Shakespeare's Othello. It is in the course text: Pocket Anthology.
As you are reading, take note of the qualities of the major and minor characters in the play. Your post should consist of descriptions of two major and two minor characters.
The deadline for this assignment is April 8, 2008.
Please note the grade breakdown, which, as agreed when the blog option was offered, gives more weight to blog posts. Remember to post your comments on past blog assignments, even if deadline has been missed. The penalty will be calculated at a later date.
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Nick Teehan
Othello is a racial minority, a Moor, with a prestigious military position in Venice, thanks to herioc victories against the Turks. Despite his racial difference, he is revered and valued by the Venetian Dukes and Senators. After eloping with Desdemona, the white daughter of the senator Brabantio, Othello becomes a generl and moves to Cyprus. His servant Iago plots to ruin him by convincing him Desdemona has been unfaithful with Cassio. Convinced by Iago's scheme, Othello goes mad with jealousy and kills his wife. Upon realising the plot, and realising his wife was devoted to him, Othello stabs Iago, then commits suicide.
Iago is subordinate to Othello, a bitter and devious villain. Iago holds a fiery resentment for many men, but Othello most of all, because of his race, his position, and his promotion of Cassio to lietenant, a rank he felt entitled to. Iago portrays himself as an honest and worthy companion to Othello, thus allowing him to gain trust and sway his actions to fulfill Iago's ruinous plot. Iago succeeds for most of the play to deceive Othello and the others, but in the end, his wife, Emilia, reveals his evil plans. Othello stabs Iago, leaving him alive, to live out a horrible injury as punishment for his exhaustive evil.
Lodovico serves as a ethical gauge to tie in the plot elements of the climax in Othello, and to unwind the confusion in Iago's delicate scheme. His role is as much for the sake of the audience as it is for the play itself. In Act V Scene 2, he enters and says "Where is this rash and most unfortunate man"? Showing that Othello was not the villain, but a victim of his passion and willingness to be lead. In an earlier scene, he rebukes Othello for striking his wife, and plays the role of a gentleman among the brash.
Brabantio is the father of Desdemona, who elopes with Othelle. Brabantio functions in the story to both add tension to Othello's relationship with Desdemona, but also to show the racism directed towards him. Upon learning of their affair, Brabantio accuses Othello of having "abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals; That weaken motion", and that his appearance is so ghastly and dark that only drugging his daughter would make such a marriage possible. His parting words to Othello shows he no longer trusts his own daughter,
"Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see:
She has deceived her father, and may thee."
OTHELLO
He is a soldier and a leader in Venice. He is quite different from people in Venice culturally and racially. Even though Othello has gone through a lot of wars as a general of the armies of Venice, he is a very emotional person, not logical. He can speak very well and sounds like a poet. He also trusts people easily. That’s why he believes Iago until he kills Desdemona. He is proud of being a Christian and hates all evil behaviors. Othello’s priority is Desdemona’s love for him. After he thinks that he loses it, he feels desperate and jealousy. He might have a lot of hurts behind his strengths because of his race, skin.
He is a person of honor. “For naught I did in hate, but all in honor.”
IAGO
He is a ensign of Othello. He acts like Satan in this play. He hates all people and never trusts anyone. The purpose of attacking Othello is not clear at the beginning. But later on, we can see that he is jealous of Cassio and Othello. He plans all evil plans to destroy people. He seems like born to be evil. He loves evil and only thinks his own benefit. He might love Othello. It sounds like homosexual. This might be one of motives that he ruins everything around Othello. He might want to possess Othello by himself.
BRABANTIO
He is Desdemona’s father. He is a friend of Othello and likes him and his life story.
After knowing his daughter’s marriage with Othello, he turns upset and blustering.
He can’t understand the fact and suicides later.
EMILIA
She is a wife of Iago. She is a person that helps Desdemona and likes her. She talks a lot frankly. She thinks that wealth is more important than love. She is brave for justice. She trusts her husband but got killed from him.
OTHELLO- Othello in my opinion is a misguided, passionate, and unfortunately gullible lover, who falls victim of a more manipulative, underhanded, Iago. Iago convinced him that his wife, Desdemona was having an affair with his officer/lieutenant Cassio. He really wasn’t shown much proof and believed it anyways. Iago convinced him to murder his wife Desdemona and he agreed with him. The only proof that Iago provided him with was her handkerchief. Iago’s wife had stolen Desdemona’s handkerchief and placed it at Cassio’s house as she was told to do by Iago. He found out that Cassio had his wife’s missing handkerchief and made his decision to murder his wife. His wife denied the affair and tried to convince him to trust her, and she was telling the truth. Instead of listening to his faithful wife he murders her and his only proof was Iago’s word and the handkerchief. He should have listened to his wife if he really loved her as her proclaimed he did. He made the biggest irrational decision and it seems like he did not even give it much thought and just reacted right away. Once he found out his wife was telling the truth he killed himself. If he had of handled the situation with a bit of sense neither of them would have died and they could have lived happily ever after. Instead they are both dead for absolutely no reason, because Iago was a jealous manipulator.
IAGO- In my opinion Iago is a compulsive sociopath, whose lust for control finds him manipulating the people around him for his own selfish gain. He and his lies caused many unnecessary, innocent deaths. He was the only one who deserved to die, not all the others who died from his schemes. Iago used everybody and made horrible things up to get back at Othello for not choosing him as his officer or lieutenant. Othello choose Cassio instead which leads Iago to plot revenge against both of them. He gets paid by Roderigo to help him win the love of Othello’s wife, Desdemona. He is really only on his own side and does not care about anyone else. He goes back and forth lying to Othello, Roderigo and Cassio and pretending he is on each of their side. He comes up with these evil, elaborate plans and convinces his “friends” to do them for example when he convinces Othello that Desdemona was having an affair and that he should kill her and in reality she did not even have an affair. He arranged everything to get his way and in the end a lot of people died because of his lies. So in the end did he really get what he wanted? I think he is spiteful, jealous, manipulative and a coward.
DESDEMONA- She was Othello’s wife. Throughout the whole story she was a nice faithful wife. She loved her husband and wanted no harm. He was convinced she was having an affair and got very angry with her. She denied it and could not understand why her husband was acting like this. Everything she did was used against her. She was trying to get Cassio back on Othello’s side and get him re-hired after his name was turned bad. Othello was convinced that she was not helping him she was having an affair with him. She was a loving wife and a good friend that was just trying to help and make everyone happy. When she tried to tell her husband the truth he would not believe her. She did not understand what was going on with everybody. She was murdered by her own husband under false circumstances. Her word was no good. Her life was taken for absolutely no reason, from a lie that she had nothing to do with.
EMILIA- I believe Emilia is a hard character to understand. She is Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s (Othello’s wife) attendant. She steals Desdemona’s handkerchief as she was told to do by Iago. She did not realize the results of her actions. This caused the death of Desdemona because the handkerchief was Othello’s proof that Desdemona was unfaithful. When she realized what was happening she reveals the truth about her stealing the handkerchief and that Desdemona was a faithful wife. This resulted in Iago mortally wounding her for exposing the truth. She really just wanted to do the right thing. She tried to get into the bedroom when Othello was murdering his wife but she was too late and then exposed the truth. She just listened to her husband and trusted that his plans were positive. She did not want to cause any harm but caused a lot more then she knew she did.
Jihye Kim
Two Major Characters From Othello :
Othello: His alleged skills make him in demand by the state, which is evidenced by Casio’s comment the they should send “three several quest” to look for Othello (Act I , ii
However he is an unsuccessful liar, and boasts shamelessly about conquests that he alleges occurred “Still question'd me the story of my life, from year to year, the battles, sieges, fortunes, that I have passed”.(Act I , iii.) His function was to protect the Venetians from the Turkish invaders, however the Turkish ships had already been destroyed by a storm, and as a braggart, he took credit for the non existent battle. The news of his false military victory is spread along with his intended marriage to Desdemona “It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant general, that, upon certain tidings now arrived, importing the mere perdition of the Turkish fleet, every man put himself into triumph; (Act II, ii) Being insecure about himself, and his prowess as a lover, he is easily deceived into believing his wife Desdemona to be unfaithful to him , by the deceitful Casio, who is manipulated by Iago . He is his own worst enemy and allows his insecurity to pull him down. Thus he easily believes his wife to be unfaithful even when common sense refutes this, and murders her. Evidence of his true weak character is evidenced when, in answer to Lodovico’s question of how he should be called , he answers “Why, any thing: An honourable murderer, if you will; For nought I did in hate, but all in honour”.(Act V, ii) He is a classic example of a tragic hero , who falls because of his character flaws.
Iago : contrary to Othello , he is very clever, and manipulates all other characters at will, controlling their movements and trapping them in an intricate net of lies. He proclaims that “ I'll pour this pestilence into his ear, that she repeals him for her body's lust; and by how much she strives to do him good, she shall undo her credit with the Moor. So will I turn her virtue into pitch, and out of her own goodness make the net that shall enmesh them all”. He is the arch villain that foils Othello and masterminds his downfall.
Two Minor Characters From Othello .
Bianca – A simple woman at court, referred to as a courtesan, and a prostitute. She is the favorite of Cassio, who teasingly mentions marriage , but never follows through. In as much as she is a victim of men ( Cassio) she is somewhat analogous to Desdemona who is the victim of Iago and Cassio’s conspiracies which lead Othello to murder her for honour sake. Additionally she shares Desdemona’s simple mindedness and devotion romantically , for she answers Cassio saying “But that you do not love me.
I pray you, bring me on the way a little, and say if I shall see you soon at night”.(Act III, iv)
Emilia : Unlike Bianca and Desdemona she is intelligent and cynical. She wisely advises Othello regarding his suspicions “I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest,
Lay down my soul at stake: if you think other, remove your thought; it doth abuse your bosom. If any wretch have put this in your head, let heaven requite it with the serpent's curse! For, if she be not honest, chaste, and true, there's no man happy; the purest of their wives is foul as slander”.
Othello
Othello’s character comes across as really strong, determined and he doesn’t seem to fear. This can be seen in how, without question, he pursues the Turks after being summoned to defend Cyprus.) These character traits are very fitting for a These character traits are very fitting for a great soldier that serves Venice. Othello doesn’t seem to look past what he can see. He seems to believe in what initially might seem to be the obvious and sticks with it. He doesn’t question things or look beyond what things might appear to be. This eventually leads to Desdemona and Othello’s tragic deaths as Othello falsely convicts Desdemona. The tragic chain of events also reveals Othello’s unfortunate jealous nature as well.
Desdemona
Shakespeare succeeds in portraying Desdemona as the ultimate female. He depicts her as very beautiful, strong, well versed and desirable. Shakespeare continues to emphasize her as an object of desire in one of Cassio and Iago’s conversations.
Cassio: She’s a most exquisite lady.
Iago: And I’ll warrant her full of game
Cassio: Indeed she’s a most fresh and delicate creature
…..
Iago: And when she speaks, is it not an alarum to love?
Cassio: she is indeed perfection.
I was struck by her strength as a woman from very early in the play. She stood up to her father and without a second of thought that Othello is her new “Lord”
Desdemona: (To her father) My life and education both do learn me how to respect you, you are the lord of duty. I am hitherto your daughter.But here’s my husband:…
Due to the Moor my Lord
Her strong will can further be seen in how she eloped with Othello against her father’s will. Desdemona loves Othello very dearly. She is utterly faithful to him till her very last moments in death. She moves through the play form beginning to end as a very innocent character.
Iago
Iago struck me as a two-faced liar from the very beginning of the play. He seems to play on everybody’s side. His character resembles the character traits of a sly fox. Iago exclaims early in the play “By Janus, I think no.” This exclamation affirms his two-faced nature. According to The Arden Shakespeare, Janus was a two-faced Roman god. Shakespeare successfully uses this image to portray Iago’s true character to us. Iago is a villain. He seems almost evil in how much he enjoys destroying others. He seems concerned only with himself and bringing misery to others.
Cassio
Cassio strikes me as an honest man and a good soldier. Honor and service is important to him. He is a faithful soldier in the service of Othello. He seems to really care about Othello’s well being.
Cassio: That so approve the Moore. O, let the heavens give him defence against the Elements , for I have lost him on a dangerous sea.
I find it really tragic that Othello falsely suspects the two individuals (Cassio and Desdemona) that really care about him.
Cassio remains a faithful servant from the beginning of the play right through to the end.
I missed the test. Nick told me today. I thought it was next week, i was confused cause it was performance week.
Can i please write it on Thursday in the test centre
Thank you,
tobin.simpson@gmail.com
Othello, a brave and revered military leader, comes off at first as being ultra confident, almost to the point of cockiness. Despite society's obvious discrimination against his race he has climbed to a position of great importance. He is a loving husband and friend and a great story teller. Throughout the story his confidence in his relationship with Desdemona is gradually broken down and crushed by Iago. Although strong in other aspects his love makes him a weak target for Iago to take advantage of. It doesn't take long for him to be completely deceived. In the tragic end he is driven mad with jealousy and kills his loving wife and, after the plot becomes apparent, himself.
Iago, a truly evil individual has virtually no redeeming qualities except his ability to manipulate those around him. At this he is quite skilled. He is deceitful to every other character and shows no loyalty or respect to anyone. He uses people (Roderigo, Emilia, Othello, Cassio) for personal gain and revenge. Out of jealousy and hate he ruins the lives of all involved. Although a terrible villain he must be some what respected for the creativity and quick thinking he shows in his lies.
Desdemona is Othello's loving, loyal wife. She is also the daughter of Barbantio. Right away she is asked to state where her loyalties lie, with her husband or with her father. She does so in such a diplomatic way that her intelligence immediately becomes apparent. Also it becomes clear that she truly does love Othello. She is seen as an object of great desire to Othello as well as others. This is used against Othello when Iago convinces him of her infidelity. She is tragically killed after having done nothing wrong.
Cassio only ever loved Othello and Desdemona. He wanted the best for them and was truly happy for their marriage. Perhaps a bit gullible but otherwise a respectable person. Slandered by Iago, Othello eventually is convinced that Cassio, his truest friend has deceived him. He becomes the most important hinge in the scheme.
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