'Swords out, and tilting one at other's breasts in
opposition bloody. I cannot speak any beginning to
this peevish odds, and would in action glorious I had
lost those legs that brought me to a part of it'
Annotations:
Act 2, Scene 3
Othello would rather lose his legs (and then most likely
die, seeing as medical situations were not the best during
Shakespearean times) rather than be involved in any
speculations that may harm his reputation
This links to the context of the time because
reputation was taken extremely seriously and
people would do everything to protect it. Othello's
reputation means so much to him, as it suggests
that a black man can do everything that a white
one can do
Loss of virginity/innocence
The strawberry pattern on
the handkerchief was dyed
with virgin's blood
Therefore, the red blood on the white background
suggests how Desdemona's innocence has been
tainted with infidelity and with Othello's race
Loss of heritage
'Oh, treason of the blood!'
Annotations:
Act 1, Scene 1
Shows the shock that Brabantio is feeling towards the
fact that his upper class, white daughter has married
a lower class Moor. In other words, his daughter has
betrayed him for a man with less noble blood
War
'Yet I'll not shed her blood, nor scar
that whiter skin of hers than snow'
Annotations:
Act 5, Scene 2
This suggests that rather than spilling Desdemona's
innocent blood, Othello (even at a time of outrage), is
honourable in killing her in a more moral manner. This
suggests that he still loves and respects her
Lust
'It is merely a lust of the blood
and a permission of the will'
Annotations:
Act 1, Scene 3
Because Roderigo is a man, it is in his nature
and his blood to feel lust towards a woman. It
is also suggested that he can't be blamed for
lusting after Desdemona because she is
described to have angelic qualities
'When the blood is made dull with the act
of sport, there should be a game to
inflame it and to give satiety a fresh
appetite, loveliness in favour'
Annotations:
Act 2, Scene 1
Blood symbolises the lust that Desdemona will feel towards
other men and suggests that Othello will not be able to satisfy
her for much longer, so she will inevitably leave him
The extent of the internal
war due to Iago's schemes
'Dangerous conceits are in their
natures poisons which at the first are
scarce found to distaste, but with a
little act upon the blood burn like the
mines of sulphur'
Annotations:
Act 3, Scene 3
This simile can be linked to the theme of Hell ('burn like
the mines of sulphur') and due to Iago's manipulation,
Othello's jealousy, his hamartia, is enraged
How Othello descends
into madness
'O, blood, blood, blood!'
Annotations:
Act 3, Scene 3
This uses repetition. This utterance shows
us Othello's descent into a barbarous rage
and an unstable mentality. Othello wants
to kill Cassio to get revenge
Creating power/importance
through race
'The blood and basness of our
natures would conduct us to
most prepost'rous conclusions'
Annotations:
Act 1, Scene 3
This suggests that slaves, or black people in general, are
bound to do no good if acting upon their nature.
Othello's blood acts as a barrier to his success as black
people at the time had less rights and were isolated
from society
'That with some mixtures powerful o'er
the blood or with some dram, conjured
this effect, he wrought upon her'
Annotations:
Act 1, Scene 3
Because Othello is black, it was believed
that he must have used witchcraft (just like
his ancestors) to put a spell on Desdemona