DRJ #4
My initial response to this act was that Iago was really plotting
out his attack. He seemed like he was the director of a play within a play, and
he was just putting the different parts in their positions and letting the plot
play out. His plan is very well thought out and executed.
Iago definitely
has the intent of causing conflict all throughout these acts, as well as the
previous ones. He is the mastermind of manipulation and allowing his anger to
drive him to do something. He is so upset about being passed up for a promotion
and the fact that he has suspicions about Othello having slept with his wife and
he harnesses his anger and has a very powerful plan of vengeance. He is causing
all of these problems that are going on so that he can back at the people he
feels had done him wrong.
The theme
that I saw very strongly in this act was manipulation. Othello is in denial of
the things that have happened and is trying to justify to himself other possible
reasons for what is going on. Iago takes advantage of the position he is in and
tells Othello to “be a man” and look at the facts that are laying in front of
him. Iago has placed enough people and evidence in front of Othello to make it
a convincing story and Othello seems to be on the fence about believing what is
going on. Iago, being the manipulator that he is, tells Othello to “be a man”
which urges Othello to ignore his emotions and look at the evidence. By
ignoring his confidence in his wife and believing in “honest Iago” he sees one
of his greatest fears taking place right in front of him.
posted by Nathan Willis @ 10:34 PM
3 Comments
3 Comments:
I agree that the last two acts are truly where actions are being taken in Iago’s plan rather than just talked about. We have talked about manipulation so much with Iago which are also being expressed. I do find it interesting that Othello will listen to Iago over his wife. Othello doesn’t ever seem to hear Desdemona’s side of the story; he is constantly interrupting her and telling her that she is wrong. This reinforces your subject / possible theme of manipulation.
I thought it was VERY interesting how Iago, this mastermind of plot and intrigue, doesn't see Emilia's reaction coming. He's so blatantly dismisses his own wife that he doesn't realize what she's going to do to him in the end. It must have come as quite the shock to this man, but then...maybe it didn't...
...because if you think about it, earlier on in the play Iago retorts to Desdemona and Emilia that women will pretend to be one thing and do another just to get what they want. His attitude, at least on the outside, is that women are unworthy of the attentions men give them because they are conniving, wicked things...or something like that. That's an interesting thought.
Iago is this mastermind. He doesn't trust women except for them to do as they please in things. Does he or doesn't he realize what Emilia is going to do? Hmm...
I like what you were saying about Iago secretly being the director of a play with in a play. One thing I think would be interesting to talk about is the similarities between both Othello & Iago's motives and actions. They our both driven by jealousy and when Iago thinks Othello slept with his wife, he plots to make Othello think that Cassio slept with desdemona. Resulting in the death of both of their enemies. The most interesting part to me is that Iago initiated Othello to follow in his lead, leading to their demise. It must be safe to say; Misery loves company.
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