Othello (Blog 7)
By: William Shakespeare

At one point in Act IV of the play, Desdemona sings the "Willow" song as she gets ready for bed.  This song is about a woman that gets betrayed by her lover.  "I called my love false love, but what said he then?  Sing willow, willow, willow.  If I court moe women, you'll couch with moe men" (IV.iii.53-55).  When Desdemona sings it in Act IV, she is just singing it because she remembers learning it from one of her mother's maids.  However, this song ends up bearing a great deal of symbolism in Act V.  In this scene, Othello's plan to kill Desdemona is executed.  He wakes Desdemona and tells her to prepare to die.  "Well, do it, and be brief.  I will walk by.  I would not kill thy unprepared spirit.  No, Heaven forfend!  I would not kill thy soul" (V.ii.30-32).  Othello does actually end up killing his once-beloved wife.  The song is symbolic of this.  Desdemona was betrayed by her own husband.  He killed her, even when she tried to explain to him that she and Cassio never slept with each other.

Othello (Blog 6)

By: William Shakespeare

 In Act IV, Scene 2, readers can better-understand the external conflict between Roderigo and Iago.  Apparently, Roderigo has been giving jewels to Iago to give to Desdemona.  "I tell you 'tis not very well.  I will make myself known to Desdemona.  If she will return me my jewels, I will give over my suit and repent my unlawful solicitation.  If not, assure yourself I will seek satisfaction of you" (IV.ii.194-197).  Roderigo tells Iago that if he finds out that he hasn't been giving the jewels to Desdemona, he is going to go after him.  At first, Roderigo was under the impression that he and Iago were working together.  Now, he realizes that Iago really might not be helping him at all.  This is how the external conflict developed.  Roderigo appears to be the first character to recognize Iago and his evil ways.  Iago only wants to benefit himself, but he pretends to help others to gain more for himself.  This scene left me curious.  Is Roderigo going to end up going after Iago?  Will Roderigo's threat stop Iago from continuing his plan?

Othello (Blog 5)
By: William Shakespeare

In Act IV, Scene 1, Iago further proves that he is a round character.  Although it has already been very evident throughout the entirety of the play, this scene includes Iago the whole time, and readers can see how he acts differently towards everyone- Othello, Cassio, and the audience.  Iago comes up with a plan to have Othello listen in on a conversation with Cassio, causing him to think that Cassio is bragging about his "affair" with Desdemona.  When Iago is talking with Othello, he acts like he is a concerned friend.  He pretends to be upset about Desdemona sleeping with Cassio, so he tries to comfort Othello and give him advice.  Iago acts very different when he talks to Cassio; he laughs and encourages Cassio to tell him about Bianca.  When Iago begins to talk to Cassio (while Othello is listening while in hiding), he quietly brings up Bianca.  While Cassio laughs about it, Othello thinks that he is talking about Desdemona.  "So, so, so, so.  They laugh at that win" (IV.i.119).  This quote shows that Othello is bothered by Cassio laughing, even though he doesn't know that Cassio is actually laughing about Bianca.  Lastly, when Iago speaks to the audience, his evil side is revealed.  He tells us his evil plans to ruin the lives of Othello, Desdemona, and Cassio.

Othello (Blog 4)
By: William Shakespeare

When we were introduced to this play in class, we were told to pay close attention to the mention of a handkerchief.  I thought it had been mentioned and I had missed it, but it finally appears in Act III!  I think that the handkerchief bears a great amount of symbolism.  Othello gave Desdemona a handkerchief as a symbol of his love.  This shows that its first meaning is the love that Othello has for Desdemona.  Unlike Brabantio's assumptions, he truly cares about Desdemona.  Later in Act III, though, Iago begins his cruel task to break up Othello and Desdemona.  He begins to tell Othello that he heard that Desdemona has had an affair with Cassio.  Unfortunately, Othello believes this lie.  When Desdemona drops the handkerchief, Emilia steals it to give to her husband.  Iago plans to use it by putting it in Cassio's house to make Othello jealous.  "I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin, and let him find it.  Trifles light as air are to the jealous confirmations strong as proofs of Holy Writ" (III.iii.322-325).  I think that the handkerchief is going to also symbolize the love that is probably going to be lost between Othello and Desdemona if Iago's plan executes properly.  Iago certainly proves that he is purely evil in this scene.  

Othello (Blog 3)
By: William Shakespeare

As Act II opens, it is described that the Turkish fleet was separated and even possibly wrecked.  The waves were rough, and the fleet could not stay together.  When Michael Cassio arrives, he explains that he and Othello were separated.  He is unsure as to where his friend is.  Desdemona arrives much earlier than expected, and Cassio is shocked.  He lies about not knowing where her husband is.  Desdemona still is worried, but these worries are relieved when Othello shows up later in Scene 1.  I think that his arrival is proof that he and Desdemona truly love each other.  In Act I, Brabantio feared that Othello forced or tricked his beloved daughter into marriage.  However, the two seem to be very happy as a married couple.  Othello expresses how overjoyed he is to see that his wife has arrived early.  Desdemona responds to this by saying, "the heavens forbid but that our loves and comforts should increase, even as our days do grow" (II.i.178-180).  She is saying that even though their love is forbidden (by Brabantio and others), the love that they share will only grow as they grow older together.

Othello (Blog 2)
By: William Shakespeare

Just after reading Act I, I was already able to tell that Iago is a very fake person.  He is extremely two-faced.  He speaks to people very differently.  Sometimes he uses prose, and other times he uses poetry (iambic pentameter).  For example, shortly after Act I opens, Iago speaking with Brabantio.  Iago is speaking in iambic pentameter here.

"It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place,

To be produced-as if I stay I shall-

Against the Moor..." (I.i.144-146).

This quote shows how Iago spoke to Brabantio in iambic pentameter.  However, we see that he talks in prose with people like Roderigo.  For example, when Iago is talking Roderigo out of committing suicide, he is speaking in prose (I.iii.326-347).  This quote isn't an example of him being two-faced, but it definitely proves that he talks differently to various people.  It seems like he uses prose to talk to people that he is comfortable with and knows well.  On the other hand, when he needs to seem respectful or professional to someone, he uses poetry.

Othello (Blog 1)
By: William Shakespeare

Shakespeare features a great use of characterization in Act I of this play.  It is used in a negative manner, though.  This is because it is racist towards Othello, the Moor.  Some of the characters characterize Othello as an animal, as well as someone that only lusts.  For example, Iago says that "an old black ram is tupping your white ewe" (I.i.88-89).  This quote describes Othello as "an old black ram."  This is because he is African American and is pretty old.  However, this quote is racist for two reasons.  It compares Othello to an animal, which implies that he is inferior to others because of his race.  Also, it says that the ram is "tupping your white ewe."  This implies that Othello is like an animal.  He doesn't know how to truly love; he just uses women for sex.  This is an unfair and rude assumption.  Another example of this characterization is when Iago tells Brabantio that he will have his "nephews neigh" to him (I.i.111).  This implies that if Desdemona and Othello have children together, the children will be animals because of their African American father.  Overall, many of the characters have negative views towards African Americans, and this is proven in the manner that they speak of Othello.