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A review by emmaemmaemmaemma
Othello by William Shakespeare
3.0
I’m really torn on this one. I think the ending came together better than several of the other plays I’ve read so far, and felt far more satisfying, even with leaving it on a cliffhanger of sorts. I also enjoyed Iago’s villainy, and Emilia being his foil. However, a lot of the things that Iago convinces people to do, or the things they do of their own accord that help Iago, just don’t make sense.
My biggest gripe is with the whole Cassio handkerchief situation. Why on earth did he give it to Bianca?? Furthermore, why didn’t Othello ever approach Cassio directly to see if Desdemona’s story lined up with his?
It’s a play of misunderstanding, at the hands of a fairly clever villain. (Maybe this is just my interpretation, but Iago gives me Loki (MCU version) vibes) The misunderstanding at worst, makes no sense, but at best, creates some really uncomfortable laughter as you wonder why it’s so amusing to watch Iago play those around him like puppets.
Though Iago was clever, the play itself didn’t feel especially so, so I have less quotes than normal, but here’s what I did note down.
Iago: Our bodies are gardens, to the which our wills
are gardeners
Othello: By heaven, I'll know thy thoughts.
Iago: You cannot, if my heart were in your hand;
Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody.
(Little did Othello know that this was the only complete truth Iago would ever tell him, to the point of refusing to speak when he had no more credible lies to tell)
Iago: (Aside.) This is the night, that either makes me or fordoes me quite.
(I noted this down, only because this was the moment when I realized that Shakespeare really likes using Asides to break the fourth wall and give his characters little snide remarks. Like, my guy does this all the time and I’m just now noticing this pattern.)
My biggest gripe is with the whole Cassio handkerchief situation. Why on earth did he give it to Bianca?? Furthermore, why didn’t Othello ever approach Cassio directly to see if Desdemona’s story lined up with his?
It’s a play of misunderstanding, at the hands of a fairly clever villain. (Maybe this is just my interpretation, but Iago gives me Loki (MCU version) vibes) The misunderstanding at worst, makes no sense, but at best, creates some really uncomfortable laughter as you wonder why it’s so amusing to watch Iago play those around him like puppets.
Though Iago was clever, the play itself didn’t feel especially so, so I have less quotes than normal, but here’s what I did note down.
Iago: Our bodies are gardens, to the which our wills
are gardeners
Othello: By heaven, I'll know thy thoughts.
Iago: You cannot, if my heart were in your hand;
Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody.
(Little did Othello know that this was the only complete truth Iago would ever tell him, to the point of refusing to speak when he had no more credible lies to tell)
Iago: (Aside.) This is the night, that either makes me or fordoes me quite.
(I noted this down, only because this was the moment when I realized that Shakespeare really likes using Asides to break the fourth wall and give his characters little snide remarks. Like, my guy does this all the time and I’m just now noticing this pattern.)