The Tragedy of Othello
Characters List for Othello
Othello: Commander, Moor
Iago: Ensign
Cassio: Lieutenant
Roderigo: Suitor
Desdemona: Othello's Wife
Emelia: Iago's Wife
Act I Exposition
As in all of Shakespearian plays we start of with the Exposition or Introduction. The setting is in Venice. We meet our main character Othello, Iago, Roderigo, and Desdemona. Iago, who is apparently Othello's "batman" (aide?), is stirring up trouble right form the beginning by exposing Othello's hidden marriage. Then Iago convinces Roderigo to pursue in taking Desdemona from Othello. It continues on with a confrontation of Othello and Desdemona's father. Othello is accused of bewitching Desdemona, so Othello is forced to convince everyone that they are "truly" in love. Othello is able to convince her father that they are and they all live happily ever after...Oh wait this is a tragedy :(
As a military commander Othello is ordered to defend Cyprus, so he takes along all the main characters with him.
[From Order to CHAOS / Wall Safe > Battlefield Unsafe]
Act II Rising Action
All the main characters have now arrived in Cyprus. We learn more about each person's character. Iago plans and schemes how he will destroy Othello in explicit detail.
List of Iago's things to do:
1. Ruin Cassio
2. Plant Seeds of Distrust in Othello
3. Get Hanky!
PS. Find out why I am doing this again :)
Ruin Cassio
Iago get's Cassio drunk because Cassio is a lightweight :/ ... Bad Cassio! Iago get's Roderigo to brawl with Cassio. Shortly thereafter Othello finds out and demotes Cassio.
Seeds of Distrust Planted
Iago find the sad Cassio and advises him to ask Desdemona for help because they are friends. All the while Iago nudges Othello into thinking about Cassio getting it on with Desdemona!
Discussion
The biggest issue here is apparently race; though I do not recall race (color) being a big factor of discrimination in Europe at this time. I expect it more to be discrimination via religion (since moors can be associated with islamists) or tribe/family/order/nation, and that all the (color) racism portrayed in this play is more of just to point out Othello's more noticeable differentiation from all the other Venetians and Cypriots (I prefer Cypricots).
We get a glimpse at Iago's character which is plain diabolic. He is a psychological mastermind SUPERVILLIAN!!! I would compare him to the Joker except the joker is just misunderstood :( and Iago is pure >> EVIL << or bored. Either way both are similar in being able to sway the minds of others.
Just as Prof. said Iago rarely lies. So...he is pretty honest. <3 He's everyone's best friend <3
Now we know that people who act as everyone's best friend is clearly just an evil mastermind.
(459)
All the main characters have now arrived in Cyprus. We learn more about each person's character. Iago plans and schemes how he will destroy Othello in explicit detail.
List of Iago's things to do:
1. Ruin Cassio
2. Plant Seeds of Distrust in Othello
3. Get Hanky!
PS. Find out why I am doing this again :)
Ruin Cassio
Iago get's Cassio drunk because Cassio is a lightweight :/ ... Bad Cassio! Iago get's Roderigo to brawl with Cassio. Shortly thereafter Othello finds out and demotes Cassio.
Seeds of Distrust Planted
Iago find the sad Cassio and advises him to ask Desdemona for help because they are friends. All the while Iago nudges Othello into thinking about Cassio getting it on with Desdemona!
Discussion
The biggest issue here is apparently race; though I do not recall race (color) being a big factor of discrimination in Europe at this time. I expect it more to be discrimination via religion (since moors can be associated with islamists) or tribe/family/order/nation, and that all the (color) racism portrayed in this play is more of just to point out Othello's more noticeable differentiation from all the other Venetians and Cypriots (I prefer Cypricots).
We get a glimpse at Iago's character which is plain diabolic. He is a psychological mastermind SUPERVILLIAN!!! I would compare him to the Joker except the joker is just misunderstood :( and Iago is pure >> EVIL << or bored. Either way both are similar in being able to sway the minds of others.
Just as Prof. said Iago rarely lies. So...he is pretty honest. <3 He's everyone's best friend <3
Now we know that people who act as everyone's best friend is clearly just an evil mastermind.
(459)
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