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?
Othello and Desdemona's love begins as a pure one. As in many tragedies, our hero starts in a high rank with everything he could want or need, including a seemingly unshakable love for his wife. In this time period, an interracial marriage demanded entirely committed spouses. As in the case of Othello and Desdemona, there is strong opposition from the outside world to interracial marriage. This is shown in Barbatio's unhappy response to hearing his daughter has married a black man, "O thou foul thief, where hast thou stow'd my daughter?/ Damned as thou art, thou hast enchanted her" (Act 1, Scene 2). Barbantio, unable to believe his precious daughter could love a Moor, accuses Othello of using magic or force to capture her attention. This shows the mistrust and hatred present between Barbantio and Othello on account of racial difference. Barbantio demands to know why his daughter would run to the, "sooty bosom/ Of such a thing as thou, to fear, not to delight" (Act 1, Scene 2). With such strong opposition from her father, Desdemona must genuinely be in love with Othello, otherwise she would never risk marrying a black man and losing her father. Desdemona calmly professes her commitment to Othello to her father, "here's my husband,/ And so much duty as my mother show'd/ To you, preferring you before her father,/ So much I challenge that I may profess/ Due to the Moor my lord" (Act 1, Scene 3). Desdemona chooses her love of Othello over her father, showing her commitment to life with the Moor against adversity. Further demonstrating her love, Desdemona asks to go with Othello to war, valuing time spent with her husband over her own personal safety. All in all, Desdemona and Othello appear to be deeply in love with each other in a fairytale-esque romance. Then Iago gets involved…
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of that Iago, why does Shakespeare seem to frame the play around this obscure, less important character? I thought the play was called Othello! Really, it should be titled “Iago: The Schemer.” In reading the play, the consistent image of the serpent in the Garden of Eden kept coming to me. Iago, much like the serpent, is working behind the scenes, manipulating the good, honest, trusting characters to fall into his trap. I propose that the fatal flaw of Othello and many other characters in this play is simply trusting the wrong person too much. Every scene thus far has featured Iago and revealed valuable bits of information about him. How does Shakespeare initially characterize Iago? Why does Iago despise Othello and Cassio so much? Like Satan, is pride and jealousy at the root of Iago’s deceptions or is something else at play? Iago begins by stating, “I am not what I am” (Act 1, Scene 1) What, then, is he?
I was wondering the same thing about Iago. What I’m confused about is if Iago likes Othello or not. While helping Roderigo, he is painfully criticizing Othello, as if he hates his guts. Then later on, he speaks to himself about how much he really loves Othello. After the ship scene, Iago tells Roderigo to wait with Desdemona because she will want to leave Othello for being old and wanting a younger man, indicating Roderigo. Then he talks about hating Othello because he thinks Othello slept with his wife. Iago obviously does not have a firm grasp on what he thinks of Othello.
DeleteI.iii.324-326
“And it is thought abroad that ’twixt my sheets
He’s done my office. I know not if ’t be true,
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,”
I can tell that Iago really does hate Othello in Act III by him tricking Othello into thinking Desdemona was sleeping with Cassio. I think it is very cruel for Iago to do this to poor Othello, but at the same time, I would hate a man for sleeping with my wife as well. We of course do not know if Othello did sleep with Iago’s wife, but even the thought of a man sleeping with my wife would bring me to no end to get revenge. These actions are very devious of Iago, no one would say otherwise, but can anyone say that they would not feel the same?
III.iii.427-430
“Their affairs. One of this kind is Cassio.
In sleep I heard him say “Sweet Desdemona,
Let us be wary, let us hide our loves.”
And then, sir, would he gripe and wring my hand,”
Do you think Iago has a right to perform these devious acts? I think he does. He may not have absolute proof, but there are multiple rumors of Othello and Iago’s wife sleeping together; that is enough evidence for me personally.
Iago's relationship with his wife is nothing less than stale and uncommitted. He doesn't have the respect of his wife to confront her and, instead, blindly believes rumors circulating the town. It appears that rather than protecting the honor of his wife by privately confronting her or Othello, he is rashly choosing to believe gossip as truth. He admits his uncertainty on the matter in Act 1 Scene 3, saying, "I know not if't be true/ But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,/ Will do as if for surety." based on Othello's apparent devotion to Desdemona and his being highly thought of among all but Iago, I venture to say these rumors of his infedelity to Desdemona are completely false. Cassio states, "I never knew a Florentine more kind and honest" (Act 3 Scene 1) and the Duke of Venice praises Othello, proclaiming, "Your son in law is far more fare than black" (Act 1 Scene 3). There is very little evidence to support othello's infidelity. Iago, however, is ready and willing to take as truth any whispered nonsense about the general. That, then, begs the question: why does Iago hate Othello so much?
ReplyDeleteJealousy. The thought that a foreigner would be his master and then promote another foreigner like Cassio into a high position makes Iago's blood boil. Not only is Iago jealous of Othello's power, he envies Othello's committed and loving relationship to the beautiful Desdemona, something which Iago does not appear to have with Emilia. Emilia even shows her unhappy marriage to Desdemona, saying, "'Tis not a year or two shows us a man:/ They are all but stomachs, and we are all but food;/ to eat us hungerly, and when they are full,/ they belch us. Look you, Cassio and my husband!" (Act 3 Scene 4). Emilia has a poor relationship with her husband and, therefore, a poor view of all men. Iago doesn't care about his wife, he is jealous of anyone with power over him, including Othello and Cassio.
In this play, what do you think Shakespeare is suggesting about the nature of men?
That is a good question; I think Shakespeare is saying the nature of men is that they are selfish, shallow, quick to judge, but protective. Iago and Roderigo always talk together about how Roderigo “loves” Desdemona, (even though all he talks about are her looks and her figure) and how Othello does not deserve her. They do not even take into consideration that they may actually love each other, even though I’m not convinced they do either. All Iago does is tell his friend, Roderigo, to wait for her until she no longer loves him because he is too old.
ReplyDeleteII.i.207-211
“When the blood is made dull with the act of sport, there should be a game to inflame it and to give satiety a fresh appetite, loveliness in favor, sympathy in years, manners and beauties. All which the Moor is defective in.”
But men are also very protective of their wives and the women in their lives. Iago is very protective of his wife. At the same, he is basing this off of presumptions and nonfactual gossip around the town. He has zero proof, but expects the worst so he treats Othello the worst.
Iago’s revenge plan is working too well, and I have lost all respect for Iago. He is acting very cowardly and will not face up to Othello or his wife. Making this plan is extremely cowardly on Iago’ part, and I wish the worst for him. The fact that he lies to Othello’s face of Desdemona’s cheating is bad, but him acting like he has no idea why Othello is mad towards her is even worse. He is looking Desdemona in the eye and acting dumb in all this. I personally don’t want Othello or Desdemona to fall too far in this trap that Iago has set for them, and I hope Othello finds out and punishes/kills Iago.
VI.ii.127-133
IAGO - Why did he so?
DESDEMONA - I do not know. I am sure I am none such.
IAGO - Do not weep, do not weep. Alas the day!
EMILIA - Hath she forsook so many noble matches,
Her father and her country, and her friends,
To be called “whore”? Would it not make one weep?
DESDEMONA - It is my wretched fortune.
IAGO - Beshrew him for ’t!
How comes this trick upon him?
Do you think Iago’s plan is ok even though we don’t have confirmation that his wife cheated with Othello? Is his plan justifiable?
Iago’s plan is despicable and unjustified. He is double-minded in all he does and certainly deserves the doom he faces in the end of the play. Up until the last moments of the play, all of the characters trust and think well of him. We, as the audience, of course, know Iago’s double sided nature in all he does and are disgusted by him. Othello even refers to Iago’s “honesty and love” (Act 2 Scene 3) and Cassio calls bids goodnight to “honest Iago” (Act 2 Scene 3). Every character in the story of Othello seems to be truly good except for Iago, in whom they place their trust, and thus, meet their end. Iago displays the way he twists good nature into his own evil plots, proclaiming, “I will turn [Desdemona’s] virtue into pitch/ And out of her own goodness make the net/ That shall enmesh them all” (Act 2 Scene 3).
ReplyDeleteHowever, I would like us to shift our critical lense from Iago to Othello. Though he appears to be nothing but devoted to Desdemona in the beginning, Othello all too quickly falls into Iago’s trap. After hearing from Iago that his wife’s handkerchief was found in Cassio’s quarters, Othello immediately proclaims, “All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven/ Tis gone--/ Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow Hell!” (Act 3 Scene 3) Othello not only denounces the love he had so recently felt towards his wife, but also commits himself to the murder of a man he used to esteem and honor, “Within these three days let me hear thee say/ That Cassio’s not alive” (Act 3 Scene 3). Does Othello suddenly fall out of love with Desdemona? Why is he so willing to turn from his trusting, loving relationship with his wife to believe the gossip of a lower officer? Is it possible that Othello never thought he was good enough for Desdemona and he’s allowing Iago’s manipulation to excuse himself to leave his wife before she hurts him, as he subconsciously believes she ultimately must?
As I was saying earlier, I do not think Othello and Desdemona really love each other. Othello fell for Desdemona’s charm, beauty, youthfulness, and nature; and Desdemona fell for Othello’s stories and heroism. The amount of time they actually spend together is minimal, showing how little they know of each other. This is also shown through Othello believing Iago’s tales over his fiancé, they haven’t spent enough time together to build a trust with each other, so they are willing to believe any story or fib that is told about them. So to answer your question, I do not believe that even from the start that they were in love. Did Othello fall out of love with her? No, they just got into a little mishap with their relationship, that was completely one sided.
ReplyDeleteI still cannot believe that Othello killed Desdemona. To think that he fell so hard for Iago’s plan shows how gullible he really is. Even when his wife, Desdemona, had no idea what Othello was talking about, and looked Othello dead in the eye and told him that she had no relations with Cassio, he still didn’t believe his own wife and killed her.
V.ii.52-66
OTHELLO-That handkerchief
Which I so loved and gave thee, thou gav’st
To Cassio.
DESDEMONA - No, by my life and soul!
Send for the man and ask him.
OTHELLO - Sweet soul, take heed, take heed of perjury.
Thou art on thy deathbed.
DESDEMONA - Ay—but not yet to die!
OTHELLO - Presently.
Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin,
For to deny each article with oath
Cannot remove nor choke the strong conception
That I do groan withal. Thou art to die.
DESDEMONA
Oh, heaven have mercy on me!
OTHELLO - I say “amen.”
He is in the midst of killing his wife, she is about to die from him strangling her, and she still confesses that she never did anything with Cassio.
I find it interesting that Othello, when he figures out what Iago did and he is caught, Othello decides not to kill him as a punishment. Instead, he keeps him alive. Why do you think he did that? How is death happiness to Iago? And why did Othello kill himself? Is it because of his guilt? Why Shakespeare want to end the play like this?
We discussed in class that in tragedies, the main character often has to suffer an ultimate suffering in seeing their life fall apart and having to live through it. Characters that die early on or are the first to committ suicide are generally not considered the main character. Othello, considered the main character, is clearly out of his mind with grief when he realizes what he’s done and I have a hard time trying to draw too much from his last living moments. However, it seems that he doesn’t kill Iago because he finds more fault in himself than in Iago. Othello blames himself for trusting the wrong man. That is a heavy truth for one to bear and is what ultimately leads to his suicide, saying, “Killing myself, to die upon a kiss” (Act 5 Scene 2). Othello’s final act as a living man is to kiss the wife he just murdered. That is a complex and confusing grief. I also propose that Shakespeare reveals the actual main character in the order of deaths. By keeping Iago alive longer than the title character, Shakespeare seems to be saying who the most prominent or important character is.
ReplyDeleteDeath is happiness to Iago because he has finally failed in his evil plot to rise to success and he can imagine nothing worse than losing his reputation. Cassio demonstrates the vital importance of keeping one’s reputation when he cries out in agony after his drunken charades got him in trouble, “Reputation, reputation, reputation! O I have lost/ My reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself,/and what remains is bestial-- my reputation, Iago, my reputation!” (Act 2 Scene 3) Iago has lost everything when he has lost his reputation.
Shakespeare ends with a bang as usual but it’s a sad, deeply uncomfortable bang because the whole tragedy was caused by a power-hungry man and a series of unfortunate events which that same man set into action. Ultimately, as Othello recognizes, a man can only blame himself for trusting the wrong people. Trust is Othello’s fatal flaw.
How does this story and its bitter end open your eyes to something in your own life? Do you find yourself walking away with any new self-awareness or ability to recognize truth in society? Thanks for sharing and experiencing this challenging story with me!
You guys did great. It's fascinating to watch Riess's legitimate early respect for Iago fade so dramatically. What gets me is that Desdemona actually keeps trying to protect Othello by telling Emilia (?) that she killed herself. Jealousy, trust...maybe the idea here is to trust the right people--and then, for crying out loud, actually TRUST them! If you want a Shakespeare play someday that has a lot of the same themes, but in which only the right people die, try Cymbeline!
ReplyDelete