Act 5 is the final act in Othello so drama and death are to be expected. It immediately jumps into the action as Roderigo and Iago are in a position to kill the unsuspecting Cassio. Roderigo stabs Cassio but misses which allows Cassio to stab Roderigo back. Iago takes the opportunity to stab Cassio in the leg before running away. Othello hears the commotion and misinterprets it as Cassio dying and goes to kill Desdemona. Lodovico and Gratiano come into the scene and it forces Iago to silence Roderigo by killing him. Bianca also enters and Iago puts the blame on her for Cassio's wound by saying her disobedience and unfaithfulness caused Cassio to get hurt. Scene two takes place in Desdemona's bedroom where Othello is about to kill her. Othello wants Desdemona to admit her cheating but she is oblivious to it, causing Othello to become even more angered. He begins to smother her when Emilia walks into the room and sees Othello in the act. She is too late as Desdemona dies soon after. Othello tries to explain that Iago convinced him of an affair between her and Cassio but Emilia convinces Othello that he was tricked by Iago. Emilia continues to reveal her husband's tricks leading Iago to kill her and run away. Othello, now racked with guilt and regret, make his final preparations before killing himself. The play ends with Cassio attaining Othello's position and Iago being convicted and brought back to Venice for execution.
As endings go, Othello's ending is tragic and dramatic. Having all the main characters die leaves the audience wondering: What led to this? From the beginning to the end, the most prominent character is Iago. Iago had orchestrated the entire plot to be within his hands, all the way until his death. He alone is responsible for the destruction of order present in the beginning of the play. Iago could be seen as the director of the play in which he has total control over how the actors move and interact with each other. In that sense, Iago represents Shakespeare.
Why had Shakespeare decided to make Othello a tragedy instead of a romantic or comedic drama?
Othello being a tragedy creates a mood where Iago's manipulation is emphasized. A comedic atmosphere would not fit into the tightrope of emotions that is Othello. A tragedy is also more dramatic and heightens the emotions of the audience.
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/othello/stagehistoryothello.html
By exploring the history of Othello, we can discover how Shakespeare had shown his play during his time. We also learn how the actors played the characters to that Shakespeare's work could be portrayed to the best.
What is Shakespeare trying to make us understand about justice?
Shakespeare is trying to make us understand that justice is not so simple where good is rewarded with good and bad with bad. Each individual has their own sense of morality and acts upon it. Just as Iago thought it was just to get revenge on Othello for the rumor of him sleeping with his wife, Othello thinks it is just to kill Desdemona for her supposed adultery. On the other hand, Emilia decides it is just to commit adultery if there is a large reward because men had been the influence of such things but Desdemona decides that adultery should never be committed as it is an unjust action. Shakespeare wants us to understand that the concept of justice is simply something that allows an individual to justify an action that they never would otherwise agree with.
Wednesday, 18 January 2017
Tuesday, 17 January 2017
Othello 4.2-3
Othello has calmed down from the previous scene and is now questioning Emilia about Desdemona and Cassio's relationship. Emilia denies anything but it only goes to feed Othello's jealousy and suspicion. Emilia goes to call Desdemona and when she gets there, she immediately becomes obedient, even kneeling, to Othello. Othello questions her too and starts to become more agitated until he once again becomes a mad person like the end of scene 1. Desdemona is heartbroken and tells Emilia to call Iago as he is someone who is close to Othello and could tell her why he is acting the way he did. Iago, after being indirectly abused by his own wife, dismisses Othello's attitude as stress built up after being told to return home. Desdemona is reassured and still retains her unyielding love for Othello. Roderigo soon enters and we learn that he was being swindled by Iago in the belief that he was making advances on Desdemona. Roderigo is upset until Iago provides him another lie and plan which involves killing Cassio at night. Scene 3 mainly consists of Desdemona and Emilia having a conversation about the nature of men and wives. Emilia is negative and says that men are like stomachs and women, food. On the other hand, Desdemona believes in her love and still has trust in men.
The opposing views of Emilia and Desdemona about marriage display the theme of women evident in Othello. Desdemona asks Emilia if she would commit adultery if she could gain the world, to which Emilia replies with a confident yes. Desdemona is shocked as she herself would never do such a thing. Emilia goes to explain how it is due to husband's faults. Emilia says that the husbands being unfaithful are the reason why women are also unfaithful. For once in the play, women are seen to be rebellious of what men say. Throughout the play, wives such as Desdemona and Emilia are seen to be in a weaker position and made to concede to men's desires. However, Emilia proves that while she yields to men in her actions, she maintains a rebellious view on men in her mind.
How has Desdemona's naivety made her a more faithful and loyal wife?
Desdemona, being young, has an inborn naivety about her society. She will not commit adultery because she has learned that adultery is a horrible act and isn't aware of adultery in the people around her. She also doesn't get jealous or distrustful of Othello when he becomes mad. She simply believes that his work is creating stress or he is feeling ill, never suspecting his mental state for jealousy.
http://study.com/academy/lesson/the-role-of-women-in-othello.html
This short and condensed animation reveals Shakespeare's motives in having women in his play. Although the animation is cut short in the middle, it still goes into detail revealing the messages that Shakespeare wanted to convey through the use of women in Othello.
The opposing views of Emilia and Desdemona about marriage display the theme of women evident in Othello. Desdemona asks Emilia if she would commit adultery if she could gain the world, to which Emilia replies with a confident yes. Desdemona is shocked as she herself would never do such a thing. Emilia goes to explain how it is due to husband's faults. Emilia says that the husbands being unfaithful are the reason why women are also unfaithful. For once in the play, women are seen to be rebellious of what men say. Throughout the play, wives such as Desdemona and Emilia are seen to be in a weaker position and made to concede to men's desires. However, Emilia proves that while she yields to men in her actions, she maintains a rebellious view on men in her mind.
How has Desdemona's naivety made her a more faithful and loyal wife?
Desdemona, being young, has an inborn naivety about her society. She will not commit adultery because she has learned that adultery is a horrible act and isn't aware of adultery in the people around her. She also doesn't get jealous or distrustful of Othello when he becomes mad. She simply believes that his work is creating stress or he is feeling ill, never suspecting his mental state for jealousy.
http://study.com/academy/lesson/the-role-of-women-in-othello.html
This short and condensed animation reveals Shakespeare's motives in having women in his play. Although the animation is cut short in the middle, it still goes into detail revealing the messages that Shakespeare wanted to convey through the use of women in Othello.
Saturday, 14 January 2017
Othello 4.1
Othello is sick with grief and jealousy abut Iago only makes it worse by taunting him. To start this act, Iago is making Othello imagine all the things that Cassio did with Desdemona. Iago describes the acts in detail and it causes Othello to pass out. Cassio enters while Othello is passed out and Iago promises to have a talk with Cassio which is part of his plan to make Othello even more jealous and sure of Desdemona's cheating. After Othello hides, Iago questions Cassio about his love and affairs with Bianca, to which Cassio ridicules. Cassio appears to be an unloving man as he dismisses Iago's questions of marrying Bianca because he believes that Bianca is clingy and too attached to him. Bianca then enters and calls Cassio a cheating man for giving her a handkerchief that belongs to another woman. Cassio leaves to chase after the enraged Bianca and Othello comes out from hiding with the intent to brutally kill both Cassio and Desdemona. Not long after, Lodovico, from Venice, come with news for Othello. Desdemona tells Lodovico about the split between Othello and Cassio but speaks some words that could be misinterpreted and Othello slaps her out of anger. The news also happened to be that Cassio is going to replace Othello's spot in Cyprus.
Othello's personality had changed a lot from what it had been at the beginning of the play. He was cool and collected as shown when he was questioned by Brabantio, but now he is angered by event the smallest phrase. Also, instead of the elegant type of speech he was capable of in the beginning of the play, he is becoming mad and speaking with pauses and goes off topic many times (L. 284-296). The noble and honorable Moor that is the general of Venice is now reduced to someone who slaps his own wife in front of a crowd.
How has Lodovico's visit ruined Othello's character even more?
Lodovico is the bearer of bad news. He brings orders from the Senate in Venice that Othello is to return and have his place taken by none other than Cassio. Desdemona also relied on Lodovico to mend the relationship between Cassio and Othello but that is only misinterpreted by Othello as Desdemona favoring Cassio. Finally, as an outsider to the drama, Lodovico is ignorant of the events that have happened and only manages to enrage the drama more by telling Othello to apologize to his wife.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHVnLyP9ZVE
Even thought this Othello movie is old, it stays accurate to the script. We are shown the drama of the slap as well as the significance through the actors' facial expressions and actions. Othello is especially portrayed well as he occasionally looks at the camera with intimidating eyes which give off the impression that he is holding back his anger at Desdemona.
The Welles version of the film displays the madness of Othello as mentioned before. Othello is seeming to be two-faced as he is rebuking Desdemona and having a conversation with Lodovico at the same time. It clearly shows how mad Othello had become after Iago's manipulation.
Thursday, 12 January 2017
Othello 3.4
For the second time in the play, the Clown shows up. Just as last time, his role is to provide some comedic relief for the upcoming drama. Desdemona is in a conversation with him and she is asking for Cassio's house so that she can try and have him reinstated. The Clown doesn't know where he lives but he promises to go and look for Cassio. Ironically, in this scene, Emilia is questioning Desdemona on whether Othello is a jealous person, but Desdemona is completely caught up in love and believes that Othello has never had any jealousy in his body since his birth. Othello then enters the scene and at this point, he is overcome with jealousy. As a test, he asks where the handkerchief that he gave Desdemona is. Desdemona misplaced the handkerchief and Othello storms off the stage in anger. Cassio then enters and they have a small conversation about Othello's anger before Desdemona and Emilia leave to look for Othello. The introduction of Bianca follows after. Bianca is Cassio's secret lover who is head over heels for Cassio. Cassio tells her to copy the embroidery of Desdemona's handkerchief that was planted in the room by Iago. Bianca becomes suspicious of Cassio cheating but after a short conversation she is somewhat convinced otherwise and leaves.
I find the clown to be a very intriguing character. Even though it may seem like he is only there for comedic relief, I believe that he symbolizes more than that. The other time that he appears is 3.1 where he is with a group of musicians outside of Othello's house where Cassio is trying to regain. Coincidently enough, Cassio at the time told the clown to fetch Emilia, who after assuring Cassio, invites Cassio in to talk to Desdemona alone. In both cases, both Cassio and Desdemona meet because of the clown. The clown represents a unique connection that Cassio and Desdemona have with each other.
Why does Shakespeare decide on introducing Bianca so late into the play?
Shakespeare introduced Bianca now instead of before for dramatic significance. Bianca's role in the play is primarily as a Cassio's proof of loyalty so far. With some of the actions and words of Cassio, the audience could be convinced that Cassio had something to do with Desdemona, but with the introduction of Bianca, the audience knows that Cassio is the full victim of Iago's plans.
http://www.arogundade.com/the-handkerchief-in-william-shakespeares-othello-handkerchief-scene-symbolism.html
The article goes into a lot of details into about the handkerchief. The author mentions details about the medieval significance of the handkerchief as well as the dramatic significance of a turning point. The article is easy to understand and provides a detailed analysis of
How are Desdemona’s words in lines 31-32 ironic?
Why must Iago take his time to convince Othello about Desdemona and Cassio?
I find the clown to be a very intriguing character. Even though it may seem like he is only there for comedic relief, I believe that he symbolizes more than that. The other time that he appears is 3.1 where he is with a group of musicians outside of Othello's house where Cassio is trying to regain. Coincidently enough, Cassio at the time told the clown to fetch Emilia, who after assuring Cassio, invites Cassio in to talk to Desdemona alone. In both cases, both Cassio and Desdemona meet because of the clown. The clown represents a unique connection that Cassio and Desdemona have with each other.
Why does Shakespeare decide on introducing Bianca so late into the play?
Shakespeare introduced Bianca now instead of before for dramatic significance. Bianca's role in the play is primarily as a Cassio's proof of loyalty so far. With some of the actions and words of Cassio, the audience could be convinced that Cassio had something to do with Desdemona, but with the introduction of Bianca, the audience knows that Cassio is the full victim of Iago's plans.
http://www.arogundade.com/the-handkerchief-in-william-shakespeares-othello-handkerchief-scene-symbolism.html
The article goes into a lot of details into about the handkerchief. The author mentions details about the medieval significance of the handkerchief as well as the dramatic significance of a turning point. The article is easy to understand and provides a detailed analysis of
How are Desdemona’s words in lines 31-32 ironic?
Desdemona’s words are ironic because she says that Othello isn’t a jealous person, but Othello is extremely jealous.
If what significance is the handkerchief to Othello (the character, not the play)? What new insight does this give to his character? Is this surprising to you?
The handkerchief is a momento of Othello’s mother and it is significant in how his mother put meaning in it. Othello’s mother believed that the handkerchief is the reason why she is lovable and Othello adopts this thinking showing that he is somewhat superstitious.
Iago has to take his time because otherwise, it would seem like he is intentionally trying to create tension between them. By seeming reluctant and hesitant, he makes Othello believe that he is good-natured and hurt to tell Othello.
Explain the importance of Desdemona’s handkerchief (to the play).
Desdemona’s handkerchief is the ignition for the chaos that is about to happen. Even though the handkerchief is supposed to be a loving act from Othello to Desdemona, it becomes the object of jealousy for Othello.
What role does Emilia play in Iago’s plot? Explain specifically.
Emilia’s role in Iago’s plot is something similar to a spy. She provides information about the couple to Iago and occasionally plays a vital role in stealing something. Her status as Desdemona’s servant allows her to be close.
Wednesday, 11 January 2017
Othello 3.3 L.100-546
Well known as the Temptation Scene, Othello 3.3 is the start of ensuing chaos later on in the play. With the departure of Desdemona and Emilia, Iago has Othello all to himself for another session of manipulation. He starts off slow with some questions about how close Cassio is to Desdemona and Othello. When Othello questions Iago about his motive in asking these questions, Iago acts reluctant before announcing his suspicions that Desdemona is cheating on Othello with Cassio. Othello responds with the natural reaction of ridicule before Iago starts listing opinions and circumstantial evidence to prove his point. Othello becomes more and more convinced as the seeds of doubt and jealousy grow in his mind. An important event happens soon after which is the handkerchief drop, a starter to the chaos that is going to happen. Iago manages to attain the handkerchief and plans to plant it in Cassio's house. Othello is overcome in anger and jealousy and vows to kill Cassio. He also promotes Iago to lieutenant and tells him to kill Cassio.
The imagery used by Shakespeare in this scene is very explicit and powerful in showing the emotions of Othello. He says, "I had rather be a toad / And live upon the vapor of a dungeon / Than keep a corner in the thing I love / For others' uses" (311-315). Othello is expressing his sadness and frustration at the thought of Desdemona cheating on him. He describes how painful it is to have the thing he loves be something that others can use.
Why does Othello see Iago is such a good light? Why isn't he ever suspicious of Iago?
I think it is because of Iago's reputation in Venice as an honest person. Othello is a foreigner in Venice and Iago having a good reputation had a positive effect on Othello and his trust for him. Not to mention all the time he spent with Iago leads Othello to believe in him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgHq6K6-Tnc
The actors in this video are part of Bob Jones University. The actor who played Othello showed frustration, anxiety, and doubt. These emotions are critical in understanding the character of Othello.
Men should be what they seem - how dangerous is it to operate under such an assumption? Is it even true?
Not only is it dangerous to assume that men are what they seem, it is completely false. If anything, the assumption should be that men are not what they seem. Without knowing a person completely, it could be difficult to trust them as shown through Iago's character. Othello made an assumption that because of Iago's character and reputation, he must be honest and trustworthy and it leads to his downfall. Desdemona is also a victim to assuming men should be what they seem to be. Desdemona fell for Othello quickly and believed him because of his stories and she was proven wrong when she witnessed his jealous attitude.
The imagery used by Shakespeare in this scene is very explicit and powerful in showing the emotions of Othello. He says, "I had rather be a toad / And live upon the vapor of a dungeon / Than keep a corner in the thing I love / For others' uses" (311-315). Othello is expressing his sadness and frustration at the thought of Desdemona cheating on him. He describes how painful it is to have the thing he loves be something that others can use.
Why does Othello see Iago is such a good light? Why isn't he ever suspicious of Iago?
I think it is because of Iago's reputation in Venice as an honest person. Othello is a foreigner in Venice and Iago having a good reputation had a positive effect on Othello and his trust for him. Not to mention all the time he spent with Iago leads Othello to believe in him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgHq6K6-Tnc
The actors in this video are part of Bob Jones University. The actor who played Othello showed frustration, anxiety, and doubt. These emotions are critical in understanding the character of Othello.
Men should be what they seem - how dangerous is it to operate under such an assumption? Is it even true?
Not only is it dangerous to assume that men are what they seem, it is completely false. If anything, the assumption should be that men are not what they seem. Without knowing a person completely, it could be difficult to trust them as shown through Iago's character. Othello made an assumption that because of Iago's character and reputation, he must be honest and trustworthy and it leads to his downfall. Desdemona is also a victim to assuming men should be what they seem to be. Desdemona fell for Othello quickly and believed him because of his stories and she was proven wrong when she witnessed his jealous attitude.
Tuesday, 10 January 2017
Othello 3.3 1-99
Cassio is distressed about his lose in position and is consulting Desdemona about it. Desdemona comforts him by saying Othello's decision was strictly political and he will have his position back in no time. Othello and Iago walk in and Iago begins to plant the seeds of jealousy by mentioning the suspicious behavior of Cassio when he leaves immediately. Othello dismisses it for now and Desdemona begins to talk about Cassio in good light. She seems almost desperate in her attempts to get Othello to agree to meet Cassio. Othello is sick of it and agrees because of his love for her.
From Othello's attitude towards the end of the scene, it can be inferred that he has the seeds of jealousy in his heart. He says, "grant me this,/ To leave me but a little to myself" (94-95). His normally calm and loving self is gone after Iago mentions the behavior of Cassio and that attitude is likely to become even worse as the play proceeds.
I predict Iago is going to use his wits and manipulation to drive Othello into further jealousy. Iago has had everything in the play go according to his will and his revenge towards Othello is almost complete. All Iago needs to do is create some proof for Othello and Othello is likely to go into a rage.
https://theplaystheblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/othello-iago.jpg?w=640
Iago's manipulation is effective in guiding Othello to his own demise. Iago acts as a director in how he controls everyone around him in order to fulfill his goal.
From Othello's attitude towards the end of the scene, it can be inferred that he has the seeds of jealousy in his heart. He says, "grant me this,/ To leave me but a little to myself" (94-95). His normally calm and loving self is gone after Iago mentions the behavior of Cassio and that attitude is likely to become even worse as the play proceeds.
I predict Iago is going to use his wits and manipulation to drive Othello into further jealousy. Iago has had everything in the play go according to his will and his revenge towards Othello is almost complete. All Iago needs to do is create some proof for Othello and Othello is likely to go into a rage.
https://theplaystheblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/othello-iago.jpg?w=640
Iago's manipulation is effective in guiding Othello to his own demise. Iago acts as a director in how he controls everyone around him in order to fulfill his goal.
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