5.3.2

Key Ideas

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Love, Historical Context and Historicism (Act 4, Scene 3)

The Willow Song becomes a motif of both Desdemona’s true love for Othello, as well as a lament for her life.

Gender politics

Gender politics

  • Desdemona and Emilia discuss gender politics and marriage and their respective social positions and life experiences shape their beliefs.
Obedience

Obedience

  • Even at this stage after what he has done to her, Desdemona is still forced to obey her husband in matters of love.
Dramatic irony

Dramatic irony

  • The key dramatic irony here is that although the handkerchief is lost, Desdemona still loves Othello.
The Willow Song

The Willow Song

  • The Willow Song becomes a motif of both Desdemona’s true love for Othello, as well as a lament for her life.

Tragedy (Act 4, Scene 3)

Structurally, the scene acts as a brief pause before the structural climax of the play that comes in Act Five.

Death Song

Death Song

  • The fact that Desdemona is singing a Death Song is of course, ominous, and it predicts her forthcoming fate.
Mothering

Mothering

  • There is an interesting axis here of Emilia mothering Desdemona before her tragic death, as well as Iago fathering Othello before his fate.
Prophetic references

Prophetic references

  • Prophetic references of the type alluded to here often refer to portents of death and suffering.
  • This obviously is purposeful on Shakespeare’s part considering what is about to happen in the climax of the play.
Persecutor

Persecutor

  • What makes the scene especially tragic is that Othello has now taken on the role of a persecutor instead of lover.
  • He has conducted an inquisition and now will enact his judgement.
  • In this sense, he is acting in a ‘God-like’ manner.
Pause

Pause

  • Structurally, the scene acts as a brief pause before the structural climax of the play that comes in Act 5.
Jump to other topics
1

Context

1.1

Introduction

1.1.1Specifications
1.2

Background

1.2.1Shakespeare1.2.2Love1.2.3Tragedy1.2.4Historical Context
1.3

Othello

1.3.1Setting1.3.2Social Issues
2

Act One: Summaries & Themes

2.1

Act and Scene Summaries

2.1.1Structure2.1.2The Exam
2.2

Scene One

2.2.1Key Events2.2.2Key Themes2.2.3Key Ideas
2.3

Scene Two

2.3.1Key Events2.3.2Key Themes2.3.3Key Ideas
2.4

Scene Three

2.4.1Key Events2.4.2Key Events 22.4.3Key Themes2.4.4Key Ideas
3

Act Two: Summaries & Themes

3.1

Scene One & Two

3.1.1Scene One: Events3.1.2Key Events 23.1.3Key Ideas: Love & Tragedy3.1.4Scene Two: Events
3.2

Scene Three

3.2.1Key Events3.2.2Key Ideas
4

Act Three: Summaries & Themes

4.1

Key Events

4.1.1Scene One & Two4.1.2Scene Three4.1.3Scene Three: Key Ideas4.1.4Scene Four
5

Act Four

5.1

Scene One

5.1.1Key Events5.1.2Key Ideas
5.2

Scene Two

5.2.1Key Events5.2.2Key Ideas
5.3

Scene Three

5.3.1Key Events5.3.2Key Ideas
6

Act Five

6.1

Scene One

6.1.1Key Events6.1.2Key Ideas
6.2

Scene Two

6.2.1Key Events6.2.2Key Ideas
7

Character Profiles

7.1

Major Characters

7.1.1Othello7.1.2Iago7.1.3Desdemona7.1.4Emilia7.1.5Cassio
7.2

Minor Characters

7.2.1Roderigo & Brabantio7.2.2Other Characters
8

Key Themes

8.1

Love & Tragedy

8.1.1Love8.1.2Love 28.1.3Tragedy8.1.4Tragedy 2
8.2

Other Key Themes

8.2.1Public versus Private8.2.2Appearance & Reality
9

Writing Techniques

9.1

Writing Techniques

9.1.1Structure9.1.2Genre9.1.3Form & Language9.1.4Language & Imagery
10

Critical Debates

10.1

Criticism & Performance

10.1.1Shakespeare's Legacy10.1.2Traditional10.1.3Modern & Contemporary
10.2

Approaches

10.2.1Feminist Approach10.2.2Psychoanalytic Approach10.2.3Marxist Approach
11

Approaching AQA English Literature

11.1

Specification A

11.1.1Specification A11.1.2Love Through the Ages
11.2

Specification B

11.2.1Specification B11.2.2Aspects of Tragedy
12

Issues of Assessment

12.1

The Exams

12.1.1AOs12.1.2Mark Scheme

Practice questions on Key Ideas

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  1. 1
    Things Desdemona and Emilia discuss in Act Four Scene Three:Fill in the list
  2. 2
    What is the name of the song Desdemona sings that becomes a motif of both her true love for Othello, as well as a lament for her life?Multiple choice
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Key Events

Key Events