Sound and Sense Chapter 14: Death Poem

In Child's Terms

After hearing that the family dog died,

Little Halle Claire pried,

“How do people get to heaven?”

Her mom raced through her head for an answer that Dr. Phil would applaud

Before she had the chance to answer, she stopped in awe,

As Halle declared, “There must be a great staircase that people walk up”

Her mom smiled, relieved that Halle was leading the conversation

Halle continued on, not quite done with her narration,

“After the staircase, there are planes that take everyone where they need to go”

Halle gave a nod, and her mom did as well.

The conversation was easy, and Halle showed no doubt,

That after death, there was no black-out,

Little Halle Claire believed that people reside,

Up in the clouds, long after they died.

Othello Reading #7

            In the beginning of the play Othello is presented as an eloquent speaker, who always remains calm, no matter what the situation he is dealing with. His voice of reason deteriorates throughout the play, and at times he no longer makes sense when he is speaking. At the end of the play, Othello appears to return back to his former self in his final soliloquy before he kills himself: “Speak of me as I am. Nothing extenuate, Nor set down aught in malice” (V, ii, 402-403). Othello in his final words tells Lodovico, that when he has to retell the story of the events that unfolded, to be honest about how Othello acted. Othello does not want Lodovico to tone the events that transpired down. Many people, when they have realized that they did something wrong, will try to move past that one event, and instead focus on all the great things that they accomplished. Othello does the opposite, by pushing Lodovico to not make excuses for Othello. Othello’s soliloquy illustrates his humility, and confirms to the audience, that he is a tragic character who simply loved Desdemona too much, and who believed Iago’s words. The audience has more sympathy for Othello because he does show remorse for his actions, and he portrays himself as a romantic who got lost in Iago’s plan. Othello even states, “Like the base Judean, threw a pearl away” (V, ii, 407). Meaning, that Othello did not even realize what he had until he lost it. Othello’s final soliloquy is essential to the play, because the audience needs to have empathy for Othello in order for him to be a tragic character.

Othello Act V Scene 2 Lines 1-24

            In the beginning of Act V scene II, Othello is about to kill Desdemona. When Othello first began to question Desdemona’s loyalty, her beauty always quenched his doubts. Now, Othello sees her and he is still consumed by jealousy. Othello decides to smother her because he does not want to ruin her beauty: “Yet I’ll not shed her blood, Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow” (V, ii, 3-4). Othello preserves her innocence by not ruining her fair skin with his method of killing her. He seems to not want to follow through with his plans, but he feels that he must because his jealousy and love for Desdemona cannot exist in the same world. Othello appears that he cannot get enough of Desdemona and that he is not ready to say goodbye, “Justice to break her sword! One more, one more” (V, ii, 18-19). Othello keeps giving her kisses believing that each one is his last, until it finally is. He continues to prolong what seems to be the inevitable; Othello murdering Desdemona. Yet, he still does have the choice to listen to Desdemona, but he does not, he succumbs to Iago’s plan. The blame is to be put on Othello, because he chooses to believe Iago, instead of his own wife. Desdemona pleads with Othello not to kill her, but he does anyways, which illustrates that the logical Othello has completely disappeared.

Othello Reading #5

“Good, good. The justice of it pleases. Very good” (III, I, 228-229)

            Iago has just proposed that Othello strangle Desdemona in her sleep, and Othello appears to be excited over this plan. The difference in Othello is striking, because he is willing to kill a person that he supposedly, was in love with. He is also willing to take such dramatic action without speaking to Desdemona first. Everything that Iago has used to prove the alleged affair between Cassio and Desdemona could be completely falsified if Othello simply asked Desdemona for an explanation. Instead, Othello looks at the proof and agrees with Iago. Othello’s love for Desdemona can come into question, because if he actually loved her he would be looking for every possible reason not to believe Iago; Othello  quits on his relationship with Desdemona. Also, even if Desdemona was having an affair with Cassio, killing her still would not serve justice. Othello is no longer the eloquent speaker from Act I, he is just a controlling jealous husband who is in need of anger management. Othello’s change in character illustrates that jealousy has always been a trait of Othello because there is no other explanation for his response to Iago’s claims. Therefore, when Iago puts Desdemona’s loyalty into question, Othello completely loses himself and his personality changes completely.

Othello Reading #4

             Throughout Act I and the beginning of Act II, Othello remains the level headed protagonist, and he appears to be voice of reason. He seems to lose some of his reason, when he begins to believe that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. Othello bases his assumption off of Iago’s guiding comments about a potential affair between Cassio and Desdemonia: “Did Michael Cassio, when you wooed my lady, know of your love” (III, iii, 105-106). Othello does ask Iago for evidence of the relationship between Cassio and Desdemona, but he still rushes to assumptions too quickly. Othello talks out of character, because he immediately becomes upset without seeing proof of the affair. The difference in Othello’s character is a reflection of the change of scenery from Venice to Cyprus. Venice is the home of reason and order, while Cyprus is viewed as more barbaric and a place with no structure. Now that Othello is away from Venice, he is experiencing a change of character. He does not seem as in control as he did in Venice. If Othello, a character who is able to think rationally, is beginning to act differently than it would seem that there would be changes in the other characters as well.