"Because we come to do you service and you think we are ruffians, you'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse, you'll have your nephews neigh to you, you'll have coursers for cousins, and jennets for germans."-- Iago, I.i.109-111
This statement is basically calling Othello a horse because he is black. The racism and sexism in this play are incredibly prevalent. Iago insults women left and right, even his own wife. The only perfect woman for him is one that stays in the kitchen and raises the kids. I am not sure, but it seems as though Shakespeare was trying to address and issue in his own society. The villain is the most racist and sexist in this play, and it seems the hope is to make people dislike him. Also, why do all the male names end in O and female names in A? I am sure there was a much wider variety of names for women back then, so why did Shakespeare end all their names the same way?
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Stage Direction and Asides
"He takes her by the palm. Aye, well said, whisper. With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio."-- Iago, II.i. 165-166
Stage directions and asides give plays a new dimension when reading them. Instead of having a narrator to explain things, we must have characters directly tell us what they are doing or thinking. Stage directions often provide a visual image of what is happening, even though they are rare. Asides are especially helpful. It allows the reader insight into the mind of a character, while no other person on stage knows what they are saying. Particularly with Iago, this allows us to see what he is plotting against Cassio and Othello. Without these elements, reading a play would be dry and difficult to analyze.
Stage directions and asides give plays a new dimension when reading them. Instead of having a narrator to explain things, we must have characters directly tell us what they are doing or thinking. Stage directions often provide a visual image of what is happening, even though they are rare. Asides are especially helpful. It allows the reader insight into the mind of a character, while no other person on stage knows what they are saying. Particularly with Iago, this allows us to see what he is plotting against Cassio and Othello. Without these elements, reading a play would be dry and difficult to analyze.
Back to the Blogs- Shakespeare!
"I hate the Moor, and it is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets he's done my office."-- Iago, I.i.366-367
Oh blogs, how I have missed you. Straight to the point, this famous soliloquy shows us the truth behind Iago's motives. Not only does he hate that Cassio is the lieutenant, but there is a rumor that Othello has slept with his wife. To solve his problems, Iago intends to make it seem like Cassio is sleeping with Othello's wife. It is all just one big confusing love triangle, typical Shakespeare. Iago is a very cunning character, and it strikes me as odd that he is currently the centerpiece of the story instead of Othello. The Moor actually seems to play little part in this other than being the bane of Iago. Shakespeare has a knack for developing twists in stories, so I am interested to see what Iago actually does.
Oh blogs, how I have missed you. Straight to the point, this famous soliloquy shows us the truth behind Iago's motives. Not only does he hate that Cassio is the lieutenant, but there is a rumor that Othello has slept with his wife. To solve his problems, Iago intends to make it seem like Cassio is sleeping with Othello's wife. It is all just one big confusing love triangle, typical Shakespeare. Iago is a very cunning character, and it strikes me as odd that he is currently the centerpiece of the story instead of Othello. The Moor actually seems to play little part in this other than being the bane of Iago. Shakespeare has a knack for developing twists in stories, so I am interested to see what Iago actually does.
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