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randomrevolutionaryreader's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Emilia ROCKS.
avinsh10's review against another edition
4.0
"Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners; so that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce, set hyssop and weed up thyme, supply it with one gender of herbs or distract it with many, either to have it sterile with idleness or manured with industry, why the power and corrigible authority of this lies in our wills."- Iago
Othello, it's not a tragedy about a moor's jealousy but a tale of manipulation. Iago's schemes the demise of Othello by insinuating an affair between the captain's wife Desdemona and lieutenant Cassio. When things go awry, Iago is there to set things straight. What might be the motivation for Iago's treachery? Let's try to explore.
"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" - Iago
Could it be that Iago is jealous? prior to the start of the play, Cassio gets promoted as Othello's lieutenant. Whereas, Iago is left behind as an Ancient(standard-bearer).
Maybe, Iago is a narcissist? his wife Emilia mentions that Iago was obsessed with the silk handkerchief presented to Desdemona by Othello. He had asked her to steal it from her. The handkerchief represents affection and Iago longs for Othello's attention.
But, most likely Iago is a workplace psychopath. Here's why Iago publicly humiliates both Emilia and Desdemona as strumpets. He spreads malicious lies about Cassio & Desdemona to Othello and Rodrigo(Desdemona's stalker). He threatens & kills his wife when she unveils his true nature. He'll go to extremes to get what he wants. When the first scheme, which is to reveal Othello's marriage(to Desdemona) to her father fails. He hatches up another plan, a more devious one(i.e., spreading a rumor of an affair). Finally, Iago doesn't show remorse, in fact, he's very explicit about his acts, lies, and schemes.
How does he convince Othello of Cassio's wrongdoing?
Act 3 Scene 3, seeds are sown here.
Iago "My Lord, you know I love you."
Othello "I think thou dost," ....
Iago "For Michael Cassio,
I dare be sworn I think that he is honest."
Othello "I think so too."
Iago "Men should be what they seem.
Or those that be not, would they might seem none."
Othello "Certain, men should be what they seem."
Iago "Why then, I think Cassio's an honest man."
Othello "Nay, yet there's more in this!
I prithee speak of me as thy thinkings.
As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts
The worst of words."
Iago uses Praeteritio as his rhetorical device. He first establishes good credit with Othello and then implies Cassio's alleged deviance by not mentioning it. He relies on Othello's imagination to spread the roots.
This is not the first instance of Iago's manipulation of Othello. He applied the same technique when he excused Cassio of starting a brawl with Rodrigo & Montano(see Act 2 Scene 3).
Iago understands people around him very well, only for his benefit. He uses racial tension to provoke outrage from Desdemona's father, curries favor with Othello by portraying honesty & loyalty to win his respect, gives false hope of winning back Desdemona to Rodrigo, and of recover lost title to Cassio.
Perhaps, this exquisite mastery of puppetry led William Hazlitt to this conclusion about Iago:
"He is an amateur of tragedy in real life; and instead of employing his invention on imaginary characters or long-forgotten incidents, he takes the bolder and more desperate course of getting up his plots at home, casts the principal parts among his nearest friends and connections, and rehearses it in downright earnest, with steady nerves and unabated resolution."
Othello "Not I: I must be found.
My parts, my title and my perfect soul
Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they?"
Iago "By Janus, I think no."
Regards,
Vinay A
Here's a fun discussion on Othello
Othello, it's not a tragedy about a moor's jealousy but a tale of manipulation. Iago's schemes the demise of Othello by insinuating an affair between the captain's wife Desdemona and lieutenant Cassio. When things go awry, Iago is there to set things straight. What might be the motivation for Iago's treachery? Let's try to explore.
"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" - Iago
Could it be that Iago is jealous? prior to the start of the play, Cassio gets promoted as Othello's lieutenant. Whereas, Iago is left behind as an Ancient(standard-bearer).
Maybe, Iago is a narcissist? his wife Emilia mentions that Iago was obsessed with the silk handkerchief presented to Desdemona by Othello. He had asked her to steal it from her. The handkerchief represents affection and Iago longs for Othello's attention.
But, most likely Iago is a workplace psychopath. Here's why Iago publicly humiliates both Emilia and Desdemona as strumpets. He spreads malicious lies about Cassio & Desdemona to Othello and Rodrigo(Desdemona's stalker). He threatens & kills his wife when she unveils his true nature. He'll go to extremes to get what he wants. When the first scheme, which is to reveal Othello's marriage(to Desdemona) to her father fails. He hatches up another plan, a more devious one(i.e., spreading a rumor of an affair). Finally, Iago doesn't show remorse, in fact, he's very explicit about his acts, lies, and schemes.
How does he convince Othello of Cassio's wrongdoing?
Act 3 Scene 3, seeds are sown here.
Iago "My Lord, you know I love you."
Othello "I think thou dost," ....
Iago "For Michael Cassio,
I dare be sworn I think that he is honest."
Othello "I think so too."
Iago "Men should be what they seem.
Or those that be not, would they might seem none."
Othello "Certain, men should be what they seem."
Iago "Why then, I think Cassio's an honest man."
Othello "Nay, yet there's more in this!
I prithee speak of me as thy thinkings.
As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts
The worst of words."
Iago uses Praeteritio as his rhetorical device. He first establishes good credit with Othello and then implies Cassio's alleged deviance by not mentioning it. He relies on Othello's imagination to spread the roots.
This is not the first instance of Iago's manipulation of Othello. He applied the same technique when he excused Cassio of starting a brawl with Rodrigo & Montano(see Act 2 Scene 3).
Iago understands people around him very well, only for his benefit. He uses racial tension to provoke outrage from Desdemona's father, curries favor with Othello by portraying honesty & loyalty to win his respect, gives false hope of winning back Desdemona to Rodrigo, and of recover lost title to Cassio.
Perhaps, this exquisite mastery of puppetry led William Hazlitt to this conclusion about Iago:
"He is an amateur of tragedy in real life; and instead of employing his invention on imaginary characters or long-forgotten incidents, he takes the bolder and more desperate course of getting up his plots at home, casts the principal parts among his nearest friends and connections, and rehearses it in downright earnest, with steady nerves and unabated resolution."
Othello "Not I: I must be found.
My parts, my title and my perfect soul
Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they?"
Iago "By Janus, I think no."
Regards,
Vinay A
Here's a fun discussion on Othello
canyonmoon_vol6's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
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