Act III (Wheels in Motion)
Iago tells Othello, "O beware, my lord, of jealousy;
It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock / the meat it feeds on"
(3.3.163-165). What does this mean? In
what context is this said? Why is it
especially ironic?
These lines have been used in multiple
Shakespeare plays and depict the jealously being green. However, the quote
"O beware, my lord, of jealousy; it
is the green-eyed monster which doth mock / the meat it feeds on"
became famous when it was used in Othello (3.3.163-165). Iago can be found telling
the same to Othello. It is about a green-eyed monster that is remembered not
only due to its poetic description but also because of its brutally effective
manipulation. Iago seems to be concerned and wants Othello to protect himself
against his own jealousy even when we are aware of the fact that he is trying
his best to feed it. These famous lines were spoken by Iago and are about the
jealousy; we can regard these lines as poetic truth. To some, it may look
ironic because of its narrative elements. As the story moves on, Othello is
manipulated and Iago gets to know that the feelings of jealousy will grow,
realizing that it is the right time to let him know so that he can take
appropriate measures as soon as possible. In addition, this quote foreshadows
where the tragedy is actually headed. By the time Iago says all this, he has
already informed the audience about his plan to take Othello down. He even
makes it clear that he is going to do everything in order to accomplish his
mission. He decides to make Othello feel bad due to jealousy, and during this
time, Iago will convince him to transform himself. Othello trusts him as his
honest and loyal friend, and such a loyal friend warns him to be mindful of his
own emotions.
Act IV (Collateral Damage)
Emilia, Bianca, and Desdemona are all victims of abuse in
this play. How is each of them
used? To what degree does each of them
capture your sympathy, or not? Cassio also suffers unjustly. Do we feel the same way about him as about
the women? Why?
It is very unfortunate that William
Shakespeare has not portrayed women in empowered characters in Othello. Even
the wife of a general can be found following the social norms and bowing before
her husband for each and everything. Emilia, Bianca, and Desdemona are three
main female characters of this play. Let us begin with the role of Desdemona.
She decides her fate when she escapes with Othello. Right from the outset,
Desdemona is portrayed as a simple, innocent and meek female. She has been
cultured to live this way, and by the end, her situation becomes pitiable. She
grants Othello the complete control of her life. On the other hand, Emilia
attempts to voice her anguish; however, she is silenced. Similarly, Bianca is a
prostitute who is meant to entertain males of her society. Both Emilia and
Desdemona live respectable lives in society, but Bianca is not given any
respect and society keeps her from finding real love and happiness. Honestly
speaking, Emilia, Bianca, and Desdemona are the victims of abuse in their own
ways, and each of them deserves sympathy. Another noticeable thing is that
Michael Cassio is unfairly treated in Othello because of the manipulation of
Iago, who hates him as he has been appointed as Othello's lieutenant, a
position Iago thinks he is entitled to as he has been loyal to Othello. Just
like Emilia, Bianca and Desdemona, we feel bad for Cassio because he suffers
unjustly. Michael Cassio is given tough times when Iago starts claiming that
has no military knowledge or experience and has only book knowledge. Whether
the role is of a male or a female, anyone who is insulted, humiliated or
insulted in this play deserves the sympathy of the audience.
Act V (Tragic Hero)
Othello describes himself as, “one who loved not wisely,
but too well." What does this mean? How well do you understand Othello's
behavior at the end of the play? Is he
still a hero in your eyes? Why or why not?
According to Othello, he is “one who loved not wisely, but too well.”
This infers that his love is selfless, passionate and intense, fulfilling all
his weaknesses and keeping him from making mistakes. Basically, Othello is a
man of action who believes in making quick and irrational decisions. He loves
someone under fake pretenses and maintains his own identity, as well as becomes
self-deluded; this makes us believe that Othello is the person who does not
love wisely, but too well. He is good at everything he does and is extreme in
whatever course of actions he selects. I think that Othello is the real hero as
he tries to maintain his identity under all circumstances. Only a few people
can do this, and many of them end up changing themselves whenever they are
dragged into difficult situations. Othello’s inability to falter of what he
thinks is a binding statement that proves that he is capable of loving too
well. He might be extreme in some of his actions, but this does not mean he
does not have a heart that can love unconditionally. In fact, I find him to be
a selfless person because when he loves Desdemona, he remains in this
relationship with an intense passion. He does not cheat on her and devotes
himself to this beautiful lady. Finding such a man who loves unconditionally or
devotedly is tough nowadays. At a point, Othello admires Desdemona for loving
him for the dangers he had passed. In her eyes, he can see a lot of love for
himself, and in return, he gives the same to Desdemona, which is a very special
feature of this character.
