Othello questions and answers

Othello by William Shakespeare questions and answers | Othello broad / long / descriptive important questions and answers for Class - 11 | WBCHSE

Q. 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 despute 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 behavior 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.

Q. What led Desdemona to marry Othello?

Ans :- Desdemona as a lady was very beautiful. She was also a gentle lady. Many suitors craved her but Desdemona had chosen Othello, a Moor. She regarded the heart more than the appearance and complexion of a man. He was a valiant soldier who was raised to the rank of General. Othello was a great traveller. He used to narrate the adventurous stories of battles, encounters, his captivation by the insolent enemy, savage nations etc. Desdemona used to listen to the stories with rapt attention and gradually fell in love. She even indirectly accepted her love for him after the end of the stories. She was fascinated by Othello’s heroic deeds and art of storytelling and decided to marry Othello.

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

Ans :- Lago 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 te 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. Lago’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. Lago justified his claim by saying that he had seen Cassio to use Desdemona’s handkerchief, Othello’s first gift for her. Actually, Emilia, Lago’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.

Q. Discuss how Othello’s love for Desdemona changed into mistrust in the story.

Ans :- In Othello we see that Othello and Desdemona loved one another very much. In their love affair, Cassio helped them. Othello promoted Cassio to the rank of lieutenant. This was the cause of Iago’s offence. Iago was senior to Cassio and thought to be befitting for the post. Fierce with anger, Iago planned a scheme of revenge. He instilled a seed of jealousy and suspicion in Othello’s mind. He provoked Othello that Desdemona was unfaithful. She had illicit relation with Cassio. Shrewd Iago used his wife to steal and drop the handkerchief in Cassio’s way. Then he informed Othello that he had seen the strawberry spotted handkerchief in Cassio’s hand. In this way, Othello’s love for Desdemona changed into mistrust.

Q. 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.

Q. 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.

Q. Discuss in short on the character of Othello.

Ans :- Othello is a cultural and racial outsider in Venice. His skills 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 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 gretest 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.