Key Ideas
English Lit: AQA A Level Othello, topic 5.3.2
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
- Desdemona and Emilia discuss gender politics and marriage and their respective social positions and life experiences shape their beliefs.
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
- The key dramatic irony here is that although the handkerchief is lost, Desdemona still loves Othello.
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
- The fact that Desdemona is singing a Death Song is of course, ominous, and it predicts her forthcoming fate.
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 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
- 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
- Structurally, the scene acts as a brief pause before the structural climax of the play that comes in Act 5.
Test yourself on Key Ideas
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?