Othello Reading #3

               In Act II Scene III the idea of one’s identity arises in the characters. Cassio loses his position as second in command, and he immediately he expresses concern over his status in society: “Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation” (II, iii, 281-284). After he loses his job, Cassio feels he has nothing else in his life and that everything that was great about him is gone. Cassio now only sees himself as something fowl. His position in the army was what defined him as a person. Iago uses the idea of identity in his plan to ruin Othello’s life is to destroy Desdemona’s reputation: “She shall undo her credit with the Moor. So will I turn her virtue into pitch, And out of her own goodness make the net That shall enmesh them all” (II, iii, 279-282). Iago plans to ruin Desdemona’s identity by making Othello doubt her loyalty to him. If Desdemona is known for cheating on her husband, then her status will be completely ruined, because being a loyal wife is all that she has left in her life, because Desdemona can no longer be the doting daughter that she once was. Iago is beginning to reveal his plan, and he illustrates his plan to use Desdemona against Othello, because Othello appears to be highly perceptible to jealously when the matter concerns Desdemona.

Sound and Sense: Chapter 13 Exercise

1.      A.)  The second line has parallel structure, and the repetition of the “g” sound is more pleasing to the ear.

2.      B.) The diction has more flow because of the comparison in the “o” sound of fools and Apollo’s.

3.      A.) The comparison of the crows croaking to the snow has better flow than choice B, because “whiteness” sounds awkward in the line.

4.        B.) The diction used is stronger for the description of silent water because of the use of the word “twilight” which complement the “t” sounds in silent and water.     

5.       B.) The “r” sound stresses movement and illustrates how the dove moves and the sounds reflect nature.

6.       B.)  The “r” sound is stressed by the word choice of “lark” and “warble”, as well as the repetition of the “d” sound in the second line.

7.        B.) The author uses alliteration and the “b” sounds has a sharp effect and compliments the topic because the poet is talking about war.     

8.       B.) “Hands” and “repeatedly complement each other because of the “d” sound. Choice A does not flow because the first line ends with “incessantly softly”, and the repetition of “ly” at the end of the line does not flow to the next.

9.        B.) The first lines has similar sounds by the use of “tolls” and “knell”. Choice B is better, because the word choice complements each other and is more suitable to what the lines are describing.

10.  A.) The word choice of “odious” and “gilded” to describe the bug is well suited because of the sounds the two words make when placed next to each other. The sounds give off a negative connotation, because “odious sounds like a bad thing, which leads to the next line when the bug bites.

Othello Reading #2

            The play begins to move quickly in Act II, because the threat of the Turkish fleet is eliminated at the beginning of the act (II, i, 19-20). As a result, the conflict in the play becomes personal and not related to military action. Iago remains unclear about his exact motive for taking revenge on Othelllo. Iago does give a vague motive for his hatred towards Cassio: “For I fear Cassio with my (nightcap) too” (II, i, 29). Iago believes that his wife may be having an affair with Cassio, and  in Act I, Iago made a similar comment about Othello having an affair with his wife. Since Iago has used this same excuse on two different occasions it makes his motives appear to be made up, and that his go to excuse for hating someone and wanting to take action against an individual is when there is a possibility that the individual has slept with his wife. When Iago takes action, it appears that his justification for his actions is not important, but who he manipulates is. Iago’s soliloquy at the end of scene I is repetitive to his speech to Roderigo in Act I when Iago explains his plan. Iago seems to feel the need to explain his plan, but not his exact motives.  

Othello: Iago's Potential Motives

“But he, sir, had th’ election; And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof At Rhodes, at Cyprus, and on other grounds” (I, I, 28-30).

            Iago expresses his anger about Othello’s decision to choose Cassio instead of him. Iago explains that he is more qualified, because of his experience.  Iago explains that his anger stems from Cassio getting the promotion, and that these feelings are the reason he is seeking revenge on Othello. Iago is explaining his motive to Roderigo,  and the conversation seems like a set-up, because Roderigo is in love with Desdemona, which makes him an easy person to manipulate against Othello. Iago could then be covering up his real motive for seeking revenge on Othello.  

“And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets  ’Has done my office. I know not if ’t be true, But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will do as if for surety” (I, III, 430-433).

            Iago explains another possible motive at the end of the act, when he proclaims that Othello might have slept with his wife. Iago has only heard this rumor, and has not confirmed the suspicion, but instead of looking into the rumor, he is simply going to act on the information, as if it were true. Iago seems to be desperately searching for reasons why he should hate Othello and take revenge on him. His logic does not make any sense, and all his motives seem to be excuses for his hatred. None of his specified motives are consistent with his deep hatred, and it could be possible that he is unwilling to admit to himself why he hates Othello, or that he has no true motive for ruining Othello’s life.