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My Trip to the MET

Extra credit

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)

Othello: Act V

Student blog post

In Act V of Othello, all the tensions of the play finally come to a head and plans unfold in spectacularly tragic fashion. The effort to kill Michael Cassio fails as his “coat” is thick enough to protect him from Roderigo’s blow. Cassio is then able to strike Roderigo. Iago does his best to salvage the situation by killing Roderigo. Othello, still convinced Desdemona was unfaithful to him with Michael Cassio, decides to carry out his plan to kill his wife. Desdemona begs Othello, trying to convince him of her faithfulness. Blinded by passion and anger, he ignores her cries and suffocates her. Othello later learns of Iago’s lies and deceit, and as Iago sees his master plan being completely ruined, he chooses to kill his own wife for attempting to share the truth. Othello tries to kill the captured Iago but is unsuccessful, and when faced with the realization that he will be punished for his actions, decides to take his own life. Iago is set to be tortured for his role, and the tragedy concludes.

Othello begins with the plans of Iago and Roderigo to deal with Cassio, and it is their actions that drive a wedge between all characters involved. Through lies and deceit, they shroud the truth and selfishly play characters against one another. Love fueled Othello’s passion, and the stereotypes associated with moors appear to apply. Iago’s desire to oust Cassio, mixed with his underlying dissatisfaction with Othello himself lead him to take unfathomable action. The inability to see consequences for their actions, solely focused on reducing another man’s power and status in hopes of increasing their own, resulted in utter disaster.

 

Questions:

  1. Why do you think Iago refused to accept defeat, instead choosing to kill his own wife?
  2. What does the repeated use of the word “whore” say about the character accusing and accused of the claim?
  3. Are there any benefactors from these terrible events?
  4. How can we relate this story to our own lives and learn from the character’s misfortune?