Monday, February 6, 2012
I Will Follow You into the Dark
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Othello Blog 3
"O Spartan dog, More fell than anguish, hunger, or the sea! Look on the tragic loading of this bed: This is thy work." V.ii.360-363
The theme I want to touch on is that jealousy is a powerful, often destructive force. This quote is where Lodovico is pointing to the bed of Othello, Emilia, and Desdemona dead. Iago is the reason for all of this. The root of all this death is jealousy from Iago and Othello. Iago was first jealous of Cassio that he was Othello's commander. Second, Iago was jealous of Othello supposedly sleeping with his wife. He then manipulated Othello into thinking Desdemona was having an affair with Cassio. This caused outrageous jealousy, and Othello killed Desdemona. Things just snowballed from there, and now you have three dead people. Jealousy is very destructive (clearly) and mostly harms the person who is jealous.
The theme I want to touch on is that jealousy is a powerful, often destructive force. This quote is where Lodovico is pointing to the bed of Othello, Emilia, and Desdemona dead. Iago is the reason for all of this. The root of all this death is jealousy from Iago and Othello. Iago was first jealous of Cassio that he was Othello's commander. Second, Iago was jealous of Othello supposedly sleeping with his wife. He then manipulated Othello into thinking Desdemona was having an affair with Cassio. This caused outrageous jealousy, and Othello killed Desdemona. Things just snowballed from there, and now you have three dead people. Jealousy is very destructive (clearly) and mostly harms the person who is jealous.
Othello Blog 2
"(Draws, and wounds RODERIGO.) Oh, I am slain! (IAGO from behind wounds CASSIO in the leg, and exits.)...(Enter OTHELLO)." V.i.26-30
The quote above represents the importance of stage directions and action in the play. Other physical effects make the play important as well. Without these effects, the reader would be confused as to who is stabbing who, who is dying, and who is responsible for the actions in the play. It contributes to emotion by creating the action in the scenes that bring drama to the play. It also contributes to the climax of the play and the falling action. Gestures would also be important to see how certain characters relay some lines. When sarcasm or slyness is added, the reader sometimes cannot pick up on that. Expressions and gestures in the play would be able to relay that to the audience in a better way.
The quote above represents the importance of stage directions and action in the play. Other physical effects make the play important as well. Without these effects, the reader would be confused as to who is stabbing who, who is dying, and who is responsible for the actions in the play. It contributes to emotion by creating the action in the scenes that bring drama to the play. It also contributes to the climax of the play and the falling action. Gestures would also be important to see how certain characters relay some lines. When sarcasm or slyness is added, the reader sometimes cannot pick up on that. Expressions and gestures in the play would be able to relay that to the audience in a better way.
Othello Blog 1
"Now I will question Cassio of Bianca, A housewife that by selling her desires Buys herself bread and clothes." IV.i.91-93
The quote from the scene above represents an important theme in Othello. In the scene, Iago is tricking Othello into thinking Cassio is bragging about sleeping with Desdemona, but Cassio is really talking about Bianca. This trickery brings up the important theme that appearance and reality are not always the same. Iago is the character that mainly makes up false realities to other characters and is very deceitful. His actions, although rather unclear, are to get back at Othello. This false reality Iago often creates leads Othello to kill his wife Desdemona and then kill himself. Once everyone finds out true reality and not what it appears to be, Iago is sent to be tortured. This means that this false reality is a negative thing for Iago, even though he thought he was going to take down Othello from it.
The quote from the scene above represents an important theme in Othello. In the scene, Iago is tricking Othello into thinking Cassio is bragging about sleeping with Desdemona, but Cassio is really talking about Bianca. This trickery brings up the important theme that appearance and reality are not always the same. Iago is the character that mainly makes up false realities to other characters and is very deceitful. His actions, although rather unclear, are to get back at Othello. This false reality Iago often creates leads Othello to kill his wife Desdemona and then kill himself. Once everyone finds out true reality and not what it appears to be, Iago is sent to be tortured. This means that this false reality is a negative thing for Iago, even though he thought he was going to take down Othello from it.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Othello Act II continued
"Aye, that's the way. Dull not device by coldness and delay." II.iii.350-351
Othello is much different from other plays, or Shakespearean plays. The reader is gaining information from the antagonist's point of view. This creates a weird understanding towards the antagonist. Although Iago is deceitful and dishonest, we know what his motivations are and understand. This also creates suspense because it makes us want to tell the protagonists what's really going on. Personally, I don't like Iago. Although we are supposed to have an understanding for him, I don't. What put me off the most was the rude comments about different types of women. However, it is true his soliloquies keep me wanting to know more.
Othello is much different from other plays, or Shakespearean plays. The reader is gaining information from the antagonist's point of view. This creates a weird understanding towards the antagonist. Although Iago is deceitful and dishonest, we know what his motivations are and understand. This also creates suspense because it makes us want to tell the protagonists what's really going on. Personally, I don't like Iago. Although we are supposed to have an understanding for him, I don't. What put me off the most was the rude comments about different types of women. However, it is true his soliloquies keep me wanting to know more.
Othello Act II
"If she be fair and wise, fairness and wit, The one's for use, the other useth it." II.i.129-130
During scene one of act II, Iago speaks disrespectfully about women to Desdemona and Emilia. On the other hand, Cassio treats them both with respect. He kisses their hand and calls them 'madame'. This separates the protagonists and the antagonists. Iago, the antagonist, is shown here as disrespectful and rude. He is trying to ruin Othello through manipulation of Cassio and Desdemona. Although this scene is not the determinant of the antagonist/protagonist, it shows the true characters of the two. This scene also shows Iago as a foil character. In the scene, he speaks disrespectfully about women and shows his true character. However, in front of Othello and Cassio, he is honest and trustworthy.
During scene one of act II, Iago speaks disrespectfully about women to Desdemona and Emilia. On the other hand, Cassio treats them both with respect. He kisses their hand and calls them 'madame'. This separates the protagonists and the antagonists. Iago, the antagonist, is shown here as disrespectful and rude. He is trying to ruin Othello through manipulation of Cassio and Desdemona. Although this scene is not the determinant of the antagonist/protagonist, it shows the true characters of the two. This scene also shows Iago as a foil character. In the scene, he speaks disrespectfully about women and shows his true character. However, in front of Othello and Cassio, he is honest and trustworthy.
Othello Act I
"I have 't. It is engendered! Hell and night Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light." I.iii.383-384
Above is an example of one of Iago's dramatic soliloquies. His soliloquies are the reason this play has dramatic suspense. Through his soliloquies, we learn that he has a devious plan to ruin Othello because there is suspicion he slept with Emilia, Iago's wife. In act I, we don't know the plan, which creates suspense. We also see Iago manipulate Othello and others to like him, even though it is only part of his plan. The fact the audience knows this and the characters don't creates dramatic suspense. The contrast of the audience's knowledge and Iago's kind interactions with others also informs us of the characteristics that make him a foil character. Iago is deceitful and dishonest, and his soliloquies tell us the truth of this.
Above is an example of one of Iago's dramatic soliloquies. His soliloquies are the reason this play has dramatic suspense. Through his soliloquies, we learn that he has a devious plan to ruin Othello because there is suspicion he slept with Emilia, Iago's wife. In act I, we don't know the plan, which creates suspense. We also see Iago manipulate Othello and others to like him, even though it is only part of his plan. The fact the audience knows this and the characters don't creates dramatic suspense. The contrast of the audience's knowledge and Iago's kind interactions with others also informs us of the characteristics that make him a foil character. Iago is deceitful and dishonest, and his soliloquies tell us the truth of this.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)