (“tupping your white ewe”) Dollimore
says it is “intensely voyeuristic”
- Interestingly, Roderigo is first to make racist remarks about Othello, and Iago joins after (opportunist who
has underlying motive for racism – sexual jealousy stemmed from homoerotic, homosexual desires)
- In Elizabethan era, although was frowned upon, many suspected Shakespeare to be homosexual. Subtle
suggestion of both a quasi-marriage or even potential homosexual attraction between them could be his way
of channelling his views on homosexuality into his plays but could not make this obvious as the
contemporary audience would be disapproving
- Constant, incessant mention of O and D’s sex life by I (e.g. “tupping your white ewe”) could imply a
deeper, homoerotic theme to the play - Dollimore “intensely voyeuristic"
- Despite Coleridge claiming Iago's "motiveless malignity", Iago's malice is sexually fuelled; IP used by
both, finish each-others' sentences like Romeo and Juliet: "if it be that—" (Othello), "if it be that, or any…"
(Iago)
Othello’s genuine love for Desdemona and vice versa at start (Romantic love)
- If he "were now to die, 'twere now to be most happy" - superlative "most" marks this scene as being the
peak and epitome of their happiness, possibly hinting at the fact that from this point onwards, this love can
only deteriorate as it is at its greatest point at the beginning of the play
- "I do perceive here a divided duty" - reputation in the Elizabethan era was of high value; when taking her
circumstances into account (being white, reputable and of high status), we view Desdemona's submission to
a black man (rather than her Duke father) as defiance to both her family and society. By doing so, she risks
her reputation and status for her genuine romantic love for her husband
- IP: "look if my gentle love be not raised up"; "what would you ask me that I should deny". Shakespeare
famously uses this pentameter in his sonnets, of which express deep romantic love as it mimics a heartbeat
sound, hence re-emphasising their genuine romantic love
- As play unfolds, love and loyalty become synonymous and hence we can observe love through loyal acts -
"like the base Indian, threw a pearl away", simile implies D is not only beautiful and of great value to him,
but also, since white has connotations of purity, he believes she is loyal
- Strawberries represent purity; carved onto stone pillars outside cathedrals as they allude to the Virgin Mary.
Boose states red and white is "emblematic proof of the marital blood pledge", showing consummation
Unreciprocated love at end;
- Although Burton says “wives are slippery, often unfaithful” evidence shows D has pure intentions
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