During spring break, I went to Washington DC with my sister and mother. We were just walking on the street without certain destination but suddenly found the place where a lot of people, especially children with parents were waiting. It was Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. We were able to enter without any fee so there was no ticket or receipt received from the museum. The museum has several exhibitions but I enjoyed hope diamond, gems and minerals room and human origins room the most. The museum overall has very realistic sculptures and models that seem so real. I argued that even though they seem that real, they are all made so therefore they are fake. However,my sister and mother stood against me and maintained they are taxidermied or stuffed animal. We were passing through mammals hall and all the mammals looked so real with skin texture, color, wrinkles and beard. Even some parts of clams were broken especially the upper parts and colored old like grey that were enough to make us confused. My mother was very surprised and impressed by the quality of the animals. I have never really seen her enjoying the museum so I feel very satisfied by seeing her happy. My mother especially enjoyed the hope diamond and gems and minerals room. We were able to see various types and colors of gems and jewels. We could also learn where they have come from and the time era they were found by human beings. I was impressed by each natural color each gem has. I feel like the room was lightened by the colors the jewels blow out. They all have different color but they were very shiny in common. There were also actual jewelry displayed that were made with the jewels explained. There were so many people, especially female adults enjoying the room by taking pictures of the jewels. Another room I enjoyed was the human origins. I could see things where I saw in my history textbook such as australopithecus. There were sculpture and models for each human origin based on specific time era. We could see how human being evolved with specific characteristic. There was estimated height for each human origin and we could actually compare with us. When I first looked at the sculptures of human origins, they were really like animals. I learned from textbooks that human beings were at the first resemble monkeys. However, by looking with my real eyes, I was surprised like how could evolved until this form from that form. Overall I had really good experience. My mother and sister said they would like to visit once more. I don’t really enjoy going museums but this experience changed my mind. Therefore, I am willing to visit natural history museum in upper side.
Extra Credit: Trip to the Met
On Thursday I took a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which I haven’t been to in well over a year. While I was there looking for art from around the same time Othello was written in (ca. 1603), I walked through a gallery section that contained pieces of art from Venice and Northern Italy between the year 1400 to 1600. All of the pieces in this section contained themes and ideas that are evident in Shakespeare’s play Othello. One piece in particular that caught my attention was titled Elements of the Light-Cavalry Armor. This armor suit, which was made from steel, gold and copper, allowed me to better visualize how Othello, an officer of the Venetian army, may have dressed. This armor suit’s design is deeply rooted in Christian symbolism and the Bible, giving a good sense of how crucial religion was to the Venetians of this era. Although this piece is said to have originated about one hundred years from the time Shakespeare wrote Othello, it is a good portrayal of how the characters in Othello may have dressed. This exhibit overall helped me to make a stronger connection between Othello and the era it was written in. I would definitely recommend any of the other students to check it out!
Extra Credit: Visit to the Met
Art is something that I am interested in and a few weeks ago I made my way over to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the first time. I am so interested in the many different types of artwork and how through time, we have evolved and it is represented through art. I noticed there was a section that contained sculptures of Greek art from around the same time as when Antigone was written. This drew my attention quickly because we read the play and sculptures can help illustrate what these characters wore, and looked like, giving me that visual. I have attached a picture of one of the sculptures I found most interesting out of the entire exhibit and that the true connection between this piece of art and the piece of literature would be the time period it was made. This is a Marble Head of an Athlete and is actually a replica of a Greek statue from 450-425 B.C. (where Antigone was written around 441 B.C.) Now there were many sculptures depicting this time period and I was able to get a feel for their characteristics, how they looked, wore, as well as how their body language interacted with one another in some larger pieces as well as Greek paintings. Although this is an athlete and Antigone was not an athlete, nor were any of the characters athletes in the play, I am able to still feel that connection between both pieces because since they are from the same time period, the minds creating them believed in similar things and ways of life and the depiction of this artwork can relate to others around its era.
Othello Act V The End
Act V brings the tragedy of Othello the Moor to a close. While there is tremendous loss and sorrow, the plot is nicely wrapped up. There is an interesting moment between Othello and Desdemona when Othello asks her to confess her sins. It brought my mind the idea of a person confessing their sins to a priest. Othello ‘s actions represents the horrors of pride and prejudice that can be found in Venetian society. As Othello states in line 65 onwards,
Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin.
For to deny each article with oath
Cannot remove nor choke the strong conception
That I do groan withal. Thou art to die.
At this moment, we understand as readers that Othello will not be stopped nor will he spare Desdemona. His act is that of which is required of him, purely for the sake of his honor. Othello found no love in what he did and is stll in love with Desdemona. If it had been any other story, Othello would have not killed Desdemona. But in this tragedy, characters stay true to their nature.
1) How do you think the Venetian upper class reacted to the events that transpired?
2)What is your take on Othello’s last words on lines 395 onwards? How does he feel about himself?
Othello: Act V
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:
- Why do you think Iago refused to accept defeat, instead choosing to kill his own wife?
- What does the repeated use of the word “whore” say about the character accusing and accused of the claim?
- Are there any benefactors from these terrible events?
- How can we relate this story to our own lives and learn from the character’s misfortune?
MET Museum
I currently went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and it was a very eye seeing experience. This was my first time going and I didn’t know what to expect but I was also excited to see the many exhibits that they had to offer. One of the main exhibits that grasped my attention was old European century palace decor. I was so intrigued of how different houses looked in the inside especially the interior texture. I was able to see the living interiors of kings and queens and how they decorated. It was amazing because each wall of the living rooms and even master rooms were designed to have the highest quality of luxury including gold texture around the beds, and chandeliers hanging above the bed. It was so beautiful because you can really see that kings and queens were the tipping point of lavish in their time. This exhibit interested me a lot because I was able to compare it to the houses that we have now and our own interior texture. Now a days you don’t see rooms or houses made out of gold or extravagant objects laying across the floor. I truly was amazed and learned a lot about old European texture.
MET- Transitional Object(Psychobarn)
I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art this past week to see an exhibit that I was really looking forward too. I really do not enjoy going to museums because I feel that they are boring. I only went to see a special exhibit called the Psychobarn on the roof top garden. Cornelia Parker created it and she based it off the red barn in the 1960 film Psycho. After viewing the movie you might think it is the exact house but that is what she wants. She wants you to decide what it is so you can be the judge to what it is. It has a beautiful view of the city and going there with a significant other is a great thing to do. You will have a great time and it is a very cheap exhibit to pay for. The house itself is very creepy and old looking it really does remind you of a haunted house. The way the Manhattan skyline is in the back of the barn provides a contrast like some sort of illusion. I believe that is why the pieces name is called the Transitional Object. I recommend that people should go visit this exhibit because it was a great experience. I had a problem trying to relate this to a topic in class because it was literally just a house. Many people came out that day to see it and seems to be a popular spot for people in the city.
Verdi’s Otello
This past weekend I attended the final performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Otello” at the Metropolitan Opera. I had to attend an opera as a requirement for my opera class, which fortunately lined up perfectly with our readings of Othello in class. Though the story was lacking a few details that I have already read in Shakespeare’s Othello, the overall story was the same. It was very interesting to see the changes that were made, such as Verdi’s decision to completely taking out Act 1 where we see Desdemona’s father learning about her eloping. I wondered why Verdi decided to make these changes, but I think it could be because he wanted to condense the story and make sure that the grand, emotional scenes took precedence over scenes that he felt maybe weren’t as important to the overall story. It was really great to see this story performed on stage with such beautiful music, sets and costumes. It helped give me a better understanding of the overall story that I may have missed from just reading the play. It was sung in Italian and they had “Met titles” or subtitles that were on the back of the chair so that I could read the translation throughout the performance. I thought that this may detract from the experience by having to read and try to see the action of stage, but it wasn’t a problem. This was my first time at the Met and it was an amazing experience. I definitely will be going back to see another opera when I have a chance.
Othello Act III
During Act III of Othello, Iago brings his plan to fruition by leading Othello to believe that there is something going on between Cassio and Desdemona. He plays on Othello’s insecurities about Desdemona and gets him to believe she cannot be trusted. Othello’s doubt transitions into a firm belief that his wife is betraying him when Iago presents the handkerchief Othello gave Desdemona on their honeymoon. Iago knows how important this handkerchief is to Othello, and this was all he needed to convince Othello that Desdemona is guilty. This handkerchief can be viewed as a symbol of Othello’s relationship with Desdemona. It was the first gift he gave her, and is therefore the most crucial symbol of their love. To Othello, the handkerchief is Desdemona’s love; and when she loses it, so has she forsaken his love.
Iago says, “Trifles light as air / Are to the jealous confirmations strong / As proofs of holy writ. This may do something.” (Ac. 3, Sc. 3, 370-372) Iago realizes that real proof is not necessary because mere doubt is enough to fuel Othello’s jealousy. He does not need to plant emotions, he simply preys on the weaknesses that already exist in each character. Even though the handkerchief itself is insignificant, the fact that it is in another man’s possession is enough to convince Othello of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness.
- Why does Iago delay in offering Othello visual proof of the claimed affair between Desdemona and Cassio?
- Cassio denies Desdemona’s request to stay and hear her plead his case. Iago uses Cassio’s exit to make him seem guiltier. What do you think would’ve happened if Cassio had agreed to stay as Desdemona requested?
- It is clear that Othello is a doubtful in his thinking. Why would he believe Iago more than the woman he married?
Othello Act III
Act III of Othello is where we see Iago’s devious plan to hurt Othello finally taking place and we see that the major themes of this play are jealousy and deception. At first, Iago insinuates that there is a relationship between Desdemona and Cassio, but wont offer Othello any proof. Iago tells Othello, “It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock/The meat it feeds on.” (Act 3, Sc. 3, 196-197) In this instance Iago is referring to Othello’s jealousy towards Cassio, and is comparing Othello to an animal that is playing with his victim. I found this line to have a double meaning as Iago could also be seen as the green-eyed monster that is toying with Othello’s emotions by slyly planting this idea of Desdemona’s infidelity in his head.
The handkerchief seems to be symbolic of Desdemona and Othello’s love as it was the first gift that he had given her. This handkerchief is then stolen and becomes the evidence that Iago needs to convince Othello of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness. At this point I feel that this gift becomes representative of Othello’s feelings that Desdemona has lost her love for him. When it ends up in Cassio’s hands, he asks Bianca to replicate the pattern, to which she immediately feels jealousy towards the owner of the handkerchief and demands to know who gave it to Cassio. This symbol seems to be what brings all of the characters of the story together, but what will eventually end up tearing Othello and Desdemona apart.
- Why do you think Iago kept stringing Othello along before actually giving him the proof (the dream and the handkerchief) of Cassio and Desdemona’s affair?
- As we have seen already, Iago treats his wife Emilia poorly, so why would she be so willing to help her husband steal Desdemona’s handkerchief without knowing what it will be used for?
- Towards the end of this act we see that Iago finally gets the promotion he wants, so why doesn’t he put an end to his plan after that and try to convince Othello not to kill Desdemona?