... out his time much like his master's ass."" This simile shows Iago's view of servants as foolish, brainless, animals "the first of many animal-based insults. Iago, insecure in his place, is elaborating in order to prove to Roderigo that he is not just another "ass- following his master ... therefore hold a lustful' image "Iago further gives the impression of Othello's lascivious behavior. To reinforce the image, Iago sates that "an old black ram is tupping your white ewe."" This phrase has two prongs of insult; it increases Othello's apparent bestial desire by using the phrase tupping ......

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... the start of Iago's evil scheming. It also becomes evident that Othello's mind has been corrupted by Iago's evil handiwork when he too starts to use the same sort of animal imagery in his speech. In one scene, convinced of his wife's infidelity, Othello loses all self-control crying out "goats and monkeys," animals traditionally considered lascivious. There is also a wealth ... jewel. Throughout the play, the contrast between black and white is also used as a metaphor for the difference between Othello and the Venetian society. Several references to Othello as "an old black ram" and "fa...

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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... he knows his well enough to know that he deserved the position of lieutenant, however Othello had already chosen Cassio , a Florentine, who has no more knowledge on warfare than an old lady and has absolutely no experience in battle while Iago is just his ancient. "By debitor and creditor; this counter-caster, [Cassio] in good must his lieutenant be and I, bless ... a web as this I will ensnare great a fly as Cassio'. Iago uses a simile for Cassio as a fly that will be caught in this spider's web that Iago has made. Iago uses animal imagery with himself as the spider and Cassio as the f...

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... and its religious and social significance to craft the corruption of Othello's relationship with Desdemona. William Shakespeare also uses juxtaposing colors through the use of animal imagery and racial slurs to show racial difference and illustrate the issue of race. As a black moor in a society of Venetians, Othello is subjected ... his own mind. These sources of racial prejudice evident throughout the play eventually overcome Othello. thus paving the road leading to his tragic downfall. Animal imagery is strongly used throughout the play in order to illustrate the issue of Race in soci...

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... is plotting his way to revenge. In the opening scenes, Iago begins his plot for revenge by enticing Roderigo to wake Brabantio up with cries of animal sounds and exclaiming: "Zounds, sir, you are robb'd, for shame put on your gown Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul; ... Even now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe; arise, arise, Awake the snorting citizens with the bell, Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you, Arise I ... say- (I. i. 86-92) Iago uses an abundance of animal imagery to create a repetitive theme that animal instinct plays a vital r...

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... is a moor and therefore ugly, sexually promiscuous and depraved, cruel and dangerous and a practitioner of witchcraft who is closely allied with evil and the devil. In Line 85, Iago uses animal imagery to describe Othello as the lustful beast and as inhuman; therefore when he refers to Othello's sexual relations with Desdemona it is bestial and unnatural: "Even now, very now ... , an old black ram Is tupping your whit ewe" Here referring to his race and his age, as well as the bestial copulation Iago forces Brabantio to picture- like mating farmyard animals ... him. He is referred to di...

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... with the exploitation of his mind, done by Iago. As the play unfolds, Iago frequently describes Othello and his relationship with Desdemona through the use of animal imagery. When speaking with Brabantio, Iago says: " an old black ram | Is tupping your white ewe." (3.3.88-9). As Othello is caught in Iago's web of lies, he too falls down to Iago's level ... and starts using animal imagery to express his perverted outlook. The plummet in Othello's decency is evident when he tells Desdemona: " Or keep it as a cistern for ... ...

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... Nelson's captivation of racial issues. Shakespeare's Othello outlines the protagonist with barbarity as seen in his characterisation of "thick lips" and the recurring use of animal imagery such as "an old black ram". It highlights the Elizabethan tendency to align black with barbarity and white with pureness and virtue. Othello's lack of criticism to these racial rejections elucidates ... only acts as a possession of her father and later Othello when married to him. This is elucidated in Iago's dehumanization of her as a "white ewe", drawing upon an animal imagery to depict her as Braba...

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... . Othello is presented initially as a dangerous beast by Iago, before he reveals himself to be of noble, human, status, only to degenerate later to the condition of a bloodthirsty and irrational animal. He is the hero of the play and this is achieved by his last speech(V. ii. 340-356) where he rights himself at the end of the play. "I kissed thee ... through characters such as Montano. And the one of hatred, as shown through characters such as Iago. Iago and Roderigo are full of racial antipathy in the first scene. The animal images "you"ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse...

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... hanged else". This tells us about the relationship between Iago and Emilia. She does not seem to know her husband very well. To my mind, this is due to Iago's animal like attitude to love and life. He is very individualistic, concerned with only himself and what he wants. Very self-centered, "a closed door". This is made evident even in the ... first scene when Iago shouts up to Brabantio, "an old black ram is tupping your white ewe...you"ll have your nephews neigh to you; you"ll have coursers for cousins, and jennets for Germans". The constant metaphoric association of ... calms, may ...

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... ." What does this tell us about the relationship between Iago and Emilia? She does not seem to know her husband very well. To my mind, this is due to Iago's animal like attitude to love and life. He is very individualistic, concerned with only himself and what he wants. Very self-centered - a closed door. This is made evident even in the ... first scene when Iago shouts up to Brabantio, "an old black ram is tupping your white ewe...you'll have your nephews neigh to you; you'll have coursers for cousins, and jennets for germans." The constant metaphoric association of ... calms, may the ...

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... and are not enough to defend the innocent from persecution. Words are used by the characters to describe each other, whether it be in a good or bad light. Iago uses animal imagery to enhance the negative connotation of his descriptions. The bestial images that he creates haunt the minds of the characters and make them interpret the situation in a much more ... "grotesque" light. In Act 1, Iago uses bestial imagery to alarm the rage of Barbantio when he says, " an old black ram is tupping your white ewe." (Lines 97-98) His statement juxtaposes white vs. black imagery along with animal im...

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... tell Desdemona's father, Brabantio, of Desdemona's elopement with a "moor". Iago and Roderigo tell Brabantio of Othello's marriage to Desdemona who rushes over to Othello to unsuccessfully reclaim his daughter. "An old black ram Is tupping your white ewe." (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 90). Brabantio's perceptions of both his daughter and Othello have changed. Later on Iago uses Desdemona's deceit towards her father ... I fear you, for you"re fatal then When your eyes roll so. Why I should not fear I know not. Since guiltiness I know not, but yet I feel fear." (Act 5, Scene 2, Line 37-39). Desd...

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... tell Desdemona's father, Brabantio, of Desdemona's elopement with a "moor". Iago and Roderigo tell Brabantio of Othello's marriage to Desdemona who rushes over to Othello to unsuccessfully reclaim his daughter. "An old black ram Is tupping your white ewe." (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 90). Brabantio's perceptions of both his daughter and Othello have changed. Later on Iago uses Desdemona's deceit towards her father ... I fear you, for you"re fatal then When your eyes roll so. Why I should not fear I know not. Since guiltiness I know not, but yet I feel fear." (Act 5, Scene 2, Line 37-39). Desd...

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... life of Odin. One of the most successful techniques to emphasis this theme of racism and how it was affected by the context of the texts is the use of animal symbolism. In Othello, Othello is referred to as a "black ramtupping your white ewe". This language technique heavily emphasises the bestiality view that many Venetians held on 'Moors ... dangerous and as evident in the quote, often compared them to beasts to humiliate and isolate them from the Venetian community, causing a sense of isolation for Othello. This use of animal symbolism is further explored in Tim Blake Nelsons O ...

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... , he and Roderigo go to wake up Brabantio and tell him about the elopement of his daughter. Iago is very bawdy in his descriptions. The old Venetian Senator is very angry that his sleep has been disturbed with such news, but he searches his house and finds that his daughter is missing. ... with perfect courtesy and dignity that he cannot allow himself to be taken to prison, since he has been called to the council hall. When the old Senator realizes that the Duke has called a meeting, he goes at once to present his case against his daughter's husband. Notes In this second scene ... Iago p...

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... the land: Simcha sat silent and severe in the front of the car. Why didn't you pick a lot for yourself?' Duddy asked. I don't want a farm here.... She told me what you did, Simcha said. And I don't want a farm here. (Richler 373) Simcha knew that Duddy had taken Virgil's money to obtain the land. He did not want to be a part of such ... ...

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... lead to believe from Iago's race related description that Othello is a threatening and evil moor, whose beastial sexual appetite, conveyed by Iago's cries to Brabantio, telling him that "an old black ram is tupping" his "white ewe" (1.1.89), is something of a rapist. Iago's coarse animal related language conveys Iago's feelings against Othello's marriage in a much more pronounced way. The image of an ... "old black ram" gives the audience nothing but negative images of Othello, especially when this "old black ram" is being associated with the innocence of a "white ewe". Iago then associ...

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... will be discarded, we discover this from That, doting on his own obsequious bondage, Wears out his time, much like his master's ass, For naught but provender; and when he's old cashiered. Iago also believes that those who pay respect to others for their own advancement, once they have gained their ends can follow their own inclinations openly. Refer to Do ... 's confident and more confrontational Are your doors locked?' A further insight into Iago's nature is obtained from his following speech and in particular the line Even now, now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe....

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... beliefs, which are moulded to fit the requirements of the situation and show his motives to be inconstant and uncertain. This stance on self-determinism shows that he believes the animal instinct of self-preservation to be more important than manufactured ideals, and that the only way for a man to be true to himself is to put his own satisfaction above ... the inconstancy of Iago's character - he only supports this view when it suits him to do so, and retracts it when Cassio is promoted above him, instead clinging to the "old gradation, where each second Stood heir to their first-. This...

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... a derogatory tone. Their intention is to emphasize Othello's otherness and infer that he doesn't truly belong. Brabantio and Iago use disdainful language to reduce Othello's status, Iago, in particular, uses animal imagery to convey a sense of Othello as less than human. Iago's xenophobia towards Othello is a persistent reminder to the audience that Othello is an outsider who has gained his status ... a short interlude, a calm moment where Emilia and Desdemona discuss the situation at that moment in time. Desdemona has a premonition of death and sings the "Willow Song" remembering her o...

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... together. The rest of the play proves that this is not true, Emilia and Othello don't seem the least bit interested in one another. Throughout the play, Iago uses violent animal imagery to describe sex, portraying his sexual insecurity. Iago is also motivated by his homosexual feelings toward his master, Othello. Iago secretly longs to be Othello's lover. Most of the ... animal images belong to Iago, himself being a serpent (devil). Iago is notorious for being a master manipulator throughout literature. He is one of Shakespeare's most baleful villains. Iago is Othello's most dependable ...

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... speech was almost poetic in the way he described natural imagery, "let the laboring back climb hills of seas/Olympus-high" (2.1.184-185). However, this shifts to coarse, animal language, "I'd rather be a toad/ And live upon the vapour of dungeon" (3.3.275-276). This technique of the characterization of Othello, exposed in his language reveals the memorable idea ... able to relate to, thus leaving them thinking and reflecting on the issues presented. Throughout the play, Iago thinks women as inferior to men. This is apparent when Iago uses animal imagery to describe Desdemona and Emilia ...

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... the Elizabethan belief in the ranking of all forms of life. Cassio believed that losing his honour was equal to losing his humanity and falling to the rank of an animal. This belief in the chain of being is also shown in his attitude towards women. He greets Desdemona, a virgin with high social status, by saying "You men of Cyprus ... the Elizabethan belief in the ranking of all forms of life. Cassio believed that losing his honour was equal to losing his humanity and falling to the rank of an animal. This belief in the chain of being is also shown in his attitude towards women. He gree...

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... his personality and the audience is positioned to perceive Othello no longer speaking with a sense of previously characteristic nobility, rather his dialogue becomes very similar to Iago's, consumed with brutal animal imagery. Thus, through Othello's racial marginilisation, one implicitly gleans an understanding of Othello's insecurity and can begin to understand how he is so easily manipulated by Iago. Othello's downfall is ... history in the Hitler's', Milosevic's and Pol Pot's of humankind, gushes throughout the text in the form of Iago's often brutal, vulgar images and dialogue that...

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• Grade Level: Undergraduate