Othello

William Shakespeare

Broad / long / descriptive important questions and answers for Class - 11th ( WBCHSE and
other board )

1. Who was Cassio? How was the relationship between Cassio and Othello-Desdemona?

Ans :- Michael Cassio was the most trustworthy friend of Othello. He was a young
soldier, a Florentine, gay, amorous and of pleasing personality. He was handsome and
eloquent. Othello promoted Cassio to the rank of lieutenant.

Cassio was very close common friend of Othello and Desdemona. Othello employed
Cassio in his love affair with Desdemona. He would often dispute Cassio to go courting for
him. Next to Othello, Cassio was the person whom gentle Desdemona loved and trusted.
Their marriage did not make any difference in their behaviour to Michael Cassio. He
frequented Othello’s house. Although Othello was man of serious temper, Cassio and
Desdemona would talk and laugh together. Thus, Cassio was a confidant of both Othello and
Desdemona.

2. Who was lago? Why did he conspire to take revenge against Othello? What was his plot of
revenge against Cassio, Othello, and Desdemona?

Ans :- Iago was an old officer in Othello’s forces. He was an extremely careful planner
and horribly vindictive thinker. His villainy makes him an interesting character.

While promoting Cassio to the rank of the lieutenant, Othello did not consider lago’s
claim for the post. As a result, lago hated Othello for favouring Cassio. So he conspired to
take revenge against Othello.

In Cyprus, lago got Cassio drunk and involved in fight. Othello intervened and
dismissed Cassio from the post of the lieutenant. This was lago’s first successful artifice.
Cassio, his rival, was then out of his place. Iago’s next plan was to take revenge on Othello
and Desdemona. On the one hand he advised Cassio to appeal to Desdemona so that she
requests Othello for giving back his job. On the other hand he convinced Othello that
Desdemona was having an affair with Cassio. Iago justified his claim by saying that he had
seen Cassio to use Desdemona’s handkerchief, Othello’s first gift for her. Actually, Emilia,
Iago’s wife, stole that handkerchief for her husband. Eventually this handkerchief became
the cause of a lot of trouble. Othello killed Desdemona out of suspicion. Thus, lago’s plot of
revenge affected all.

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3. Explain the significance of the handkerchief to Othello.

Ans :- To Othello, the handkerchief is a very significant thing. It was given to him by
his dying mother. She instructed him to give it to his wife. This handkerchief is a magical one
since it can ensure a happy marriage. The loss of the handkerchief is a loss of love and
affection that bound Othello and Desdemona. This belief becomes an obsession with
Othello. In Othello’s life the handkerchief, his first gift to Desdemona, is an emblem of their
mutual love. When lago claims that he has found Cassio to use this handkerchief, the loss of
handkerchief becomes symbolic of a loss of trust. For this, Othello accuses Desdemona of
infidelity, vows to kill her, and finally stifles her to death. Thus, the same handkerchief which
had brought happiness in Othello’s life, brings disaster in his life.

4. Why did Othello kill himself?

Ans :- Othello, the Moor, was a brave soldier, but his mind was rather simple as he
could not suspect a person like lago who knew well how to poison one’s mind gradually by
way of presenting himself as a confidant. If Othello captived the mind of Desdemona, it was
because he could tell the stories of his adventures so eloquently that an innocent lady like
Desdemona, who was extremely fond of earliest recollections, battles, and sieges, fell in
love with him. It was of course Othello’s bravery and nobility that won her heart. On the
contrary, Othello’s love for Desdemona was too profound to be conjectured. But the fact is
that Othello failed to retain his belief in Desdemona. When he was instigated by lago
constantly, he could not think for a while that the relationship between Desdemona and
Cassio was rather simple; for Desdemona never loved Cassio as she loved her husband. They
had just the wonderful relaxation of spirit which lago, being cunning and revengeful,
exploited. He could do so whenever he realized that Othello’s profound love for his wife
might result in unjustifiable jealousy due to the fact that Cassio’s complexion and handsome
features might appear superior to the Moor. Othello, being black and Moor, had his
inherent weakness which made him oblivious of his valiant qualities for which Desdemona
chose him as her husband amidst many suitors of senatorial rank. Thus, unable to cope with
his emotional problem, Othello decided to kill Desdemona. He did so; but he came to know
immediately, when Cassio was being attacked to be killed, that Desdemona was innocent,
and that lago’s villainy was the cause of murdering Desdemona. He realized that
Desdemona was completely innocent. As Othello loved Desdemona very much, he felt a
great remorse; thus, he had no other way than killing himself to justify his on evil act of
murdering his beloved.

5. Discuss in short on the character of Othello.

Ans :- Othello is a cultural and racial outsider in Venice. His skill as a soldier is praised
all over the country and the Venetian government has an absolute trust on him.

Othello is not good to look at. He is a moor, a dark skinned, man. He did not belong
to Desdemona’s clime or complexion. His heroic performance against the Turks endears him

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to the lady as well as to the nation. He is also a great adventurer and has numerous
experiences. His art of story telling must be interesting, otherwise Desdemona would not
have been so fascinated to hear the exciting and romantic events of his life.

Othello’s love for Desdemona is pure. It is aptly said that he had loved Desdemona not
wisely but too well. He is noble but vulnerable. He is passionate and his greatest flaw is to
rely on lago. He easily believes in the words of lago and does not judge the incidents
himself. He wonders if Desdemona is cheating him because he is black. He is tormented by
jealousy and suffers terribly from the agony of doubt ad fear.

Othello is rash in his actions . His killing of Desdemona is an immediate result of his
resentment and anger. Again his remorse is as dreadful as his revenge has been.

That is why he instantly kills himself knowing how innocent and faithful Desdemona
has been. Thus it may be said that Othello is easily manipulates but he is an honest man.