Othello, Distilled
Jun. 30th, 2008 11:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rxelyn... I'm supposed to have read Othello. Shit. Yeah. So far, this is what I have taken from a variety of websites; Wiki, SparkNotes, CliffsNotes, enotes, random websites... Must we remember quotes? Because I only know the summary and perhaps vague characterization.
Okay, so I sort of know that Othello supposed to be a tragedy, but... the fact that everyone in the play dies or at least get wounded? Kind of too tragic? Iago's actually pretty easy to hate, I think, what with his double crossing attitude and basically two faced personality. He goads Roderigo into trying to kill Cassio, and drives Othello into killing Desdemona. He even managed to make use of Emilia in order for his malicious plot to work. He is also ruthless enough to kill Roderigo and Emilia after they have served their purpose and is not worried about killing innocents. Over all, he is portrayed to be a conniving, manipulative character. Yet, to me, I feel that there is somehow something lacking in this view of Iago. Shakespeare would create such a one-dimensional character, right? There must be some deeper reason beyond his hatred for Othello and jealousy over Cassio pushing his hand towards such harsh actions. Or so I believe. Or it may just be my sympathetic side trying to find a faucet of the character to paint him in a better light.
Othello, who was supposed to be a brave, decent military man, is driven to desperate actions by just the manipulations of one man, goes to show that for all his abilities, his personality is not too strong. However, such inconsistency in character may be due to his own insecurities. For one, his different race may question his own self worth in having such a eligible woman like Desdemona to fall in love with him. Racial prejudice against him that he was influenced with his entire life may have inbuilt in him a lack of confidence in dealing with the non-military people since he is unable to use his rank to prove his capability. Due to his jealousy, he destroys a promising future and a devoted wife. It is due to his stark jealousy that he is unable to think logically and resolve the complex situation and root out the main culprit.
Like his other plays, Shakespeare focused on this particular theme quite a lot, that is the idea of deception. The entire plot was a deception; that Desdemona was unfaithful and Cassio was the one at fault. Also, Iago deceives almost everyone with his honest facade while he eggs Roderigo into foolish actions that would later cause his death. Similarly, he deceives Othello through a conversation he had with Cassio that 'confirmed' Othello's suspicions about Desdemona's 'infidelity'. Unlike Much Ado About Nothing which the plot lies heavily on deception, there is no light hearted resolution, and in the end, deceived and manipulated, the play ends on a tragic note in which almost everyone dies.
Perhaps the true innocents in the story may be Desdemona and Cassio. Desdemona because she really committed no crime and was loyal to her husband until her dying breath. She accepted Othello beyond his appearance and I'm pretty sure she adores him genuinely. Did she deserve to die? Probably not. As for Cassio, I said that he was innocent, but it is highly debatable, unless there is concrete evidence that he has no inclinations towards Desdemona. In all events, it seems that he reacts, for he takes no aggressive action towards anyone. He falls into Iago's traps both times, without knowing that they were traps. In such, he is naive.
I think I do know more about Roderigo and Emilia and the rest of the cast. But due to said laziness that is me, I shall now stop here.
Othello, who was supposed to be a brave, decent military man, is driven to desperate actions by just the manipulations of one man, goes to show that for all his abilities, his personality is not too strong. However, such inconsistency in character may be due to his own insecurities. For one, his different race may question his own self worth in having such a eligible woman like Desdemona to fall in love with him. Racial prejudice against him that he was influenced with his entire life may have inbuilt in him a lack of confidence in dealing with the non-military people since he is unable to use his rank to prove his capability. Due to his jealousy, he destroys a promising future and a devoted wife. It is due to his stark jealousy that he is unable to think logically and resolve the complex situation and root out the main culprit.
Like his other plays, Shakespeare focused on this particular theme quite a lot, that is the idea of deception. The entire plot was a deception; that Desdemona was unfaithful and Cassio was the one at fault. Also, Iago deceives almost everyone with his honest facade while he eggs Roderigo into foolish actions that would later cause his death. Similarly, he deceives Othello through a conversation he had with Cassio that 'confirmed' Othello's suspicions about Desdemona's 'infidelity'. Unlike Much Ado About Nothing which the plot lies heavily on deception, there is no light hearted resolution, and in the end, deceived and manipulated, the play ends on a tragic note in which almost everyone dies.
Perhaps the true innocents in the story may be Desdemona and Cassio. Desdemona because she really committed no crime and was loyal to her husband until her dying breath. She accepted Othello beyond his appearance and I'm pretty sure she adores him genuinely. Did she deserve to die? Probably not. As for Cassio, I said that he was innocent, but it is highly debatable, unless there is concrete evidence that he has no inclinations towards Desdemona. In all events, it seems that he reacts, for he takes no aggressive action towards anyone. He falls into Iago's traps both times, without knowing that they were traps. In such, he is naive.
I think I do know more about Roderigo and Emilia and the rest of the cast. But due to said laziness that is me, I shall now stop here.
Never has my bed looked so fair, yet foul.
For loathe I to sleep when the time is not.
Okay, with said random shit, I diagnose myself as in an overly pretentious mood and hence prescribed medicine is sleep.
For loathe I to sleep when the time is not.
Okay, with said random shit, I diagnose myself as in an overly pretentious mood and hence prescribed medicine is sleep.
