"Othello" - William Shakespeare (Act IV)

ACT IV
1. Iago deceives Othello even further, by having him overhear the conversation with Cassio. Also, the handkerchief plays a major role in this act - when Othello sees Bianca give it to Cassio, he becomes quite convinced of Desedemona's infidelity.
2. It is not terribly plausible, but we have to remember that Iago is a master planner. While he may not have planned for that particular event to occur, he set the stage so that, no matter what did occur, things would look questionable to Othello, as he looked on. The handkerchief is very important to the play. To Othello, it represents both the part of his heart his has given to Desdemona, and her own purity and faithfulness to him. She, on the other hand, sees it more as simply a handkerchief, a gift. Iago plays on Othello's stronger attachment to the handkerchief to achieve his ends. It also seems to carry with it some sort of mystical, magic-like connotations for Othello. This only adds to the importance of it in his mind.
3. He is already convinced that she is unfaithful, and I don't believe that much of anything would change his mind at this point. She defends herself as best she can, although he has not given her all the information about what his claims are, or how he has come to them. This is one of those moments in the play when we see that communication would have been vital, and could have caused everything to be cleared up in an instant. But Othello chooses to hold fast to his forming opinions, and her protests fall on deaf ears.
4. He uses his anger against him, and turns it onto Cassio. This both serves to protect himself, and get someone else to deal with Cassio, so his hands can be "clean" persay.
5. I answered this one with an in-class essay, so I shall omit it. :)

Quotes:
Desdemona: "Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?"
Emilia: "The world's a huge thing. It is a great price for a small vice."

"Good night, good night. God me such uses send not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend!"
- Desdemona

Class Thoughts VI

Class on Tuesday was pretty much amazing. Number one - we had class outside. What a beautiful day! It's so much easier to think outside, although the air conditioning unit (or whatever it was) made loud noises that caused me and Kayla to have difficulty hearing the quiet, timid girls/ladies speaking from the other side of the courtyard. Ms. Kolb was most gracious about repeating most of what they said though, so we got the general idea. I got a little bit pink from the sun, but it was so totally worth it. So totally.

Number two reason was that we discussed the 4th and 5th Acts of Othello, and had a wrap-up discussion about the whole play in general. I loved it, I truly did. It makes me eager to read more Shakespeare . . . especially in light of my discovery of the Spark Notes online.

Number three reason is that we, once again, divided into small discussion groups. I don't know about the rest of the class, but I get so much more out things when we do this. Maybe it's my home-school background, but it's really hard for me to take the effort to speak up in class. So my group got to discuss Emilia and Desdemona, and the ways they were different in their approach to life, men, marriage, etc. It was quite interesting.

Tomorrow is our in-class essay on Othello. I'm not really nervous - I generally do well with these type of things. However, I always have that fear that none of the prompts will inspire me and I'll get a tremendous writer's block, etc., etc. Which is just silly. Our research paper thesis is also due, which I am feeling grumpy about. I wish I could just sit in my room and read and write always. But life happens, and I haven't really had enough time to explore all the different topics I could write about. So. . . I'm picking the first one that inspired me, coming up with a very, very rough thesis, and turning it in with the knowledge that I'm going to have to come up with a pretty impressive paper to make up for that. ;)

Tomorrow I am hoping to, after class, post on Acts IV and V of Othello. Time has been scarce lately, but tomorrow afternoon (and Friday actually) are relatively un-busy, so I shall prioritize accordingly.

Toodles.

"Othello" - William Shakespeare (Act III)

ACT III

1. Iago is the master of planting seeds of doubt. Truly, what he leaves unsaid is much more influential on Othello than the things he says. Othello seems to be far to trusting, and guilible. We know that his love for Desdemona is great - and great jealousy often accompanies great love. It is quite strange however, that Othello is so quick to doubt and distrust Cassio, and his own wife . . . and yet he never stops to question Iago's loyalty. Perhaps this is because, in both the case of Cassio and of his wife, he had doubts to begin with. Iago shares in the opening scene that many people of note were unsure about Othello's choice of Cassio, feeling that he had only book learning rather than actual experience. Maybe this caused Othello to lose some of his confidence in Cassio, and made him open to doubts. The same with his wife - Othello probably felt the pressure of disapproval of Desdemona's father, and of society in general, regarding the marraige of a black man to a white woman. While he knew he loved Desdemona, their unique situation may have caused Iago's whispered doubts to grow into fruitition far sooner than they would have otherwise.

2. As we can see at the end of the play, Emilia is quite unaware of her husbands plot. We have already seen his unkind and disrespectful treatment of her, and hear in this Act of her cynical view of men, and marriage in general. These two things combined can't make for a happy marriage, or good relationship between them. So, it is plausible that she simply has no idea why her husband would want the handkerchief. However, two other ideas present themselves to me. One is that, while she may be aware of how evil his intentions are, she is afraid of him and what he might do to her, so afraid that she fails to tell her mistress of what she has done in giving the handkerchief to him. The second idea that I had was that perhaps, despite all her bitterness, she may love Iago, in a twisted sort of way. Often, we see women who are abused be defensive and protective of the very husband or boyfriend who is abusing them. Emilia may cherish this same type of blind devotion to Iago, desperate to do anything she can to win his love in return. And yet, she seems to, at the same time, despise this apparent need and desire for her husband's affection, especially since she is never fulfilled.

Favorite Quotes:

"By heaven, thou echo-st me, as if there were some monster in thy thought too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something. If thou dost love me, show me thy thought." - Othello

"It were not for your quiet nor your good, nor for my manhood, honesty, and wisdom, to let you know my thoughts." - Iago

Othello: "By heaven, I'll know thy thoughts."
Iago: "You cannot, if my heart were in your hand, nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody."

"I should be wise, for honesty's a fool and loses that it works for." - Iago

"'Tis not a year or two shows us a man. They are all but stomachs, and we all but food; they eat us hungrily, and when they are full they belch us. " -Emilia

"But jealous souls will not be answered so; they are not ever jealous for the cause, but jealous for they're jealous. It is a monster begot upon itself, born upon itself." - Emilia

"Othello" - William Shakespeare (Acts I & II)

ACT I

1. Othello is obviously very well respected among the people and authorities of Venice. The little we hear of Iago telling Roderigo about him gives us, if anything, a negative view of him. But when he gets a chance to tell us for himself, we hear a different story. Othello tells Iago that the services he has done for the government of Venice far outweigh any problem he could cause. We find more proof of this when he is brought before the Duke to plead his case against Brabantio.
2. For one, just the idea that she did it in secret angered him. Especially since she is his only daughter, her marriage was probably something he wanted to be a part of. Also, it sounds as though there were many other men interested in her, men that he considered more worthy. We also can see that prejudice against Othello because he is a Moor. Iago and Roderigo, when telling Brabantio what has happened, make a point of contrasting Othello and Desdemona when it comes to the color of their skin. So, although Othello is a man highly respected and high up in Venetian military/government, that doesn't necessarily translate into societal workings as well.
3. He has a very cynical view of human nature. It seems that he believes all humans operate like he himself does – purely for his own purposes, doing anything he can to better himself. His comparisons to animals give us a glimpse of his “ruled by instinct” perspective. We can see that, because he thinks this, he lives his life in such a manner, always looking for ways to use those around him to push his way to the top.
4. The first reason given is simple (perhaps too simple) – Othello passed him over as choice for a lieutenant, picking Cassio instead. He later adds that it is rumored Othello has slept with his (Iago's) wife, but this doesn't seem to be that important to him – it seems to be just one more reason, and he doesn't care if it's true or not. However, I think it's just because Iago must be thoroughly a villian, through and through. If he had a good reason to hate Othello, then we might feel some sympathy for him. The fact that Shakespeare doesn't give him proper motivation only causes us, the readers (or watchers), to hate Iago even more.
5. He says that she fell in love with his stories of war and the hardships he had faced in life. “She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity them.” He must be a good story-teller – after only hearing him tell about his stories, the Duke states that his own daughter would have fallen in love as well.
6. Well, now that I've read the whole thing, I know that it's inaccurate. However, as we discussed in class, Brabantio planted a seed of doubt in Othello's mind that was heavily watered and cared for by Iago and his deceit.
7. He promises him Desdemona's love, something that we can see isn't very unrealistic. But Roderigo is so blinded by his own love for Desdemona that he will believe nearly anything in order to win her. I, iii, 368-371 show us Iago's true feelings. He thinks Roderigo a fool, and is only spending time with him so that he can use him to get at Othello.
   

Favorite Quotes from ACT I:
“Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it without a prompter.” - Othello
“She wished she had not heard it, yet she wished that heaven had made her such a man. She thanked me, and bade me, if I had a friend that loved her, I should but teach him how to tell my story, and that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake. She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity them.” - Othello
“For when my outward action doth demonstrate the native (innate) act and figure (intent) of my heart in compliment extern, 'tis not long after but I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at. I am not what I am.” - Roderigo
“Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them. Good signor, you shall more command with years than with your weapons.” - Othello
“I here do give thee that with all my heart which, but thou hast already, with all my heart I would keep from thee.” - Brabantio

ACT II

1. The governor of Cyprus calls Othello a “full (or perfect) soldier,” “brave,” and “warlike.” They seem very eager for him to make it in to port safely. It causes us to think of him much more highly, for these men from a different country revere him so.
2. Iago is incredibly cruel to his wife, and in public no less. First, he accuses her of being a chatterbox. Then, he says that, while she may clean up well when they are around other, she is a truly awful person in private, even going so far to as accuse her of being unfaithful. As he goes on, we can see that his negative impressions extend to all women – frankly, he is a woman-hater, through and through. Emilia hardly defends herself either. Desdemona however, as we saw earlier, is able to hold her own among men, and argues with him quite eloquently. And, as he told us at the end of ACT I, Iago has no basis for his suspicions of Emilia except rumors. He believes them to be true simply because they give him yet another reason to hate Othello.
3. Iago must be very smooth with his words. We can see him often professing his love to Othello, but because we know all of his behind-the-scene plotting, we can obviously see that he is lying. However, we must remember that Othello knows nothing of his schemes. Othello also seems to have a weakness for praise and flattery. His is very proud, and used to those around him revering him. You'd think that someone as high profile as him would be wise to watch his back – apparently not.
4. It gives them a chance to get Cassio drunk, and therefore discredit him entirely in Othello's eyes. When they are pretty much given permission to do however they please that evening, it is inevitable that Iago will take full advantage of it.
   

Favorite Quotes from ACT II:

“Sir, would she give you so much of her lips as of her tongue she oft bestows on me, you would have enough.” - Iago
“I am not merry, but I do beguile the thing I am by seeming otherwise.” -Desdemona
“He takes her by the palm. Ay, well said, whisper. With as little a web as this will I ensare as great a fly as Cassio.” - Iago
“It gives me wonder as great as my content to see you here before me. O my soul's joy, if after every tempest come such calms, maybe the winds blow till they have wakened death. . ." -Othello
“I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking. I could well wish courtesy would invent some other custom of entertainment.” - Cassio
“O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation Iago, my reputation!” -Cassio

Class Thoughts V

I am tremendously behind on this journal, so I shall try to catch everything up to date.

Thursday, Ms. Kolb braved her headache and sinus pressure to come to class. We broke up into small groups and each discussed one of the assigned additional readings. Unfortunately, no one in my group had read any of the 5. I hate it when people don't do their assignments. I guess I understand that being busy just makes it hard to fit everything in - however, I just don't see why anyone would choose math, or chemistry homework over reading! Reading doesn't even really count as homework. Oh well, I digress. So anyways, because no one had read any of them, we picked a fairly short one (Araby) and they read it in class. I sat and mulled over the thought that this was the short story on the list that I had liked the least. However, I did enjoy looking over the discussion questions Ms. Kolb had given us, for the other stories.

Once they had all finished reading, we "discussed" the story - mostly, just agreeing about the fact that none of us cared for it. One of the themes of Araby seems to be disappointment - and because of that, the entire story is very anti-climactic. It leaves us feeling as though we've wasted our time - and maybe that is how we are supposed to feel. . . . much the same way the main character felt, after leaving the bazaar. He probably realized how much time, energy, and emotion he had spent on this crush, only to see that it wasn't all he dreamed it was.

I did appreciate the smaller group discussion format though. I must admit that I am just terrible about speaking up during whole-class discussions. I always have been, and most of it is because of my natural shyness and timidity. But in a smaller group, it's a lot easier to gauge the response to everything you say, and to bounce ideas and thoughts off of each other. Maybe this small group mentality comes from being home schooled, I don't know. :) But I felt that to be a very productive class.

This week, both Tuesday and today, we have been tackling Shakespeare! Oh joy! I do love Shakespeare. As part of my British Lit in high school, I read many of his plays. And although I didn't analyze them nearly as much as we are in this class, it was quite enjoyable.

Tuesday we discussed and watched Act I of Othello. Today, we went through Acts II & III. We are also watching through a movie version of it, which is really helpful when it comes to visualizing everything. To be honest, without the movie, I have a hard time visualizing at all - especially when it comes to thinking of Othello as a black man. Don't ask me why - maybe it's because "Moor" isn't a modern-day way to describe African-Americans. But anyways, I do appreciate going through the movie as well (although why they feel the need to add on in areas of what Dad calls "raunchiness" is beyond me).

But oh, what great language, and what an incredible story! Shakespeare is always better when you don't know the story going into it. Reading Romeo and Juliet last year in high school was interesting. . .but not nearly as captivating, because I already knew the end result. But Othello has been entirely new to me. After class today, I went to the park and finished reading through the last two acts, simply because I wanted to find out what happened.

The version in our textbook has all sorts of footnotes - I can't decided whether or not I like them. Sometimes, I read through a passage, then go back and look at the footnotes. But in general, I find them terribly distracting. Some seem quite unnecessary too - defining words that are simply used a little differently than usual. However, I feel as though I might be missing something if I don't read all the footnotes! Sigh. Well I do appreciate them for the most part - they are often terribly helpful. In fact, I was able to grasp the action of the entire play in simply my reading, not needing to use Sparknotes. Although, I did go through the Sparknotes for each Act, just to make sure I hadn't missed any little details.

Tomorrow, I will most definitely write more on Othello, as a reading assignment.