It seems that the assumption Iago draws on in order to put his plan into action is that Desdemona will not be happy being with a “Moor”: “Her delicate tenderness will find itself abused, begin to heave the gorge, disrelish and abhor the Moor” (231-232). Othello is often referred to in an animalistic way, a person who is incapable of love and only thinks of himself and is extremely violent. This is fuel to Iago’s fire that Othello has no business being married to the beautiful Desdemona.

Iago is especially offensive to women in this scene. It’s clear he doesn’t love his own wife, and is convinced she is having an affair with Othello. He views all women in general as cunning and sneaky. It does seem that Iago truly has poor justifications for his motives in this scheme. I believe that the reason he feels this way about Desdemona is because she has more power than Iago does when it comes to Othello. The main reason Iago is trying to destroy Othello and Desdemona’s marriage is because Othello has more power than Iago does and made an executive decision that upset Iago. Those with more power are a threat to Iago and he will do whatever it takes to break up those threats. He believes that Desdemona has more authority, and therefore he is perfectly okay with framing her.

Iago uses assumptions about Moors and women to get his way. One of his major reasons for trying to tear Othello from his wife is based on a notion that he will not be able to provide for his wife. “Her delicate tenderness will find itself abused, begin to heave the gorge, disrelish and abhor the Moor” (231-232). He implies that Moors only know how to be rash and violent, to the extent that Desdemona will, in time, not be able to handle or enjoy him. He also believes that Moors are rude and incapable of sympathy, saying “When the blood is made dull with the act of sport, there should be, again to inflame it and give satiety a fresh appetite, loveliness in favor, sympathy in years, manners, and beauties; all which the Moor is defective in” (225-229). Iago’s negative views on the reliability of Moors to supply love are one of the reasons why he feels inclined to destroy Othello.

But at the time being, the Moor and Desdemona share a passionate love. Iago sees that this love gives Desdemona an advantage over Othello. “You are pictures out of door, Bells in your parlors, wildcats in your kitchens, Saints in your injuries, devils being offended, Players in your huswifery, and huswives in your beds” (109-112). Iago believes that women are conniving, and thinks that Desdemona has just as much power as Othello does, being that he is obsessed with her. “His soul is so enfettered to her love, That she may make, unmake, do what she list, Even as her appetite shall play the god With his weak function” (333-336).

He intends on seizing this opportunity by accusing Cassio of having an affair with Desdemona, who will actually be asking her to reprise his officer job. Cassio, in asking Desdemona for help, is doing so based on the assumptions of Iago, who told him that Desdemona would be able to persuade Othello. Thus, through Iago’s assumptions on women, he is able to manipulate others to complete his mission, which is inspired by his assumptions of Moors.

2. Talk about Othello’s identity, specifically as it is defined in Act Two. We said in class that Moors are assumed, generally, to be Muslims. Is Othello a Muslim or not? How do you know? To what extent can we say, in Act Two, that Othello is or is not Venetian? Use quotes from the play in your answer.

By reading the play, we get an understanding that Othello is a noble, righteous soldier who leads the Venetian fight against the Muslim Turks. In this play, there’s no specific explanation of Othello’s religion. However, based on the word “Moor” that Othello continuously is being described, I came to a conclusion that Othello is not a Muslim, but a Christian. In Act II, Scene 3, Othello breaks up a fight between Cassio, Roderigo, and Montano, demanding, “Are we turned Turks, and to ourselves do that. Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites? For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl” (II.3.159-161). This passage is very important to understand how we can potentially define Othello as Christian. Othello is using the word “we”, including himself as well, and he says to them: “Why act like the Turks, and not act peacefully, because according to Christian religion this is a shame. However, this is an assumption I made, and there’s a possibility that Othello might have been converted to Christian at one point in his life.

Although Othello is a cultural and racial outsider in Venice, his skill as a soldier and leader is nevertheless valuable and necessary to the state, and he is an integral part of Venetian civic society. Othello sometimes makes a point of presenting himself as an outsider, whether because he recognizes his exotic appeal or because he is self-conscious of and defensive about his difference from other Venetians. Based on these details, I believe that Othello was not born in Venice. However, Othello is extremely important to Venice, because of his leadership skills as a great general. In this context, we can assume that Othello is a Venetian to a certain extent, but yet he considers himself as an outsider.

This week, we’ll be reading Acts Two and Three of Othello. Your online assignment (due Sunday, 11:59pm) is to write a response to one of the questions posted below. Your response should be somewhere between 250-350 words. Be prepared on Tuesday to discuss BOTH acts (2&3) and to do some in-class writing based on the assigned reading. If you’re having trouble with the language, please do not hesitate to take a look at some of the online plot summaries that are available. Once you know what’s happening, in terms of the plot, it’s easier to make sense of some of the thicker, more challenging passages.

1. We said in class on Tuesday that Iago is drawing on certain assumptions about Moors and about women in order to put his plan into action. How do you see those assumptions being deployed by Iago in Act Two? Take a look especially at how Iago speaks to Roderigo, Cassio, and the other men in this play. Use specific quotes in your answer.

2. Talk about Othello’s identity, specifically as it is defined in Act Two. We said in class that Moors are assumed, generally, to be Muslims. Is Othello a Muslim or not? How do you know? To what extent can we say, in Act Two, that Othello is or is not Venetian? Use quotes from the play in your answer.

“A prince ought also to show himself a patron of ability, and to honour the proficient in every art. At the same time he should encourage his citizens to practise their callings peaceably, both in commerce and agriculture, and in every other following, so that the one should not be deterred from improving his possessions for fear lest they be taken away from him or another from opening up trade for fear of taxes; but the prince ought to offer rewards to whoever wishes to do these things and designs in any way to honour his city or state.”

I agree with Machiavelli’s opinion that it is very important to encourage citizens to practice their callings without fears of plunder from government. In contemporary US politics, government works hard to protect citizen’s property right and legitimate income, in order to encourage the nongovernmental business and lead them to the continuing development. The passage is useful for someone who is running for office in US today because Machiavelli advocates that a true leader should not only have coercive power but also reward power. I believe that when you have the ability to give someone something that they want or need, then you have tremendous power to influence them. A prince ought to give citizens what they need to be prosperous, because when people’s standard of livings is improved, he will certainly gain supports from the citizens. That way, conspirators have “the people for an enemy, and thus cannot hope for any escape”(Chapter 19), the country will also be more stabilized and powerful.

Even though Machiavelli is talking from a different time period, some of it relates to today’s US politics. The passage that I found interspersing was “So you see a wise ruler cannot, and should not, keep his word when doing so is to his disadvantage, and when the reasons that led him to promise to do so no longer apply.” Many politicians make promises for their campaign to win the election but after they’re elected they only fulfill few of them. For example, Mayor DeBlasio opposed the stop and frisk from the beginning of his campaign in the city’s mayoral election, he made promise to reform the program. However, according to many people he did not make any changes. Not just the mayor but also the president made many promises that he did not fulfill. I found chapter 18s passage very relevant to our politics and politicians here in the U.S.

“So you must be a fox when it comes to suspect a trap, a lion when it comes to making the wolves to turn tail”

This passage written by Machiavelli is a very good advice to everyone and especially important to the head of the country. For a politician it is very important for you to watch out for traps everywhere not just focusing on your opponent but also your allies because they might be bribed by other people and/or wanting to take you down themselves, so everyone is waiting others to make mistakes and use it to control or destroy you. For a politician everyone are potential enemy so you must to be cautious to face everyone.

Power is determining the voice of your speech. If a normal people want to run the election for president, no one will going to vote for him because he has no influence over other people nether financially nor socially, even thou the person had the wisdom to benefit the country no one will listen to the person. That is the basic requirement to be a “lion”, to make others to listen to you. And it is also important to have lion’s power while you are in the office, an example is the government close down not long ago, both sides of the conflict do not have enough power to make each other to listen to them and do what they say, thus making the government not running normally. So for a politician power in any way is needed to make other to listen and obey.

Both being smart and be powerful are important a person, but a normal person can survive with just one of the, a politician on the other hand must have both or else he could be tricked or fooled by other if he wasn’t smart enough or being ignored if he wasn’t powerful enough. This is not just an advise that Machiavelli wrote to the king but a rule of being a good politician.

“ I also think a ruler will flourish if he adjust his policies as the character of times changes; and similarly a ruler will fail if he follows policies that do not correspond to the needs of the time…But if one knew how to change ones character as the time and circumstances chance, ones luck would never run out.”(75-76)

In this chapter Machiavelli goes on to explain that though people believe fortune is something that just comes and goes, and its ruled by god, (humans have no control of it) he says if you are an adaptable leader and are flexible to current world situations you can control and use it to your advantage. I think this in a way shadows why in the United States we have different political parties. Also why in different points of history one party seems to be more dominant and successful than the others. Political parties are made up of somewhat set standards, beliefs and, values they want to communicate to the people. The political representatives of these parties “share” these beliefs. The laws, rules and changes they want to instill and speak about are connected to those initial values. Machiavelli says that this is the reason rulers fail. Because the world changes, situations change, and the policies and beliefs we though we needed before are no longer relevant to the time. A great example is the Democratic and Republican party. Right now gay marriage is a huge topic and it is something that is increasingly becoming acceptable as more and more states legalize it. A Republican Party member would be against gay marriage, because of the root of their religious beliefs and values. But if they were running in a state that is pro gay marriage, it would not be advantageous for them to say they are against it. Politicians need to stay current and relevant with developing policies, and sometimes this may mean setting their initial beliefs aside, and adapting to new ones. This is why in the United States we have periods where there is a Democratic majority in government ruling, and others where it is Republicans. The party’s beliefs aren’t changing, but the wants of the people are, so they are electing the leaders best suited for the current situation.

A man must be half man and half beast. The two beat he should act like is a fox and lion. The lion is strong at all times to take out his enemies that he may face but a lion do not have brains like a fox. A fox is sneaky and smart.

A prince must know his surroundings at al times. He is strong enough to take out all threats that may come besides him as well as what may come near him. A prince is powerful, understands how to use his power at the same time make sure it does not slip always. This passage of what I leader should be holds true till today. Man could be kind and graceful. But beast is smart and strong. Two traits that are in every leader.

Any good politicians or anyone of public power understands or must have the understanding of what it takes to be a good leader. Their imagine is very important, it should show kindness and trust but at the same time a smart powerful leader. For politicians they understand how to maintain their imagine when they are being attacked by other parties. A politicians stands strong at all times and sees all upcoming threats like a fox. Other than facing threats by others, a politician today should understand how to stand by his beliefs even if some people do not like what they are. Nobody likes a person who can not make up their mind, a leader who can not make up their mind would be even worst. They hold no position or a true value towards any belief.

While as a nation, the a country is and should not be afraid to fight back at the same time takeover another country. As Americans this country, we are graceful to others in need of help as the same time we have the power to show or use our “beast” side when it comes to war.