Othello Act 5

1. At the end of this scene we witness the murder of several characters. Did this ending satisfy you? Why or why not?

 Honestly, the ending did satisfy me. First of all, the play is a tragedy so there was obviously not going to be a happy ending. Also, considering it's a Shakespeare play, it was obvious death would pop up at some point. Othello was the tragic hero, so it was obvious that he would die as well. I think the ending was interesting and perfectly valid when you look at the timeline and events that led up to all of the deaths and murders taking place. I liked it... but I am twisted.

2. This play is considered to be one of the greatest tragedies of all time. Why is it so tragic (avoid the answer: they all died).

 I don't think the tragedy lies in the deaths and murders per se, but rather in the events that lead up to the deaths. You get to watch a manipulator work and an honest, caring man rip apart at the seams and commit homicide in a jealous rage. You get to watch a faithful, loving woman become consumed with confusion and sadness because of the unjust acts she's accused of doing, and then her death in the end. Basically what makes the play one of the greatest tragedies of all time is that you get to watch everyone unravel and fall to pieces before the actual deaths and murders even take place. This is why Shakespeare is upheld as an amazing writer.

3. What does the handkerchief symbolize?

 The handkerchief is a symbol of many things; the main thing it symbolizes is the wedding sheets. To Iago, it is his seed and the instrument that puts his evil plan in motion. For Othello and Desdemona, it is a symbol of their undying love and also of Desdemona's faithfulness to Othello. To Cassio it's a symbol of undoing - it being in his possession ultimately leads Othello to the decision to let Iago kill him.

4. Examine Othello's last words. What do these words show us about him?

Othello's last words show a big character change. You see him go from a jealous, angry, killing machine back to his original character in a very short period of time. He accepts the reality of the horrible acts he just committed in a calm manner, then kills himself for what had just happened. This shows that he was too devoted to her to live with the grief of ending her life prematurely. He loved her, and he knew he was guilty. He let Iago turn him into a murderer, thus his life was taken by his own hands. An eye for an eye came into play, so to speak. Othello was loyal to her until the very end, despite having killed her. 

Othello Act 4

1. In Act 4 we learn the character of Desdemona. Choose two quotes that you believe best illustrate her character. 

"I swear I have no idea why he stopped loving me. Here I’m kneeling to swear that if I ever did anything to destroy his love for me, either by thoughts or actions, or if I ever took pleasure in anyone else, or if I never did love him, or don’t love him now—even though he tries to shake me off—then I hope I have a life of misery! Unkindness is powerful, and his unkindness may kill me, but it’ll never destroy my love." This quote shows that Desdemona really has no idea what's going on, but she still loves Othello and she's been nothing but faithful and loving to him, and nothing can kill that love.

"That’s not what I wish. I love him even when he’s harsh and mean—Help me unpin this, would you?—I love even his stubbornness, his frowns, his bad moods." This quote shows that even though Othello is acting cruel toward her without any reason to, Desdemona still loves him. Despite the flaw in his character, she loves him for who he is. It shows that she can overlook the bad and see the part of him that she loved so much.

2. How is Othello changing in Act 4? What is the effect of his public humiliation of Desdemona by slapping her?

In Act 4 he's been completely transformed by Iago's manipulative actions. He now hates Desdemona and thinks she is nothing better than a cheating whore, conspiring to kill her by strangulation. When he slaps her in public it gets Emilia concerned and it lets Iago know his plan is working - he is driving the Moor insane. It also leads others to think he always acts this way or that he's slowly losing his mind.

3. At the end of Act 4 we get a glimpse into the private world of women. How does Shakespeare portray this world?

 

Shakespeare portrays this world in an interesting fashion. Emilia and Desdemona are having a conversation in which Desdemona asks her if she'd ever cheat on her wife "for the world." Emilia agrees and explains that there are some things - such as making her husband the king - that she would cheat on him to make possible. The conversation progresses on to how there's a double standard; it's normal for men to have wives and then have whores on the side that they cast their wives out for, but it's unheard of for women to do the exact same thing. It's a rather sexist double standard because it's almost like saying if you're a man you can sleep around but if you're a woman and there are rumors, it's okay for you to be cast out and killed.

 

4. Analyze "The Willow Song". What is the literal meaning of this song? What does this song symbolize?

 

"The Willow Song" is about a woman deserted by her love after he goes mad. The song symbolizes Desdemona's own situation. She is afraid she will be deserted by Othello and lose her love that she is desperately clinging to.

Othello Act 3

1. What is a tragic flaw? What do you believe is Othello's tragic flaw? What is your tragic flaw? Explain.
A tragic flaw is a flaw in a (main) character that ultimately brings the character to sorrow or ruin. 

I think Othello's tragic flaw is that he is too naive. He was so easily influenced by Iago's lies and let him change his way of thinking. This begins to mess with Othello's mind and bring him a lot of anger/sadness, considering he doesn't know whether or not Desdemona and Cassio really did anything.

My tragic flaw is that I am too forgiving. I always forgive people for the things they do to me, and I do this too often. I let them back in and the process repeats, over and over. It brings me a great deal of suffering, and I've finally realized that I'm causing it for myself.

2. Below is the Shakespearean and modern version of Othello. Examine the quote about a good reputation. What does Iago mean through this quote? How valuable do you believe a reputation is? What is your reputation? What kind of name do you have amongst others? 

"A good reputation is the most valuable thing we have—men and women alike. If you steal my money, you’re just stealing trash. It’s something, it’s nothing: it’s yours, it’s mine, and it’ll belong to thousands more. But if you steal my reputation, you’re robbing me of something that doesn’t make you richer, but makes me much poorer."

"Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,

Is the immediate jewel of their souls.

Who steals my purse steals trash. 'Tis something, nothing:

'Twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands.

But he that filches from me my good name

Robs me of that which not enriches him

And makes me poor indeed."

I think Iago means that reputations are all we have, as people. He is saying that people can steal your money, but it doesn't matter because it'll belong to many later on. It's something but it's nothing. However if your reputation is besmirched, it leaves you poorer and the one who ruined it richer. It's gainful to the one doing the ruining, but to the one being drug through the mud, it's a painful, robbing experience. 

I believe reputations are really all we have and that they are extremely valuable. We can put on acts and prance around showing off and pretending, but when it comes down to it, who we really are is really all we have. And this is something we should not be robbed of.  

I honestly don't feel like I have much of a reputation considering the fact that I don't really socialize with anyone outside of my group - and honestly, I don't even socialize with them very often. I guess I would say that most people know me as "smart girl" or "nerd." Yes, it's true. I'm seen as a nerdy smart girl because I work hard in school and I like books and other nerd-ish things. To my friends, I'm the mother figure of the group who's always there to be a shoulder to cry on, give hugs, and give my wonderful words of wisdom.

3. Connect this quote to another film/movie/book or to your own personal life. 

Ideas can be like poisons. At first they hardly even taste bad, but once they get into your blood they start burning like hot lava.

Dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons

Which at the first are scarce found to distaste,

But with a little act upon the blood

Burn like the mines of sulfur.

Alaska Young in Looking for Alaska related to this quote for one simple reason. What started out as an idea fueled by her own mind ultimately leads to her demise. Alaska starts out believing that she let her mother die, and this poisons her mind to the point that she begins harming herself and acting out. She ultimately dies from this idea that it was her fault. 

This quote also applies to my own life because my mind has been poisoned quite a few times. I once had a friend that would treat me horribly and she planted the idea in my head that it was my fault and that I deserved to be treated in that way. It poisoned my mind to the point that I was afraid to make new friends in fear of them treating me the same way, because I was weak. I was vulnerable. I "deserved it."  

Othello Act 2

so·lil·o·quy

  [suh-lil-uh-kwee] 

noun, plural so·lil·o·quies.

1.

an utterance or discourse by a person who is talking to himself or herself or is disregardful of oroblivious to any hearers present (often used as a device in drama to disclose a character's innermostthoughts): Hamlet's soliloquy begins with “To be or not to be.”

2.

the act of talking while or as if alone.

1. Choose one of Iago's soliloquies (end of 2.1 or end of 2.3) and thoroughly analyze it.

            As you analyze think about the following questions:

                1. What is Iago saying?

                2. Figurative language?

                3. How is his rhetoric? His tone?

                4. What is he revealing? Revealing about himself?

In the end of 2.1, Iago has a very interesting soliloquy that shows a lot about why he is acting the way he is. He is saying that he is driven by revenge, and that he suspects that the Moor had an affair with his wife. He wants to get even with him for this, as well as the fact that the Moor is married to his "one true love," Desdemona. He is speaking figuratively of Cassio and Desdemona being in love though he has no real proof to justify this - it is simply a ruse to get her in trouble with her husband. "I love her too, not simply out of lust, but also to feed my revenge," is an example of this; it is personification as he cannot feed his revenge. Rhetorically speaking, Iago is fabricating happenings in his head to make his plan seem plausible, though he has no justification for any of it. His rhetoric is very persuasive as he explains his plan to take down Othello and tries to get the reader to believe it will work. He is revealing that his problems with the Moor go back farther than him being married to Desdemona - the Moor slept with his wife (so he suspects), and he wants to get even and bring him pain and suffering. His tone is one of bitterness and evilness, which fuel his desire to get even with the Moor.

2. In Act II Iago launches his plan to destroy Othello. What is his motive? Jealousy? Racism? Is he opportunistic? A sociopath? All of the above? None of the above? Use TEXTUAL SUPPORT.

 In Act II, Iago launches his plan to destroy Othello and he has more than one motive. The first motive, revenge, is revealed in a surprise twist at the end of Act II, Scene I. Iago is quoted as saying, "I love her too, not simply out of lust, but also to feed my revenge. I have a feeling the Moor slept with my wife. That thought keeps gnawing at me, eating me up inside. I won’t be satisfied until I get even with him, wife for wife." This shows that he is spiteful and wants to get revenge on the Moor for his affair with his wife. 

Jealousy is obviously another motive of Iago's, along with slight racism. "I’ve got a jug of wine, and these two Cyprus gentlemen want to drink a toast to the black Othello," shows that apparently, the color of Othello's skin matters to Iago, as he has pointed it out many times along with this one. Perhaps he is a bit racist and wonders why a beautiful young woman would be with a black man. "I can’t stand the Moor, but I have to admit that he’s a reliable, loving, and good-natured man. He’d probably be a good husband to Desdemona," shows that despite his hatred of the Moor, Iago is jealous of his good qualities and the fact that he could be a good husband to Desdemona.  

3. Choose another character (from film, books, etc) that reminds you of Iago. Explain.

 Yzma from The Emperor's New Groove is very much like Iago in the sense that she is conniving and manipulative. Much like Iago, she has one thing on her mind - taking over the throne/getting rid of Kuzco - and creates malicious plans to make her dream a reality with no regard to what happens as an outcome of her crazy schemes. 

President Snow in The Hunger Games Trilogy is very much like Iago, as well. Snow is a man of high authority and his only concern seems to be keeping the Hunger Games a tradition and keeping the people of the districts oppressed. He has many crazy schemes he forces Katniss into complying with, much like Iago does to the people around him. Both of the character are manipulative and conniving.

3. Create two discussion questions from Act II that you would like to discuss with the class.

• Do you think Iago's plan will work or is it just a crazy scheme?
• Are Iago's actions justifiable based on what he believes happened between the Moor and his wife?

Othello Act 1

1. What conflicts do you already see beginning to emerge? Choose two quotes from Act I that expose these conflicts. Explain why each quote is significant and what it reveals about the characters.

Roderigo is in love with Desdemona, who is married to the Moor. He hates life without her and is in too much love to think of anything else. "It’s silly to live when life is torture. The only cure is death," shows that Roderigo is easily affected by his own emotions and is easily blinded by love or the lack thereof.

Brabantio is the father of Desdemona, who married the Moor, a black man, behind his back. Brabantio does not like his new son in law and there is tension between the two of them. "She’s a good girl, quiet and obedient. She blushes at the slightest thing. And you want me to believe that despite her young age and proper upbringing she fell in love with a man she’d be afraid to look at? The very thought of it is ridiculous. You’d have to be stupid to think that someone so perfect could make such an unnatural mistake as that. The devil must be behind this. Therefore I say again that he must have used some powerful drug or magic potion on her," shows what Brabantio really thinks of the Moor, or perhaps he is speaking out of anger. Either way this quote shows that he puts his daughter on a pedestal and looks down on other, specifically black men. The events that happen after this quote shows how easily his thoughts and feelings are molded by anger and detest.

Cyprus is about to be attacked by the Turks and there is tension among the men about to head to war with them and their fleet. "So if the Turks steal Cyprus from us, it won’t be bad as long as we keep smiling. It’s easy to accept platitudes like that if you haven’t lost anything," another quote by Brabantio, shows that he is feigning like he hasn't lost his only daughter by his own hand and is encouraging the other men to act like things are fine even if they are slaughtered at war.

2. Create three discussion questions of your choice based on Act I.

• Does Brabantio really have something against the Moor or does he simply dislike him because he "stole" his daughter from him?
• Why does Roderigo let himself stay in love with a person who doesn't return that love?
• Why are the men so nonchalant about preparing to enter war with the Turks?

 3. In a paragraph each, analyze the character of Othello and Iago (so far).

Othello is a noble man who holds his wife in high regards as she is noble as well. He believes his innocence will protect him, as he has done none of the things he has been accused of (i.e. kidnapping Desdemona and using black magic to enchant her and attract her to him). Othello speaks of Brabantio being kind to him and friendly, then his feelings change when his daughter is brought into the picture and he ultimately shuns both of them. He, however, still has no harsh feelings toward Brabantio (that he shows...) which means he is a man of integrity. He also speaks of how his military career will come before his wife, which shows he is a dedicated warrior.

Iago is a very interesting character from the very beginning. Upon his entrance into the play he is immediately arguing with his friend Roderigo. This shows that Iago might be headstrong since he is so easily frustrated by whatever has happened with his friend. He has an obvious dislike of his superior in the military but he chooses to stick to his job and serve under him either way. He has integrity, or so it seems, until he admits that he is only serving under him to gain enough skill to become his own master. He is a sneaky man from the beginning. At one point he says he is not who he appears to be then goes on about how he wants to destroy Brabantio's happiness. He is a spiteful man, jealous of the happiness of others. He then feigns that he was only trying to help Brabantio rather than ruin his happiness. He then goes back to make it look like he wasn't involved in the drama he created for the Moor. This all shows that Iago is a conniving, jealous, easily flustered man who yearns to be his own master.