Othello: That is 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,
‘Twould make her amiable and subdue my father
Entirely to her love, but if she lost it
Or made gift of it, my father’s eye
Should hold her loathed and his spirits should hunt
After new fancies: she, dying, gave it me;
And bid me, when my fate would have me wive,
To give it her. I did so: and take heed on’t;
Make it a darling like your precious eye;
To lose’t or give’t away were such perdition
As nothing else could match.

I was stumped for awhile on what would make for an interesting topic for my final blog post. As I began skimming through the play again though I came across the scene where Othello starts to explain to Desdemona the history of the handkerchief. The passage above is the story.

Othello starts by saying “that is a fault”, which refers to Desdemona making a mistake by not keeping the cloth on her at all times. I remember reading the play the first time and thinking to myself that he should probably relax and not get mad at her over something like that. She clearly loves him deeply at this point and I wouldn’t think it necessary to start a fight over a gift that he gave to her. However in hindsight, after learning the importance and history of the handkerchief, it is not only wise of Desdemona to keep it on her because of its sentimental value, but also because of the magic that exists within it. Othello goes on to explain that an Egyptian charmer gifted the handkerchief to his mother so that its powers could help her woo his father. There was a catch though, Othello explains, ” but if she lost it / or made gift of it, my father’s eye / should hold her loathed and his spirits should hunt / after new fancies.” For me this part of the text certainly “resists easy explanation”. I was confused as to whether or not Othello was making this up just to scare Desdemona? Perhaps he wanted to scare her into being loyal or to forewarn her that she has no wiggle room in regards to disloyalty. I was not sold on the fact that the handkerchief itself carried this much power or importance. Regardless of the cloth did or not, the fact of the matter was that this was a clear foreshadowing set in place by Shakespeare, and us the readers/viewers were not to take it lightly. He continues on to explain how his mother warned him to be wise in which woman he chooses to regift the handkerchief too. As its powers are still present and if he gives it to the wrong woman, he will never find a love that strong again.

After re-reading this passage a few times I thought it was really cool just how powerful and important the handkerchief actually was. Did you guys overlook this importance at all? Did you think it was fair of Othello to put such a responsibility on Desdemona without warning her? Do you believe the handkerchief actually carried this much weight or was it just a story to hype it up?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fItEfJhf0oc

This is from the Larry Fishburne version of “Othello” in 1995. I came across this scene and thought it would make for an excellent topic to discuss on this blog. This is the first time that Iago openly admits his distaste for Othello and where his coup to ruin Desdemona’s and Othello’s relationship began.

Iago: Thus do I ever make my fool my purse:
For I mine own gain’d knowledge should profane,
If I would time expend with such a snipe.
But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor:
And it is thought abroad, that ‘twixt my sheets
He has done my office: I know not if’t be true;
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
Will do as if for surety. He holds me well;
The better shall my purpose work on him.

This is the text from the scene that we watched, where Iago first admits how he deeply despises Othello. In this monologue Iago talks about how he plans on using Roderigo to help him get what he wants. He then says, “But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor”. To me this means that for amusement and personal gain he has a disliking for Othello. The next two lines is Iago referring to the rumor that has made its way around that Othello has been sleeping with Desdemona, who Iago is psychotically referring to as his wife already. He than goes on to say that despite this not being proving and only a suspicion, he plans on finding out more information just to be sure. “He holds me well; The better shall my purpose work on him.” To me I interpreted this as Othello think highly of Iago and this will only help make it easier for Iago to formulate a plot to bring him down.

Honestly after knowing how this play unfolds and reading/watching the tragedy unfold, re-reading this speech by Iago makes me pretty sick. He is an absolutely dreadful human being and completely rotten through and through. It was cool though to read this and than watch the clip from the movie. The acting was really good and it helps us as a viewer to show just how sinister Iago truly is. To me this is where Iago’s evil plot, and Othello’s downfall actually begins.

What did you guys think of the acting? Does anyone side with Iago and his quest for Desdemona?

I thought it would be interesting to compare the murder scene from a modern day adaptation of the play with the actual scene from “Othello”. In this scene in the movie we see O get close to Desi by placing a hand on her shoulder and apologizing for his anger and misunderstanding of the whole handkerchief situation. Only things are not what they seem as the next thing he does is bring her in for a kiss only to start to strangle her to death. He starts to explain to her that he had no choice but to murder their mutual friend that Hugo(Iago), convinced O that Desi was cheating on him with. He is hysterical, and explains that he wishes he could just let her go but that he was so in love there is no other way to put an end to the situation than to take her life.

 Desdemona: O, banish me, my lord, but kill me not!

 Othello: Down, strumpet!

Desdemona:Kill me to-morrow: let me live to-night!

Othello: Nay, if you strive—

Desdemona: But half an hour

Othello: Being done, there is no pause.

Othello: It is too late.

Desdemona: But while I say one prayer!

[He stifles her] 

We watched the adaptation unfold a little differently than the text from the original play, which can be seen above. In the play Othello and Desdemona are having a direct conversation about the fact that he is going to take her life. He lays everything that has happened out on the line and ignores her pleading and begging. She openly begs Othello to let her live a little longer. Asking for a day, then a half an hour, then a single prayer. Othello will have none of it though and “stifles” her to death at once. In the movie it was much more of a surprise to Desi when O starts to strangle her.

I thought watching the movie was a lot more powerful than reading the scene in the book. In the movie, O seems to not be out of his mind, as he is explaining his actions while they are taking place. There is no room to argue temporary insanity. In the play you can’t see and feel the emotion as we watch in unfold in a movie. When reading the play a part of me wants to argue that Othello must have been crazy and lost touch with reality, in the movie there is no wiggle room like that. It is more opened and closed case.

How did you guys feel about the difference in the two scenes? Would you agree that in the movie Othello is making a conscious decision to murder her? Which scene did you prefer as a viewer/reader ?

Sentimental: based on, showing, or resulting from feelings or emotions rather than reason or thought.

I found it really interesting just how much stock Othello puts in the handkerchief that he gifts to Desdemona early on in the play. It is clear that because it came from his mother, and has a very intriguing backstory, it is not just some random object he spent a lot of money on for her. The idea that something can become more than just an inanimate object, when there is history and love behind it is a subject worth discussing. For Othello, the gifting of the handkerchief to Desdemona was the ultimate promise and sign of intent to be loyal too her for as long as they both shall live. I have chosen a piece of text to illustrate just how powerful the thought of betrayal involving the handkerchief and Desdemona was for Othello. It can almost be argued that Othello had lost his mind at this point and was beyond reason.

Desdemona: And have you mercy too! I never did
Offend you in my life; never loved Cassio
But with such general warranty of heaven
As I might love: I never gave him token.

Othello: By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in’s hand.
O perjured woman! thou dost stone my heart,
And makest me call what I intend to do
A murder, which I thought a sacrifice:
I saw the handkerchief.

Desdemona: He found it then;
I never gave it him: send for him hither;
Let him confess a truth.

Othello: He hath confess’d.

It is clear that Desdemona is frantic as she realizes her life is about to be taken by the man she loves most in the world. She begs him to have mercy on her, and pleads her case that this is simply a misunderstanding. Othello though, set in his ways, has convinced himself that Cassio was given the cloth by Desdemona. It is truly a shame because if Othello was not so lost in emotion (caused by his love for his wife and the sentimental value of the handkerchief) he would be able to objectively decide that Desdemona would have to be a moron to re-gift the cloth back to a mutual friend of theirs. It is sad to see that even a highly regarded General of the army such as Othello can be overpowered by love.

Do you guys agree with the notion that sentimental value is a real and powerful emotion? Would you say that Othello was overpowered by his emotions and the thought of betrayal and lost his ability to make decisions objectively?

Medea: What spirit, what god listens to you, you liar, you breaker of oaths, you deceiver of guests?

Jason: You are loathsome. You murdered our children.

Medea: Get out of here, go – go bury your’ wife.

Jason: I’m leaving, bereft of my sons.

Medea: Do you think that you’re mourning them now? Just wait till you’re old.

Jason: Oh, dearest children

Medea: To me, not to you.

Jason: And yet you still did this?

Medea: To make you feel pain.

Othello: Why, any thing:

an honourable murderer, if you will;

For nought I did in hate, but all in honour.

Lodovico: This wretch hath part confess’d his villany:

did you and he consent in Cassio’s death?

Othello: Ay.

Cassio: Dear general, I never gave you cause.

Othello: I do believe it, and I ask your pardon.

Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil

why he hath thus ensnared my soul and body?

For my “analysis of a connection” piece I chose to show how Othello differs from Medea. Both characters were the centerpieces of their stories and unforeseen events lead both of them to commit murder. It can be argued whether their actions were unjust or not, but this piece is not a judgement of their actions, rather it is a comparison of each characters thought process and motive. In the first reading we see Medea and her ex husband Jason last conversation. In it Jason calls out Medea for being a cruel and “loathsome” person for murdering their children after Jason decided to divorce Medea for a new wife. She proceeds to rub it in his face telling him as the years go by he will mourn and miss them more. She also tells him to get out of her face more or less and to go bury his wife. It is my understanding that she is so hurt and caught up in his past actions that she NEEDS him to hear it from her mouth, calling another woman his wife. Finally the conversation ends with her literally saying that she took their own children’s lives just to make Jason feel pain. There is no other possible motive or defense behind Medea’s actions, her crime was committed solely based on revenge.

Othello’s case differs from Medea’s because his motive was not the same. Unlike Medea who was directly betrayed by the person she was in love with, Othello was betrayed by the people surrounding his relationship. Unfortunately, these “friends” did such a good job at leading Othello to believe that Desdemona betrayed him, that it ultimately caused him to take her life. The text above shows a conversation Othello is having with a friend after he has murdered his wife. In it he states that his murder was not out of hate, or in Medea’s case “revenge”, but rather out of honor. Honor in that he loved her so deeply he did not believe either of them deserved to live if she had truly betrayed her. He then admits to consenting to his friends death as Iago had convinced Othello that Cassio was the one Desdemona was cheating on him with. Othello in hindsight realizes it was all a coup, and admits he was mislead by a bad friend, asks that Cassio pardon his betrayal and ill wishes.

So through these readings we see that although two characters both murdered their spouses, each of them were lead to these actions by different circumstances. In the end one murdered for revenge, and the other, for honor.

Did you guys agree or disagree with the difference in motive between Othello and Desdemona?

“The fourth wall” is an expression stemming from the world of theater. In most modern theater design, a room will consist of three physical walls, as well as an imaginary fourth that serves to separate the world of the characters from that of the audience. (urban dictionary.com)

In class on 5/16/16, we discussed the fourth wall. We were shown a video in class, and a few people brought up how Othello and Iago both seem to break the fourth wall by looking  or speaking directly at the camera. I stumbled across the cover photo for the Larry Fishburne version of “Othello”, and my immediate reaction to his face was that he is breaking the fourth wall in this photo. I love how in this picture Desdemona is completely infatuated with Othello, there is no sign of betrayal, or anything that would lead the viewers to believe that she is up to no good. Then there is Othello’s glare. Its almost piercing like he is looking the viewer dead in the eye. It is almost hard to describe, but when I see his face, it is as if he knows that there is treachery to follow. You look at her and think, “well this should be a good romance movie”. Then you look at Othello and immediately know you are in for far more then just a straight forward Romance. I liked how in class Andrew talked about how breaking down the fourth wall is almost like the actor is saying I respect the viewer enough to confide in them and talk to them directly about what is unfolding as what we are watching it. When I see Othello in this photo, it is like he is forewarning us that the events to follow are going to get very real and complicated.

How do you guys feel about the use of a fourth wall in cinema? Did you agree or disagree with how I felt about a fourth wall existing in this photo?

I chose this scene from the 2001 adaptation of Othello, called “O”. This is the final scene of the movie, in it Mekhi Phifer plays Othello. I chose this scene because it was the most powerful adaptation of Othello I have ever watched. As we see it starts off with Hugo (Iago) dropping the gun, only to have O come and pick it up. We can clearly see O trying to put together all of the pieces of the puzzle in his mind as he is walking over to Hugo. I loved how this final scene plays out pretty accurately to the end of the text. O questions Hugo as to why he did everything he did. Hugo replies, ” You don’t ask me nothing, I did what I did and thats all you need to know, from here on out I say nothing.” This is very similar to Iago’s response in that he neither confirms or denies everything that he did. The only difference is that in the play Iago then exits for good, and in the movie we see how Hugo follows O out on to the porch for his final monologue. More importantly is O’s final speech out on the patio in front of a lot of other students and eventually two police officers. This is my favorite part of the entire film. His acting was so intense, you could feel the rage, confusion, and despair in every line he delivers. I liked how he went on to explain to everyone that he is no different than anyone else. That he did not come from a broken home, that he was not a gangster or drug dealer. He was a basketball star who was simply in love with his girlfriend. He tells them all that it was Hugo who got in his head, a friend who he trusted, that ultimately played him. He was in too deep and believed the person he should not have. He regretted his decision to murder “Desi” but that there was no going back. He wanted everyone to know who he was and what the truth was. That he wasn’t crazy, instead to caught up in his emotions, and the lies that were spun to him. He then takes his life as he has nothing else to live for. Just like in the play.

Did you guys enjoy this scene? Did anyone not like how the movie portrayed the text? Finally did everyone enjoy the acting?

LODOVICO. O thou Othello, thou wert once so good, Fall’n in the practice of a damned slave,
What shall be said to thee?

OTHELLO. Why, any thing: An honorable murderer, if you will;
For nought I did in hate, but all in honor.

I chose to do my analysis of a passage on Lodovico’s exchange with Othello. Lodovico is saying to Othello that he was once viewed as a General of the army. With this ranking came the respect and praise of all of the citizens in Venice. He was known to be a good man, someone to look up to and who people could count on. They entrusted him with his decision making abilities both on and off the battle field. He goes on to say that Othello has stooped to the actions of someone like a slave. To murder out of anger or deceit. A slave is not someone who can remain calm and objective and not stop emotion from taking over.  He asks what he has to say for himself. I loved this passage because the answer Othello gave was the answer you would expect out of someone with such a reputation as praised as his. He gives a really truthful and understandable explanation for his actions. My interpretation of his response was as follows: Why say anything at all? If you will allow yourself to view it this way, it was an honorable murder. I did not murder out of disgust or hate. I murdered because I wanted to restore honor and want to put this situation to bed finally. I murdered because it was all that could be done, there was no going back from all the deceit and misery caused by the snake Iago. I felt this was an important scene to the play because in my eyes this was Othello’s way of saying he could not take back all the hateful remarks he has made to Desdemona or all this unjustifiable violence that took place. All that was left to do was to end it all, in hopes of keeping some honor intact. This was a very significant passage to the classes reading of the text because it was our only chance to hear what Othello had to say for himself when all of the dust settled.

Did you guys think that Othello had lost his sanity by this part?  Did you believe that what Othello did was in the defense of his honor? Or was that just an excuse to defend his actions?