Interesting Iago Article

How Iago Explains the World

The link above is to a really interesting article from the New York Times that talks about how the problems that the characters face in the play are similar to the problems America is facing today.

 

 

Emilia vs Iago

In class today we talked about how Emilia really had no intention of giving Iago Desdemona's hankerchief (at least the real one).  There is no way that she could have thought he was going to do anything good with the hankerchief.  I think Emilia just wants to see the good in everyone.  She believes that Desdemona did not cheat on Othello.  She does not realize that her own husband is incredibly evil.  She, unlike Iago, wants everyone to be good and nice, while Iago goes out of his way to see everyone in a negative light.  Emilia is almost the complete opposite of Iago.

Othello's Insecurity

We talked in class about how such a rational and noble character such as Othello could be driven to such horrible extremes under the influence of Iago. It seems to me that Othello is largely responsible for destroying his own happiness (of course with the baiting of Iago). Though he says at the beginning that he completely trusts Desdemona, I think in the back of his mind, he was expecting something bad to happen. Othello told Desdemona stories of how painful his life had been before he met her. Perhaps he's just used to pain and suffering so when happiness comes along, he cannot fully believe in it or he doesn't think he trully deserves it. He expects this bliss to be temporary and in doing so, he creates an issue that could've easily been resolved with help from Iago.

Ending

I loved Emilia's part in the ending, but I was kind of disapointed in Iago's role. You'd think that if he took all the time in his cruel planning that he would have a final quote that would enlighten readers of his motives or his true thoughts...His last words were "Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. From this time forth I never will speak word." I feel that it's anticlimactic. Everyone knows he's guilty so why not say something like "I don't regret what I did" or at least an evil laugh? Something along those lines...

title

I just have a vague comment/question on the title of the play....  Its called Othello, but we get the most insight into Iago's mind and his actions.  Maybe it's just because we're taking a class called EVIL and not good?  Just a little curious.  Personally, I think a more suitable title would have been "Iago" if Shakespeare wanted to stick with names here.

Age Difference

I've been thinking about the age difference between Othello and Desdemona. I realize that women usually married young and men sort of old, but definitely not as old as Othello back then. Since he's been in relationships before, shouldn't he know how women are like? I feel like he holds her way too accountable for her actions, but she's only 19!  Shouldn't Othello be more loving and caring towards Desdemona? I just don't feel any sympathy towards him.

Emilia

In class we have been debating whether Emilia is forced to be an accomplice of Iago. I think that in Act 5 scene 2 we learn that we were not giving Emilia enough credit. She personally ruins everything Iago had created by telling Othello the truth about the handkerchief. I never would have thought that Emilia would have been the one to blow Iago's cover. Maybe Desdemona's influence played a bigger role on Emilia than we originally thought. I wonder what motivated Emilia to tell the truth?

Emilia's suspicions

In act 4, Scene 2, Emilia tells Desdemona that "I will be hanged if some eternal villain...to get some office,/Have not devised this slander." Does she realize Iago's plan, since she says that someone devised this plan to get some office (position). If so, is she giving Desdemona a big clue here by saying it? Or does Emilia not realize that Iago is creating this exact plan she is thinking of?

Emilia

Emilia states

I will be hanged, if some eternal villain,

Some busy and insinuating rogue,

Some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office,

Have not devised this slander. I will be hanged else!

It almost seems as if she knows it is her husband... or else this statement is just extremely ironic. At this point, how could she not have any inkling of Iago's intentions? Could this be some subliminal message to Desdemona...or is Emilia blindly raging this? Is this her way of attacking her husband without actually attacking him?

Iago's Ultimate Plan

What is Iago's ultimate plan? I know he's an agent of chaos and wants to ruin Othello's happiness, but does he ultimately want to end Othello's life? Does he want Othello's position? Or does he have no real plan at all and just wants to be a sadist?

Epilepsy & Othello

Wow. In Act 4 scene 1, Othello falls into an epilepsy. It's actually really funny! Because this man is so stressed out by Desdemona's so-called infidelity, he keels over and has  a seizure. I guess you could say he's literally love-sick. Why does he have these seizures? And is it bad to think of it humorously?

Iago

I just love how Iago says "Men should be what they seem, Or those that be not, would they might seem none!" basically saying that if a person (he is referencing Cassio) is not honest, that person should at least not even pretend to look honest. Where does this leave Iago? Is he self-aware? Does he see his comment as self deprecating?

"manly" Iago

In my version of the play I have a footnote for "guinea hen," the name Iago calls Desdemona or just women in general.  In my book it says the word can also be interpreted as slang for prostitute.  This got me thinking again how Iago is always looking for a window to slide in a dirty joke or "hanky pankage" and that maybe what he says in the next line, he would "rather change [his] humanity with a baboon," the baboon is Othello.  Perhaps Iago's apparent manliness is a guise for his sexual preference?  In other words, Iago is gay. I'm not sure if I'm pulling this from back field or if it's maybe plausible.  This would explain, however, his anger at Othello for marrying Desdemona (which is, for the reader at least, when he starts plotting against Othello).

There has been speculation into whether Shakespeare was gay, so this just popped into my head.... Tell me if I'm crazy

Cassio...Again

In Act 2 scene 3, I don't understand why Cassio doesn't man up and ask Othello directly for forgiveness. Is it because he's too ashamed of stabbing Montano?  Why does he listen to Iago's advice? After all, doesn't Cassio believe he's better than Iago?

Iago..

As I was reading scene iii I was at first confused by Iago's intentions. At first it just seemed like he was targeting Cassio which I found odd because of his hatred toward Othello. Then, he spoke of slandering Desdemona's reputation. I was confused about how all of this hurt Othello, his original goal, but then it all came together. He was able to make Cassio and Desdemona both look bad, while also beginning to ruin Othello's relationship. He also made himself look generous because Othello thought he cared so much about Cassio. Iago clearly showed how clever he was in this scene.

Othello and The Godfather

While I was trying to establish a connection between both the play and the movie, I discovered some interesting character correlations. I believe that Iago is like Barzini because they both control the action from the background without becoming too involved. Also, because the play is a tragedy, I assume Iago dies in the end like Barzini did. I have yet to discover if Othello himself is Don Vito or Don Micheal. Thoughts?

Cassio Question

This is a random question and I'm probably thinking too hard about this but why does Cassio call Desdemona "divine" and "exquisite"? Is it out of respect? Or is there something more? And, why does he mention this to Iago? I found the quotes in Act 2 Scene 1 and Scene 2.

Food for Thought

At the very beggining of Act  2 scence 3 Cassio questions Iago's trustworthyness. Othello has given Iago a job but Cassio does not have faith in Iago to fufill them. Instead, Cassio feels the need to do it personally. Of course, Othello loyal declairs Iago an honest man. However, I find that up till this point no one has seriously questioned Iago's legitamcy. I wonder why Cassio is the first one to question it? Does Cassio know more than we think he does?

Othello Act 2

At the end of scene 1 of Act 2, Iago talks about how Cassio is in love with Desdemona. Then he says "Now, I do love her too." Is he talking about his wife or Desdemona? If he is talking about Desdemona, does he actually love her or does he love that he helps his evil plan?

Othello confusion..

I don't know if this is one of those things where we find out later or if it remains ambiguous, but it seems like the only person Iago has a reason to hate is Cassio.  Why does he hate Othello so much?  It cannot just be a racist hatred, Iago seems too obsessive about his plans to destroy Othello for it to be founded solely on racism.

Why does Desdemona love Othello?

Othello

OK, Evil Ones, now that you're reading Shakespeare's great tragedy on you own, feel free to post comments, questions, reactions to our Evil Blog.  Be sure to Post them under the "Category" of Othello, and "tag" them as you think is helpful.

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Prompt concerning The Godfather

So, who is the villain in this famous movie?  What is the manifestation of evil?