I think this play has been so popular over many years because its connection that many people in the world may have to the story. This story includes, adultery, worry, jealously, pride, manipulation, and death, love. All of these scenarios and feelings are so common in the everyday lifestyle to this day. Many people feel the fear of their loved one going against them; they fear love and death and what it could do to them. The world is a cruel place and with cruel manipulative people that are encountered all the time to better themselves and to enhance performance. I think this play touches so many connections to everyday life for so many people that the viewers and readers feel that they are not alone.

Othello: “I kiss thee ere I killed thee. No way but this,

Killing myself to die upon a kiss.” Act V, scene ii, lines 420-421

Othello in the end kills himself after seeing how he was betrayed and through all of the stereotypes, he was led to make decisions that were not in the best interest of his family, as he kills Desdemona prior. I feel like this quote is strong in summing up the story as a whole as it closes the play. He is saying how the women he kissed is now the women he killed and for that action, he will kiss her one last time and kill himself. By saying “No way but this,” I feel like it represents how he could no longer live with the understanding of his actions for killing his wife and being in the situation he now resides because of the falsified thoughts put into his head by Iago who should have been a loyal friend. He was misleading to believe information that was not right. In reality he should have been listening to his wife and understanding what she was saying and not what others were saying to him. In the end he feels his actions are not forgivable and that he is his worst enemy when he connects himself to a Turk. This was a good ending I feel because it closes the play with a dramatic ending and the main character finding out about how malicious people can be regardless of relationship. I feel that this teaches Othello what it really means to be married, how you should act towards a spouse, and how communication and trust is most important.

When I was reading Othello, I found it very difficult to read at some points because of the age of the text. This can definitely challenge the reader as well as the listener. However, when I can watch a performance, (with the help of the visual) I can be led to a better interpretation. After reading Othello I thought it would be a good idea to find a taping of a performance. I found watching the 1995 movie production of Othello that there was an attempt in creating a tense emotion for the viewer at points where there were heightened conversations. Reading Act III, Scene iii, I felt the play beginning to escalate as Iago decides to go through with setting Michael Cassio up with a handkerchief. He touched base with Othello about watching out for Desdemona as she has deceived father and could do the same to her husband. This is a similarity between another point in the play where Desdemona’s father warned Othello of the same instinct.

One point that made me look to observe more closely was that the movie skipped some lines that seemed important to me. This may be because, although I read it in one way and saw importance, for a performance, the great detail was not necessary to illustrate to the viewer what was going on.

Othello: Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless

Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.

Act III, Scene iii, Lines 283-284

In this quote, Othello questioned his actions before Iago left him, and doing so goes on with his thoughts. In the movie performance, he only asked “Why did I marry?” and Iago responded with “My lord, I would I might entreat your Honor / to scan this thing no farther. Leave it to time. / Although ‘tis fit that Cassio have his place—for sure he fills it up with great ability…” This seems as if it was in attempt to calm Othello down after just previously warning Othello of his wife potentially cheating on him. This represents Iago and his manipulative personality once again. After watching the performance of this scene it became clear to me that “This Honest creature doubtless / sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds” was not necessary as well as much more scenes found in the play as I read. It gave me a clear understanding of the importance of detail and extended explanation in a script that is being read rather then a movie because the movie gives you the visual and the script does not.

A reoccurring theme in our readings throughout the semester is characters being disloyal to one another. We see it depicted in Medea and in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, both driven in different directions. In Medea, Jason went off to marry a princess after already being married to Medea, leaving out any “drive” for bettering his family.

Medea: …I’ll say that I agree with him, that he

Was right to marry into the royal family,

Betraying me—well done, and well thought out…

No: this is my deceit, to kill the princess.

I’ll send them to her, bearing gifts in hand… (Lines 798-05)

This results in Medea killing the princess and the princess’ father through her children bearing the gifts as well as setting up Jason to live a depressing life for his actions. With Jason expressing his main purpose, regardless true or not, by going against him is disloyal because he is risking all to support their children.

In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain refuses to mention a gift received by the Lord Bertilak’s wife, which would make him disloyal to his promise in the game.

“So twice you were truthful, therefore twice I left

no scar.

The person who repays

Will live to feel no fear.

The third time, though, you strayed,

And felt my blade therefore.” (Lines 2352-2357)

It can be seen that Sir Gawain was loyal in his promise to Lord Bertilak two times out of the three encounters with the game they played. By Lord Bertilak being the Green Knight and testing Sir Gawain, watching to see how loyal the Knights of the court of Arthur really is, he found that Sir Gawain was selfish in caring for his own life rather then going through with a promise that he made. This disloyalty became apparent as he found this information out and by realizing what he had done, Sir Gawain felt disappointed in himself and his decisions.

We can see in this theme of disloyalty in Othello as well by the relationship between Othello and Iago. Throughout the play, Iago goes on and on regarding his plans in ruining Michael Cassio and Othello by leading many to believe in the disasters that he comes up with. He lies consistently to people including his wife in order to assure his plan is successful and in doing so, hurts many and ruins lives. His warped character shows his disloyalty to family and friends through his malicious persona. As he was caught in Act V, Scene ii, through Cassio expressing the truth on where he found the handkerchief, it becomes apparent that Iago began carrying on the charade in attempt to ruining Michael Cassio and getting Rodreigo closer to Desdemona.

Cassio: I found it in my chamber,

And he himself confessed but even now

that there he dropped it for a special purpose

Which wrought to his desire.

Act V, scene ii, lines 376-381

I think an important icon in the play Othello is the handkerchief given from Othello to Desdemona. Although we do not see when it was given to Desdemona it plays an important role. Othello describes why he gave it to her and the importance it has to him. I thought it would be best to get a visual of a handkerchief matching the description in the play. The image I found was used in the movie from the 1995 film of Othello. This piece becomes apparent in multiple scenes and is a key factor in the beginnings of Othello and his explosive jealous mindset. Iago sets the couple up when he hears from Emilia that she found it. He puts it in Michael Cassio’s chambers and when Cassio finds it he thinks it is lovely and asks Bianca to duplicate it. When Othello asks Desdemona to see the handkerchief she can not show him because it was lost and now Othello ties together with the help of Iago that there is a chance Desdemona is cheating on him with Michael Cassio. Jealousy is a main factor in this play. This scene is an example of how Iago creates a jealous mindset in Othello leading to disaster.

Othello: “That’s a fault. That handkerchief

Did an Egyptian to my mother give.

She was a charmer, and could almost read

The thoughts of people. She told her, while she kept

It…”

“…She, dying, gave it me,

And bid me, when my fate would have me wived,

To give it her.”

Act III, Scene iv, Lines 65-76

            What caught my attention when Othello asked Desdemona for this handkerchief. He then informed her of the importance it had to him. It seemed as if he was attempting to make her feel guilty and disappointed in herself for loosing something carelessly that was so valuable to her husband. He says “That handkerchief did an Egyptian to my mother give…She, dying…” and when someone attempts to make another feel guilty they push for the “oh my god!” factor and over exaggerate the importance of a topic. By the way he said this story, it seems like he was really pushing to make her feel guilty for her careless action. This can depict well what his emotions are as he, in a way, can turn manipulative as Iago is doing to the couple. By Othello being tricked into feeling as if his wife cheated, causes negative efforts on his end as a husband. This is showing a domino effect for those involved in this warped plan to ruin Michael Cassio’s career.

Arogundade, Ben. “Othello Handkerchief Scene: Meaning, Symbolism, Quotes From Othello Play.” Arogundade. N.p., 13 May 2016. Web. 15 May 2016.

Duke:                                     Let it be so.

Goodnight to everybody [to Brabantio] And, noble

Signior,

If virtue no delighted beauty lack,

Your son-in-law is far more fair than black.

Act I, Scene iii, Lines 327-330

The Duke’s character seems to be more of a third party outsider looking into the situation of Desdemona and Othello’s marriage and how they did not receive the approval from her father Brabantio of this marriage. One important characteristic of the play in general is the racist context that keeps being presented when referring to Othello. Being called a Moor by Iago, Rodreigo, Brabantio, and his new wife Desdemona at a point is disrespecting Othello though racism. Interesting to notice the obvious disrespect towards Othello, the Duke is referring to Othello now as Brabantio’s son-in-law.

The duke is in attempt to identify to Brabantio that Othello is now family. It seems as if he is attempting to also reassure Brabantio of the situation that is at place when stating, “your son-in-law is far more fair than black”. This could be interpreted in different ways. He could be using this as a racist comment about the true color of Othello, or he could be connecting the personality Othello presented himself as, when discussing the situation with the Duke and Brabantio. Othello stated his true love for Desdemona and in many ways stated the fair understanding that he is there for her to be loved and not in any erotic misfortune that Moor’s are stereotyped to be. He fought for Brabantio’s understanding and acceptance of the marriage that took place and in no way acted in a poor manor. He illustrated their relationship in a way that catered to the audience, with some aggression but not much—showing his tension of the struggle for acceptance.

It is interesting to also note that throughout the play, up until this point, the forms of racism slightly touched the color of his skin, leaving readers to interpretation of the description from their term “Moor”. Overall from this quote, Brabantio is really given the realization for the first time that Othello is now family, and although he was unfair in the way of the marriage, the nuptial was true and nobody was forced into it through “witchcraft”. The Duke could have done this as a way to calm down Brabantio and try and make him understand it is not the end of the world.

Reading Othello, I was able to see a similarity to the play, Antigone. What I find similar between both is the understanding of one’s reputation. I feel that in both plays, a character struggles with the thought that their reputation could be ruined based on how they react about situations that they are placed in. I feel that Cassio is in a way connected to King Kreon. King Kreon felt that if he let Antigone free he would no longer be looked at as the strong ruler of his land; and that his reputation would be demolished because he let a woman’s views overpower his ruling.

Cassio on the other hand, feels as if his reputation is ruined. Iago was able to trick Cassio into drinking more then he already had the night prior to the party for Othello and Desdemona. Othello told him at the beginning of the act that they had to speak the following morning. With that being said, Cassio felt as if he should not get drunk a night prior to speaking to Othello. At first, he tried to say no and be responsible, but in the end Iago “peer pressures” him into going through with drinking. This put Cassio into perfect position for Iago’s plan to take off. Cassio is found hitting Roderigo and as they started to fight. As Othello comes into the picture to find that there had been a fight, Cassio is ashamed of his actions.

Cassio: Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have

Lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of

Myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation,

Iago, my reputation!

Iago:   As I am an honest man, I thought you had

Received some bodily wound. There is more sense

In that than in reputation… You have lost no reputation at

All, unless you repute yourself such a loser.

Act II, Scene iii, Lines 281-290

With the use of words such as expressing himself as “the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial.” I feel like makes this scene very dramatic. Iago has to tell him to “relax” and that it’s not the end of the world that he got drunk and got into a fight. It is very interesting that Iago is telling him how much of an honest man he is which could potentially lead to prediction that Iago is planning the manipulation in his head on Cassio.

I feel that this connects to Antigone because Cassio learns that he was put into a situation that he could have changed. He reflects on it by being worried about his reputation. He is worried about how he looks to his boss, Othello and feels as if he cannot show his face due to this embarrassment. King Kreon is in a similar situation. He realizes he is wrong in the end of Antigone as he realized he was too harsh in the punishment of Antigone for burying her brother. Kreon weighs his options and “But if…” shows his worry for being looked at as weak. He is left with no son, no future daughter-in-law, nor wife because of his actions. He is seen discussing his realization with the Leader:

Leader: This old man leaves stark prophecies behind.

Never once, while my hair has gone from black

To white, has this prophet told Thebes a lie.

Kreon: I’m well aware of that! It unnerves me.

Surrender would be devastating

But if I stand firm, I could be destroyed. (Lines 1209-14)

Othello has been performed hundreds of times and at one point, it was performed here in New York City at the Metropolitan Opera House. This performance recently ended its time (Sept. ‘15- May ‘16). Unfortunately I never had the opportunity to personally experience it. Grateful for the Internet, I have the opportunity to read reviews and recently stumbled across a picture from the performance, which represents Othello, and Desdemona is in an aggravated state. This picture has connected me to the emotions represented in the scene photographed as well as what we can interpret as the personality of Othello. Throughout his tone of voice in the play, he is very aggressive and regiment in attempt to make his points clear about his love for Desdemona and the wanted acceptance of their newly discovered marriage. It is important for him to gain respect, as he clarifies his marriage to Brabantio and the Duke, he is very assertive in his tone of voice for those he needs to respect:

Rude am I in my speech,

And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace;

For since these arms of mine had seven years’ pith,

Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used

Their dearest action in the tented field

And little of this great world can I speak

More than pertains to feats of broil and battle.

Act I, Scene iii, Lines 96-102

I feel as if the reasoning for this strong expression on his face can relate to how he desperately expresses his emotion he has for Desdemona to her father. His word choices notifying that he may sound harsh in his expression because of how powerful his emotions are towards Brabantio’s daughter. This can be the reason for his disturbing face and body language in the picture. When reading his lines throughout the play it is helpful to have a visual to understand the type of person he is, as well as how Othello carries himself in situations that carry potential anger, disappointment, and passionate emotions. His expressed conversations between Brabantio and the Duke in Act I, Scene iii has brought an important understanding to the viewer and/or reader in regards to the personality Othello carries. Between the picture from the theatrical performance of Othello, and the quotation of him speaking of his relations to Desdemona, there is a helpful connection of the emotional, regiment personality that Othello has.

“Metropolitan Opera: Otello at Metropolitan Opera House.” New York City Theater. Metropolitan Opera House, Sept. 2015. Web. 09 May 2016.

In this blog post, I would like to discuss the connection in both of these passages between honor and obligation represented with the relationship of Desdemona and her father, Brabantio. It seems that honor and a devoted duty to father and daughter is very important in both roles. Unfortunately through the events of Desdemona’s marriage to Othello without the permission/notice of her father, she dishonored him and Brabantio now sees her in a different light. This first quote occurs when Desdemona is speaking for the first time in the play of her devoted love and honor that she must take part in towards her husband, Othello. She respects her father in identifying her prescribed duty to him through life and education, but she must now honor her husband. What I found interesting is that when speaking of Othello, as well as with others who are bound to no respect towards him, they identify him with the term, “Moor”. So my question would be, whether or not she is in the mindset of honoring and respecting her new husband to begin her new chapter in life with him and if the use of that word should not be used to support her claim to the necessity of honoring her husband?

Desdemona: My noble father,

I do perceive here a divided duty.

To you I am bound for life and education…

I am hitherto your daughter. But here’s my

Husband…I challenge that I may profess

Due to the Moor my Lord. (Act I, Scene iii, Lines 208-218)

This second quote is Brabantio giving Othello some last minute advice that sees almost as a backhanded remark. Brabantio is very upset over the fact that his daughter married, without his knowledge or approval to Othello, who they consider the “Moor”.

Brabantio: Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see.

She has deceived her father, and may thee. He exits.

(Act I, Scene iii, Lines 333-334)

He tells Othello, if she can deceive her father then she has the ability to do the same to her husband. The way he states it is forewarning the experience he just entailed with her as well as possibly the potential to deceiving Othello as well. If she can hurt her father’s emotion, then there is no stopping what she can do to someone who is not a blood relative. In the prior quote, Desdemona expresses her honor to her father, but in Brabantio’s quote, he sees what she did was dishonest and deceiving. This can challenge each others understanding of what it means to be respectful as a whole to her father and to her husband. It seems as if Desdemona has more of a dishonest characteristic that is being shown in both of these quotes.

In the beginning of the play Othello, there is a clear understanding of Iago’s feelings towards Othello, as he has bitter, hateful emotion towards due to the fact that Othello has given the position of Lieutenant to Michael Cassio; and Iago feels he would have been a better fit. In all, Iago wants revenge of Othello because he decides to give this position to Michael Cassio who Iago feels is not as deserving as well as revenge of Othello for giving not giving the position to him. To add to the plan of revenge Roderigo informed Iago of Othello and Desdemona’s marriage. In Iago’s viscous rant over his feelings towards Othello he states,

…Were I the Moor I would not be Iago.

In following him, I follow but myself.

Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,

But seeming so for my peculiar end

For when my outward action doth demonstrate

The native act and figure of my heart

In complement extern, ‘tis not long after

But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve

For daws to peck at. I am not what I am. (Act I, Scene i, Lines 63-71)

This was a very interesting part of Act I, Scene i because of his comparison to the “Moor” which would be Othello. It was very difficult to fully understand due to Iago’s personality and emotion being expressed with connections between current events of promotion and potential political advantage. He states how if it was a different situation and he was in the position of Othello, he would not want to be Iago. Iago feels he is not as important and if he received the position Michael Cassio would have, he would have felt powerful. Iago says if he were Othello then he would not want to be Iago possibly because of Iago feeling powerless in a sense. This could also explain his jealousy towards the newly ranked Michael Cassio. If there seems to be someone challenging him, he will have to strive in a different way even if it is malicious to become that powerful role. Iago goes on to say how he is in this position for his own benefit, how he does not put effort into his position for others to go against him. By stating “I am not what I am” makes me think how he could be seen as friendly and caring towards his higher ranked friends but he really feels there is a malicious characteristic in which he possesses. The word choice could be foreshadowing his plan to ruin the relationship between Othello, Desdemona and Cassio all through the jealousy and bitterness of others obtaining promotion based politically instead of being based by morality.

This passage is significant to the entire play of Othello because it sets up the type of person Iago is and how he is being portrayed, giving the reader an idea on what could potentially appear later on. This is a good illustration on the mischievous personality Iago has, and for us as readers to understand his personality, it sets up the play on our mind.