Eulogy for Shakespeares Othello - Essay Example

Part A: Post your first Othello journal here:  "Describe your initial impressions of Othello and Iago (based on what they say and do, as well as others’ impressions of them)."  Comment on at least three other posts by classmates.  ( I will post my 3 classmates post later on the end of this file to a make comment for each one please). Answer: My initial impression of Iago is that he is an ambitious and vain man. He is angry that Othello did not choose him as his right hand and he ridicules Cassio as someone who does not know what real war is. Iago is vain for thinking he is better than Cassio without even considering the latter’s strengths. In addition, Iago is overly ambitious and power-hungry. He is willing to use deception, manipulation, and murder to gain what he thinks he deserves. He is a dangerously selfish man. As for Othello, he is a level-headed and virtuous person. Even when Iago says something about complaints against Othello, the latter does not respond aggressively. Othello is not malicious and aggressive, and instead, he thinks that his good record will prove his merits to all. Part B: Shakespeare described Othello as a "Moor."  Did he intend him to be Black?  Opinions differ, although he is usually assumed to be Black by critics and directors.  Interesting, he has only recently begun to be played routinely by Black actors; for centuries he was played by white men in blackface.  Ick--if you doubt me take a gander at Laurence Olivier doing it as recently as 1965:  http://shakespeare.berkeley.edu/index.php?option=com_g2bridge&view=gallery&Itemid=256&g2_view=core%3AShowItem&g2_itemId=15658&g2_imageViewsIndex=1 Comment.  Many of the characters comment about Othellos ethnic identity in all sorts of different ways over the course of the play.  Look at both the major and the minor characters.  What do they say?  What attitudes can you discern?  Answer: The major characters treat and say outright that Othello is a Moor. They have prejudice and discrimination against outsiders. They do not think that Othello deserves to be in a position of power and to have a white wife. As for the minor characters, not many believe in and respect Othello. He does not have many faithful followers, despite his goodness. Part C: Iago insidiously leads Othello from being a man completely in control of himself to one verging on insanity. How does he do that? Find the process in the language and structure of the play. Where and now is the process moved forward, stopped, stalled, redirected, and continued? WHY does Iago do what he does? Answer: Iago manipulates Othello through the right use of words and timing, such as timing when Cassio speaks to Desdemona and saying to Othello what Desdemona might do as a sign of her love for Cassio. The process of manipulation moves forward when Iago speaks to Othello and tells him untruthful stories, and it is stalled when Iago kills Roderigo. Iago continues his lies until he also kills his wife, Iago does what he does because his only dream is to be in power and to remove outsiders whom he envies. Part D: Do you think Othello is a tragedy? Why or why not?  (I have attached some material about tragedy to help you work through this question.)  Either “yes” or “no” is a legitimate answer so you will really need to think about which side you are on.  Answer: Yes, it is a tragedy because Othello is a good man who does not deserve his fate. From a hero, he has fallen to disgrace after believing Iago’s lies and killing his wife. Part E: Write a eulogy for Othello or a news article about the murder/suicide at his house Eulogy for Othello Othello, a great leader, soldier, and human being. He has loved Venice, but Venice betrayed him. So many hated him and plotted against him. He is destroyed by Venice, its envy and greed. Now, poor Othello, you’re dead, but you’re with your wife, and I’m sure you feel better. She’ll forgive you for you have been misled. And she knows how much you love her, perhaps a bit too much. But let Othello’s life be a warning to all. Never believe anyone too easily. What might be too obvious may be untrue. Please make a comment for each following post From part A of another attached file First Post: After viewing the movie and reading Act I, my first impression of Othello and Iago,was that of hero vs demon--respectively. Othello was a honorable man in every way--a strong confident leader, who was well-respected and yet, envied by many--especially Iago.   Iago, on the other hand, represented all things evil--he was insecure, jealous, weak and a master manipulator--a puppeteer. His only mission in life appeared to be wanted to witness the Othello fall from grace and demise of his relationship with  Desdemona. Comment: I agree that Iago is the reverse of Othello. It is sad that Iago becomes successful in destroying Othello. It only shows that Othello, as the “Other” in Venice, should not have trusted Iago at all. Second Post: In act I Othello is depicted as being confident and brave. Othello is a noble soldier, one of the best but he does not often receive the respect he deserves. Othello is often the subject of racial slurs. In the beginning of Act I Lago and Rodrigo are shouting to Brabantio and calls Othello a "black ram and goes on to say how Othello is the devil and Othello is robbing Brabantinos soul because he has married Desdemona. In scene II Othello, Lago, and Cassio is met by Brabantio, Roderigo, and some of the officers of night. Brabantio states "Down with him, thief!” "Lay hold upon him if he do resist, subdue him at his peril". It is at this point where Othello shows great self-control and almost mediates the situation to calm down the intensity before things get out of control. Othello shows that he stands down and states " Good signior, you shall more command with years than with your weapons. This characteristic is that of a leader. He then communicates very effectively and calmly asking what he has been charged with or what is the sentence. He rationalizes by saying he has proof and Cassio speaks up defending him. When Othello faces the duke he accepts execution if it is proven that he seduced Desdemona by magic, drugs, or witchcraft to make her his wife. Within the first act we learn why he is general of the Venetian forces. He has attributes similar to the Duke and Senator which whom is the most respected in Venice. Iago is the complete opposite of Othello and is the villain of this story. In scene one Iago appears envious and sneaky (looking to cause trouble). In act one, scene one, Iago is shown spying on Othello, his wife, and Cassio. Iago states” A great arithmetician, One Michael Cassio, a Florentine (A fellow almost damn’d in a fair wife) that never set a squadron in the field, nor the division of a battle knows More than a spinster; unless the bookish theoric, wherein the toged consuls can propose as masterly as he. Mere prattle without practice is all his soldiership”. He shows that he is jealous of Cassio and Iago believes he should be in Cassios position in the army. Iago sets out other characters to do his dirty work. He persuades Roderigo to awake Brabantio and tell him the news of his daughters marriage. In scene two Iago tries to seem befriending of Othello and is confronted with Brabantio and his officers. Iago plays as if he is on Othello’s side as he draws his weapon towards the officers. Iago is the reason for the confrontation yet he is silent during this scene.   Comment: Indeed, Othello proves why he is a general and why Desdemona fell in love with him. He is not only a good soldier and army leader, because he is also a good human being. As for Iago, he might be evil, but he knows how to play the “game” or the political game. His deviousness is what made him successful in manipulating Othello. Third Post: Iago is portrayed as a villain right off the bat since he expresses that he has no respect for Othello other than to fuel his own revenge. “I follow him to serve my turn upon him” All along the way he is plotting to get his revenge by using others in the play to do his dirty work for him. Iago constantly reassures Roderigo that he can get Desdemona his affections if he listens to him even when Brabanzio has told him outright that he is not going to give his daughter’s hand to him. The whole time he is using Roderigo to create tension in Brabanzio’s house. You can see that Iago will not let anything stand in his way and he does not have any qualms in using other people to get that accomplished.   Othello comes off as a very honorable and valiant man. He is very calm when approached with accusations by Brabanzio even when his men confront him with swords drawn.  He says “Keep up your bright swords, for the sew will rust ‘em. He also dispels the accusations that are brought upon him by Brabanzio in front of the duke.  He asks that his daughter come into the room to defend his honor in the matter. He also tells the duke that Brabanzio has had him in his home many times and that is when he fell in love with Desdemona. Comment: I agree that Iago did not hide his villainous traits at all. He knows who he is- a man who is out to serve only his interests. As for Othello, he is a good man, but he should have been more careful. It is clear by how Brabantio and others treat him with discrimination that not many people like and accept a Moor in Venice. Read More