Act IV, Scene II How does Emilia prove to be a friend to Desdemona? How does her characterization of the cause of Othello’s mistrust parallel Emilia’s beliefs about men and marriage? In the following speech, to what does “it” refer? EMILIA: I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest, Lay down my soul at stake. If you think other, Remove your thought; it doth abuse your bosom. If any wretch have put this in your head, Let heaven requite it with the serpent’s curse! For, if she be not honest, chaste, and true, There’s no man happy; the purest of their wives Is foul as slander. (Act IV, Scene II, lines 14 – 21) Explain the rhetorical strategy of repletion that Shakespeare uses in the following passage. What is its effect? OTHELLO: Was this fair paper, this most goodly book, Made to write “whore” upon? What committed? Committed! O thou public commoner! I should make very forges of my cheeks, That would to cinders burn up modesty, Did I but speak thy deeds. What committed! Heaven stops the nose at it and the moon winks; The bawdy wind that kisses all it meets Is hush’d within the hollow mine of earth, And will not hear it. What committed! Impudent strumpet! (Act IV, Scene II, lines 79 – 89)
Act IV, Scene II How does Emilia prove to be a friend to Desdemona? How does her characterization of the cause of Othello’s mistrust parallel Emilia’s beliefs about men and marriage? In the following speech, to what does “it” refer? EMILIA: I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest, Lay down my soul at stake. If you think other, Remove your thought; it doth abuse your bosom. If any wretch have put this in your head, Let heaven requite it with the serpent’s curse! For, if she be not honest, chaste, and true, There’s no man happy; the purest of their wives Is foul as slander. (Act IV, Scene II, lines 14 – 21) Explain the rhetorical strategy of repletion that Shakespeare uses in the following passage. What is its effect? OTHELLO: Was this fair paper, this most goodly book, Made to write “whore” upon? What committed? Committed! O thou public commoner! I should make very forges of my cheeks, That would to cinders burn up modesty, Did I but speak thy deeds. What committed! Heaven stops the nose at it and the moon winks; The bawdy wind that kisses all it meets Is hush’d within the hollow mine of earth, And will not hear it. What committed! Impudent strumpet! (Act IV, Scene II, lines 79 – 89)
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