Othello: Question #7

I would say that the action of this play occurs within a two or three day period. The action goes from the secret marriage of Othello and Desdemona, to the trip on the ship to Cyprus, to the fight between Cassio and Roderigo, to the handkerchief being planted by Iago, to the revenge planned by Othello, and finally to the death and destruction that occurs in Act V of the play.
I think that the action of the play is mostly dramatized on stage. The only part of the play that we don't see are the boat trips or the Turkish ships at battle ("The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes,So was I bid report here to the state by Signior Angelo" I.iii.17-19).
We don't see the action of the storm. The storm is only described to the audience. Other than those few exception, the action occurs on stage. For me, the events that are reported are the small events that don't really have a huge or substaintial impact on the plot or the main point of the story. If every little detail was shown with action, the play would be way too long. Cutting out that action allows the audience to stay focused on the plot and the significant characters. The play feels tight, because each action that is shown on stage has a role. All of the actions lead to the dramatic finish of uncovering Iago's evil plan to take down Othello.

Othello: Question #4

Dramatic suspense is created in this play with all of the soliloquies and asides from various important characters. Many of these important speeches come from Iago, Emilia, and Othello. Iago's speeches while he is alone and speaking to the audience clue us in on his plans and create dramatic situations. These situations in which the audience knows more than the characters in the play cause the audience to feel suspense and question what will ultimately occur. Emilia's asides and important, because she ends up being a dynamic character in the end. She follows her husband's orders and wishes in the beginning, but she stands up for herself and for Desdemona in the end. She defies her husband, and she lays down her life for her friend. Othello's asides are extremely important to the plot of the play because they show the audience his thoughts and opinions. They show that he believes Iago's lies and plans revenge on Desdemona and Cassio. The plans of revenge create suspense because the audience is not sure about how things will work out. Asides and soliloques give the audience all of the information in a play, while the other characters have to put the pieces together themselves. From our position, things may seem extremely obvious. However, I could understand how some characters would be fooled and not follow what was going on until the very end.

Iago's aside example: V.i.11-22
"I’ve rubbed this young pimple until he’s ready to pop, and now he’s angry. Whether he kills Cassio, or Cassio kills him, or they kill each other, it all works in my favor. If Roderigo survives, though, he’ll ask me for all the gold and jewelry that I stole from him and said I gave to Desdemona. I can’t let that happen. If Cassio survives,he’s so handsome and well-spoken that he makes me look ugly. And besides, the Moor might tell him about my lies about him.—That would be very dangerous for me. No, he’s got to die. Let it be so. I hear him coming."

Othello: Tragedy

The fact that Othello is a tragedy comes into play during the fifth and final act of the play. Iago convinces Roderigo to stab Cassio and kill him in order to get to Desdemona, but Iago is actually the one who wounds Cassio from behind. Iago then kills Roderigo after Cassio wounds him. Othello, out of jealousy and anger, kills Desdemona by suffocating her as she lays in their bed. When Iago's plan finally starts to go off track, he panics as his wife basically rats him out to everyone. He ends up stabbing his own wife Emilia because she reveals his intentions to Othello, Cassio, Lodovico, and Montano. She dies with honor, because she stood by her faithful friend ("Moor, she was chaste, she loved thee, cruel Moor. VI.ii.263). Othello decides in the end to stab himself because he cannot take the pain and guilt of everything that has occurred. He dies next to his good and faithful wife Desdemona. This play proves to be another classic tragedy with multiple expected deaths, but they just happen in a short time period as things are all wrapping up. I expected Desdemona and Othello to die, but I did not predict Emilia dying in the end. So even though I knew that some deaths were going to come up, I didn't know who or how.

Othello: The Character of Iago

I knew Iago was the antagonist of the story, so I expected him to clash with Othello and possibly with some of the other characters. However, I never expected Iago to get away with so much. He is constantly lying to various characters and manipulating and turning characters against each other. I thought that some of the characters, especially Othello, would have realized what was going on by now. If Othello gave a promotion to Cassio that Iago wanted, then why would Othello trust Iago the way that he does?
There is so much irony incorporated in Iago's scheming and plotting to take down Othello. Almost every character in the play has said something about Iago being so kind, so nice, and so honest. For example, Cassio says "good night, honest Iago" after Iago has gotten him into so much trouble with Othello (II.iii.300). How could all of these characters have absolutely no idea what is going on around them? Iago's jealousy is what prompts him to do all of these horrible things, yet he warns Othello about the power and destruction of jealousy of other men with Desdemona. "Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy. It is the green-eyed monster..." I would never be able to be so hypocritical without feeling guilt or anxiety.

Othello Page 1119 #5

There are multiple themes in the play Othello that we discussed as a class before we started reading. One theme is the difference between appearance and reality. Some things may be different in reality than they appear to be. This can be applied to the character of Iago, who is thought to be honest. However, he is trecherous, deceiving, and manipulative. No one suspected such bad things coming from a respectable person like Iago. Another theme is jealousy is a very powerful emotion that can potentially create destructive effects. One example of this theme in the play once again can be applied to Iago. Iago is so jealous of Cassio's position that Iago thought he deserved, so he attempts to break up marriages and friendships, cause fights, and create havoc. Iago does all of this out of jealousy for his own selfish ambitions. I think that these themes prepare the reader for the ups and downs of the play. For me, the themes have a positive effect on the dramatic experience of the play. They create suspense and curiosity. They keep me guessing what will happen next. Lastly, the themes keep me focused on the main ideas and points of the play.

"Oh, beware, my lord of jealousy. It is the green-eyed monster which doth moch the meat it feeds on." (III.iii.171-173)

Othello Page 1119 #3

In the play Othello by William Shakespeare, Othello is the protagonist. He is a Moor and a general in the Venetian army. The antagonist of the play is Iago, who is Othello's ensign. He is jealous of Othello, because he believes that he deserves the position that Othello has. He is upset by the way people are appointed and promoted for the wrong reasons. Iago thinks that seniority should be what determines promotions, not favoritism. Iago states that he hates the Moor as he plans to ruin Othello and his reputation and rank, so Othello and Iago could also be considered foil characters to each other. Othello is honest, kind, and works for the good of the people, while Iago is a manipulator and a selfish man. I would also consider Iago and Cassio foil characters. Iago is without a promotion even though he has fought on the front-line, while Cassio got promoted by Othello with no real experience as a soldier. There are multiple sets of foil characters in the play so far.
Cassio is not of the main characters of the play, but he definitely plays a key role in moving the plot of the play along. His fight with Roderigo and Montano leads to Othello being upset and taking away his promotion. Cassio's actions in the play are pivotal, because Iago's plan relies on Cassio to make certain decisions. "If i can fasten but one cup upon him, with that which he hath drunk tonight already,..." (II.iii.39-40)