As Sharifa asked: where’s everyone else’s blogs? I’ve got some linked here: if you still have one or two more comments to do and you let me know you’re doing them, you can comment on these blogs (just do it by the 31st).
https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/chrisabbendaothello/
https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/wang96/
https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/eng2800jmwdprojectidanbaum/
https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/ivin/
https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/othellofinalproject/
The connection between Othello and Medea is the selfishness. These two text had selfishness throughout the text by the two characters Iago and Medea. Iago and Medea were selfish because they only thought about they feelings and nobody else and react to things when it didn’t go their ways by getting revenge. In “Medea” by Euripides, Medea lost her husband to another girl, got kicked out her town where she had to start everything over. Medea was selfish because since she lost everything apart of her life she want to get revenge on everybody who was apart of Jason’s life to hurt him. Medea said “I will kill the children-my children no one on this earth can save them. I’ll ruin Jason’s household.”(lines 812-19) Medea only thought about herself because she killed her children to get revenge on Jason because he ruined her life by taking her life from her and she didn’t want her friends to laugh at her for just leaving the town without getting even with Jason. As for Iago he was being selfish because he didn’t get the position he been wanting for a long time. Iago said “And nothing can or shall content my soul till I am even’d with him, wife for wife.”(Act 2, Scene 1) Iago didn’t care how nobody felt he was going to do whatever it took to get Cassio remove from the Lieutenant position and get Desdemona out Othello’s life, so he could get the position of lieutenant and have Othello focus on him more. The difference between Medea and Iago in getting revenge is Medea wanted to get revenge on Jason because he took everything from her, cheated on her and hurt her. But with Iago he just wanted to get revenge because he didn’t get the position he been dying for and he lost it to a rookie man who didn’t have experience in the position.
https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/hatergonhate/
This semester I visited the MET museum with the intent of seeing one of my favorite pieces in the gallery, the Death of Socrates by French painter Jacques Louis David, and conducting a closer analysis of the piece. The scene shows Socrates accepting his sentence to death after being convicted of “denying the gods and corrupting the youth” in court. The painting is very dark, however we see Socrates standing out in the crowded cell draped in a white robe. As he reaches for the poison hemlock he points to the sky, possibly suggesting there is a higher power. The man at the foot of the bed is Socrates teacher, Plato, another well known philosopher also draped in white. These “enlightened” individuals are pure of mind and soul, as symbolized by the color. Off in the distance is a group of people exiting the jails after breaking in to free Socrates. It is said that he declined the easy escape, insisting he follow the rule of law and accept his fate. On the floor there lies a shackle, no longer attached to Socrates as he will soon be free of all humanly ties.
Socrates would have been an influencing figure during the time Medea and Antigone was written, in the time around 430 BCE. Socrate’s philosophical teachings about doing the “right” thing or pursuing ideals of justice are not necessarily well taught in the readings form this semester. Although, Socrates like Gawain and Othello believed their final moments to be honorable, a commonality in our readings of leading male figures. When faced with death, best not to show fear, rather accepting your circumstance and preserving your reputation.
(cannot upload my photo due to data capacity? Will email it to professor)
The painting of the “Dead Christ” by Andre Mantegra was a painting of the Christ on his death bed and his family watching him die. This painting resonate with the play because at the end of the play,Desdemona was getting ready to die but she didn’t know she was going to die because Othello was going to kill her. Desdemona was laying on death bed she didn’t know what her deathbed like Christ was in his death begin the painting. Othello was looking over Desdemona before he killed her and kiss her. Othello says “sweet soul,take heed, Take heed of perjury; thou art on thy deathbed.”(lines 59-60) This quote goes good with the painting because the dead Christ is on his deathbed probably for lying and Othello telling Desdemona to pay attention to the lies she been telling him that’s why she is on her deathbed. The picture was interesting to me because it symbol Desdemona laying in her deathbed, where she was about die because the way Othello was looking at Desdemona after he stabbed her he was sad inside for it because at that time he had to do it because he “cheated” on him. The face Othello looked at Desdemona while she was dying was the same way the man was looking at Christ when was lying on his deathbed. The picture symbolize the whole deathbed part with Desdemona
In the movie “Othello,” Iago and Othello is having a conversation about the handkerchief and Desdemona blaming Iago for taking it. Iago tells Othello that Cassio said he slept with Desdemona. Othello starts to freak out because he really love Desdemona and he would’ve never thought she would cheat on him. It goes into Othello daydreaming about Cassio and Desdemona sleeping together. In the movie it gives more live descriptions on how Othello pictured Cassio and Desdemona in bed together. The explaining of the movie shows Othello going into the trance and picturing them together but in the play it just says “fall in a trance.”(Act 4, scene 1, line 53) The way the play explains the conversation between Iago and Othello and the movie explains it is somewhat different because in the play Iago says “How is it general? Have you not hurt your head?” and Othello says “Dost thou mock me”(lines 72-73). But in the movie, Iago says “how is it,general?” Then Othello says “did he confess it?” This shows you that the movie switch parts around to make it sound better and more interesting than the play. In the play, Iago says “What,
If I had said I had seen him do you wrong?”(Act 4, Scene 1, lines 29-30) he was about to tell Othello false important about Cassio and Desdemona. In the movie, Iago said that part with more sad emotions on his false information he was about to tell Othello. He said it has it was true and he felt bad for Othello but he really didn’t because this was his plan.
In the movie “Othello 1995,” the part when Othello slap Desdemona was interesting and caught my attention because the way he hit her was priceless. Othello hit Desdemona because Iago told his wife Biana to steal the handkerchief from Desdomona’s room that Othello gave her and put it in Cassio’s room to make it seem as if Desdemona gave it to him. Iago went to give the handkerchief to Othello and told him it was in Cassio’s room. In the movie it shows more action on how he was talking to her with a nice tone then he starts to get anger when she said she didn’t have the handkerchief and he starts to get louder then he slaps her in her face. The movie makes the slap more emotional and you could actually feel it. But in the play, Othello was just having a conversation with Desdemona but you don’t know how Othello tone is while talking to her when you reading it and at the end Othello exist the room without slapping her. This part of the movie explains more on what went down when Othello and Desdemona was having a conversation about the handkerchief in more details. When Othello slap Desdemona I felt bad for her while watching the movie because it was so loud and more realistic I felt it myself through the screen. But reading the play it don’t say nothing about Desdemona getting slap, I was just normal reading it because it was no excitement in the play like it was in the movie. It was boring reading this part in the play. So for this part, it is best to watch the movie then read the play because it is more live action in movie than in the play. In the movie when Othello slap Desdemona her head went the other way and i found that part amaze too because that insist his slap was hard.http:/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gNLaro4vKs&list=PLE2433AB3CE37401C&index=14
In the play “Othello” by William Shakespeare, in Act 2 Scene 1 Iago found out Othello gave Cassio the position of lieutenant the he always want. Now Iago has a plan to plot on Cassio and Desdemona to get revenge on Cassio for taking the position he wants. Iago said “Do you find some occasion to anger Cassio, either by speaking too loud or tainting his discipline; or from what other course you please, which the time shall more favorably minister.”(othello, Act 2 sc 1) Iago was getting Roderigo to be apart of his plan on Cassio and Desdemona. He was insisting Roderigo to get Cassio mad at a important event for him fight and he could lose his spot as a lieutenant, Othello could give the position to Iago. Iago got Roderigo to be apart of the plan because he told him that Cassio would strike him and turn on him soon and he said Cassio loved Desdemona and Desdemona loved him back. Iago was talking to his self and he said “And nothing can or shall content my soul Till I am even’d with him, wife for wife, or failing so, get that I put the moor at least into a jealousy so strong that judgement cannot cure.”(Act 2, Sc 1, lines 307-311) Iago was saying that he is going to do everything to get Cassio out and Desdemona out of Othello life, so he could get the position of lieutenant. I was amaze when Iago said “For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too– Make the moor thank me, love me and reward me.”(line 316) This quote was interesting because the way he is sure that Othello is going to reward him with the position. Iago is really going to do everything in his power to get Cassio out, so he could come in and get the position of lieutenant.
http:/http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/othello_2_1.html
For those that do not know him, Yiruma is a famous Korean pianist and composer. He began playing the piano at 5 years old! When I heard that he was going to have a concert here in New York at Carnegie Hall, I just had to snatch some tickets! Many times, they were all sold out, so getting them I was really happy. This was actually my first time going to Carnegie Hall. I had no idea how it was inside but the moment I did step in, I was so mesmerized. The interior was beautiful! Before heading into the auditorium, they had us wait in a waiting room. In the waiting room, they had information on who came to Carnegie Hall and performed in the past. I just skimmed it because I was just too excited to go into the main hall! During the performance, I really wished I was able to take pictures but they were prohibited! Of course… I sneaked one but got caught. It was definitely worth it though to have it as a memory.
Wrapping it up, I definitely enjoyed his concert and experience! I would definitely recommend all of you guys to listen to some of his piano pieces. I will link his most popular pieces below! I promise you, they will be good. I enjoy listening to piano music when I write papers and study. They are very soothing. Since it is finals time, give it a try! It wont hurt! GOODLUCK EVERYONE ON YOUR FINALS!!