Reflective Essay Warm-Up

"I've got no place in my heart for a criminal like you to dwell, in this endeavor, make this last forever...I'm just delirious,You can't be serious" - The Girl's A Straight Up Hustler, All Time Low

This song talks all about a girl's unfaithfulness. Desdemona may have been faithful to Othello even on her deathbed, but there was no convincing Othello of that. In his mind, this is what I imagine him thinking about her. I doubt "straight up hustler" would be his exact words (although you never know, Shakespeare could've been a total hipster), but his references to her being a prostitute and cheater basically imply the same thing. Othello thinks the last thing Desdemona would do would be cheat on him, which ironically is the complete truth. However, the lies that surround him make him believe that she's been lying to him for quite some time. Othello thought that he was getting played by Desdemona, which is what this song addresses. He wants Desdemona to stop lying to herself and to him, and to finally admit to her affair. The conflict explored here isn't one that is on the surface such as Iago's deceit and hate for Othello, but rather the conflict Othello creates inside his mind. If what he believed to be true were actually taking place, it would be exactly what the song talks about. 

People I Don't Feel Sorry For

"Then must you speak Of one that loved not wisely but too well; Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought, Perplexed in the extreme." (V.ii.342-345)

1. Iago - Of course I don't feel sorry for him. He intentionally ruins people's lives. I understand that he's smart, but obviously not smart enough since his plan basically failed. Now he's just a murderer who's hated by all of Cyprus. Good work, Iago.

2. Othello - He begs to be remembered as one who simply loved too much. He did love Desdemona, but then he went crazy. Yes, he was being manipulated, but he didn't listen to anyone but Iago. Multiple people tried to tell Othello that Desdemona was faithful, but he refused to hear them. He also didn't inquire to anyone else about anything he was hearing. He was just as swayed by the rumors as Iago. He's not as bad as Iago by a long shot, but I still don't have sympathy for him.

3. Bianca - I don't really know what happens to her in the end, but the way she fawns over Cassio gets on my nerves. He obviously doesn't care about her, so she should stop. She has a reputation as a flousy (sp?), which didn't just happen by itself. Maybe she should straighten up and stop sleeping around, then maybe Cassio would love her.

Motivation?

"Some such squire he was That turned your wit the seamy side without, And made you to suspect me with the Moor." - Emilia (IV.ii.145-147)

Up to this point in the play, Iago had one of two motivations left to base his evil plot off of. Emilia knows this rumor went around, so she addresses it in front of Iago. She calls him out about believing the rumor about Desdemona and Cassio, but not the one about her and Othello. His motivation basically just vanished. So now is the proof that Iago is just a jerk. Motivation is described as the reason a character acts the way they do; I no longer know what Iago's motivation is. I think he might generally just be a heartless, abusive, power hungry person who enjoys tormenting people. (If you haven't figured it out yet, I hate Iago). Iago isn't used to Emilia actually speaking to him, let alone calling him out publicly, so I think that's why he gets so defensive at first mention. Iago's motivation, if he has one, has become to keep his plan going until everyone is dead or alone in life. What a nice guy. 

All of the people in this plan are so susceptible to rumors. They're so gullible, 

and it's causing them to go mad. Adele doesn't perfectly describe Othello, 

but I like this song so it's going on the blog.

Foil Characters: Emilia and Desdemona

"For if she be not honest, chaste, and true, There's no man happy, the purest of their wives Is foul as slander." - Emilia (IV.ii.17-19)

Since Desdemona and Emilia are best friends 

until the day they die, I thought this picture was appropriate. 

I think Desdemona is the dog and Emilia is the cat. 

Throughout the first 3 acts of Othello Desdemona was outspoken and defended Emilia from Iago's rude remarks. Emilia didn't speak out very much, and when she did she was very timid. The two women were contrasted in that way. However, Emilia began to gain confidence by act IV. I think once Desdemona was in trouble, Emilia knew she had to stick up for her. Emilia was offended by Iago and Othello's allegations of Desdemona's unfaithfulness, so she fought back finally. In the end of act V, Desdemona reiterates her faithfulness to Othello, even if he won't ever believe her. She swears she'd never cheat on him, no matter what the circumstances. Emilia, however, says that she wouldn't mind cheating on Iago. Of course, Iago is much less respectable and loving that Othello. This is another area where the two women contrast in personality.

Team Anyone But Iago

"And what's he then that says I play the villain?" (II.iii.301)

I'll gladly say that Iago is the villain. If he weren't a fictional character and alive today I would want to kick him in the shin and angrily name off all of the reasons he's the villain. Usually I think sarcasm is funny, but Iago's sarcasm just makes me really angry. 
Reasons Iago is the villain:

• He is breaking up a marriage of 2 people who beat the odds and fell in love. That's just rude and annoying. He's basing his motive off a rumor. That rumor clearly isn't true because Othello is very angered by the thought of Desdemona's infidelity, so he'd never do that to her. Maybe Iago would have a marriage like Othello and Desdemona if he had a little respect for his wife, which brings me to my next point.
• He treats women like crap. That's not okay with me. Never once does Iago honestly say something nice or positive about a woman. Poor Emilia is probably scared of Iago and how awful he is to her. 
• He continues this terrible plot that will inevitably ruin people's lives even after he got the job of Lieutenant. He's ridiculously power hungry and clearly doesn't deserve a position anywhere near it.
• He is tarnishing the name of Iago - the bird from Aladdin. I know that the parrot Iago is somewhat evil by association because his owner is Jafar, but he's so much better than Shakespeare's Iago. 

Foreshadowing

"But I do love thee! And when I love thee not, Chaos is come again." (III.iii. 92-93)

Othello has been mild mannered throughout the first 2 acts, but this seems to be his breaking point. Iago continues to raise his suspicions of Desdemona's unfaithfulness. Although some are misunderstandings and some are blatantly false, Othello is unaware. I think this foreshadows the upcoming chaos that will ensue when Iago finally completes every aspect of his plan. Othello's anger will get the best of him and ultimately Iago will have his desired job and Othello and Desdemona will split up. Another instance of foreshadowing is when Othello has head pains and Iago torments his lack of sleep, because both of those point to his epilepsy. Seizures can be caused by lack of sleep. I don't know if that is what will cause Othello's seizure and maybe even death, but I think his epilepsy will play into the plot soon.  

Ironic Epithet = Iago

 "Honest Iago, My Desdemona must I leave to thee." (I.iii.294-295)

Iago is called an honest man by multiple characters throughout the first 3 acts. This becomes an epithet used to describe him, even though he's falsely honest. Othello, the Duke, Cassio, and all of the other characters who refer to Iago as honest don't know his secret plans of deceit and mutiny. His false honest is giving people reason to trust him and rely on him, when they are unknowingly playing right into his plan. Iago has no boundaries when it comes to lying to people and meddling in their personal lives. I don't understand anyone (Bryan, I hope you read this and enlighten me) could think that Iago is a noble or respectable character. He is cunning when it comes to his deceit, but he is ruining people's lives without any solid motive. Once he gets the job he wanted (through lying and making up stories) he continues his game. Iago is a lying lowlife and I'm definitely Team Anyone Else.