Macy and I chose to
read Othello for our MOR book in January/February. We chose Othello because we
have heard of it so much in modern day conversations, and we want to understand
and participate in those conversations as well.
Othello is starting off
with a very controversial topic about racism. This was also written when slaves
and racism was worse than it is now, but I find Shakespeare very bold to marry
a white woman with a black man. It definitely had to have created tension with
the audience and Shakespeare, but I applaud him for making a play about this
topic. Moving on to the plot, I think it is very interesting that Desdemona
never says anything about Othello’s looks or if he was handsome or anything
about his physical appearance, she says she falls in love with him because of his
stories and his adventures. Do they even know each other? I feel that Desdemona
has fallen in love with Othello’s past, but she does not know much about his
present, and she definitely hasn’t thought about her future with Othello since
she married him in a heartbeat. Othello on the other hand seems smart in this and
has thought it out a little more than Desdemona has. Not saying he has done a
lot of thinking, but I feel like they hardly know each other. One thing is for
sure, they really do love each other, at least they currently do.
Desdemona – “So that, dear lords, if
I be left behind
A moth of peace and he go to the
war,
The rites for which I love him are
bereft me,
And I a heavy interim shall support
By his dear absence. Let me go with
him.”
Othello – “Let her have your voice.
Vouch with me, heaven, I therefore
beg it not
To please the palate of my appetite,
Nor to comply with heat the young
affects
In my defunct and proper
satisfaction,
260But to be free and bounteous to
her mind,
And heaven defend your good souls,
that you think”
They are in the honey moon stage of
their marriage, but when they get older, (if they live that long, I mean it is
a tragedy) they will realize their mistake.
What do you think of their marriage?
Do you think it’s a good idea to send her with Othello to Cyprus in war?
