Act V (part 1)

Now things get crazy just as Shakespeare likes the end to be. During the unexciting fight between Roderigo and Cassio, Iago slips in and cuts Cassio's leg. I think this action describes Iago's behavior throughout the entire play. Iago sneaks around and blames other people for his actions. Then Othello is over there killing himself inside over killing Desdemona. Othello thinks it is righteous for him to kill Desdemona because she will just do the same thing to other men and torture their minds like his. I think Othello may have hit his head a little bit too hard during his seizure if he thinks this is a good idea. The choking begins, but Emilia starts knocking on the door. Othello responds like any other person would: "She's dead....still as the grave." Oh don't mind me, I'm just killed my wife in here, no need to knock so loud. Since Desdemona was choked to death, she easily has the breath to speak, "a guiltless death I die." Her saying this is the point where Othello begins to realize his error in believing Iago instead of his own wife.

This made me giggle. Pardon Othello's french.

Act IV (part 2)

I think Othello gets a little angry in this second part of act IV. Othello and Desdemona have a little chit-chat, and then Othello strikes Desdemona. This is certainly a change in Othello's demeanor. Up until this point, Othello has not taken out any of his anger on Desdemona. Then a slight problem occurs in Iago's plan when Othello gets called back to Venice. Othello has to kill Desdemona tonight; otherwise, Iago's plan could be in trouble. Desdemona goes to her room and has girl talk with Emilia for a little bit. Then Desdemona decides, "...call thy husband hither." I was thinking the same thing Desdemona, what would make this situation better than to get Iago in here to make everything better. I think it is strange that Othello talks to Emilia about the issue, and Iago and Desdemona talk about the issue. Then Emilia and Iago get talking, and Emilia is all like whoever is doing this is a terrible person like the person that made you believe I was sleeping with Othello behind your back. If it has not happened yet, readers lose all respect for Iago at this point because he has no  other problem with Othello now besides the fact that Othello is black. What little sympathy people had for Iago is now gone, and Iago's evil plan is about to unfold. Then Roderigo comes back and complains to Iago again, and they work things out again like that one couple that breaks up and gets back together a million times. I would spend more time talking about this part of the act, but Roderigo is a stupid person and makes me mad, so I think I made my point with that.

Othello Act IV (part 1)

It appears things start to really work out for Iago in Act IV of Shakespeare's Othello. Iago decides to provide his "proof" to Othello by getting Cassio to confess about the affair. Of course, they are actually talking about Bianca. They have a few laughs, Othello gets more mad than Liam Neeson in Taken, and then Bianca shows up with the handkerchief. Bianca barges in and gives Iago a whole lot of help by whipping out Desdemona's handkerchief and saying, "This is some minx's token, and I must take out the work?" Inside, Iago is probably celebrating more than New Orleans did on Mardis Gras. This visual proof of the affair makes Othello's blood boil. I find it interesting that the first thing to come out of his mouth is about killing Cassio. I think this really shows Othello's love for Desdemona (of course he still wants to kill her too). I have no clue why Othello would buy into Iago's plan of strangling Desdemona. Let's see, go with a plan like poisoning her where you can get away with it, or strangle her and everyone knows Othello did it? I guess Othello is so enraged and thinks Iago's advice is rational. This scene is the epitome of Iago's ability to manipulate people. Iago gets Cassio to "confess" and then Iago convinces Othello to strangle his own wife. That takes some skill.

Othello Act III

Now Othello is getting interesting, things are starting to go Iago's way. First off all, what's up with these handkerchiefs? Is it really magic? or is this just some big symbol we don't figure out until later? Iago plays innocent again when Othello asks for the truth about Cassio. Iago exploits Othello's view of his honesty. Othello often calls Iago honest such as when he says, "And for I know thou'rt full of love and honesty." Oh Othello, Iago is anything but loving and honest. Shakespeare's use of dramatic irony in this scene makes readers want to scream at Othello that Iago is a terrible person. The readers are aware of Iago's evil intentions, but Othello is completely oblivious. To make things even better, Othello promote Iago to lieutenant. At about this moment, I may or may not have tossed the book across the room. Then Othello and Iago vow to get revenge on Desdemona and Cassio. This is not going to end well. I imagine this story ends with the deaths of Cassio and Desdemona, and then Othello will realize he was tricked by Iago, causing Othello to kill himself or something to that effect. Oh, Roderigo is going to die somewhere in there too (he's just the kind of character that's going to die and no one will care).

Othello Act II (part II)

Later in Act II, Iago's got some plan going on where he wants to get Cassio to take a drink of wine, acting like he put some ruffies in Cassio's drink or something. Cassio tries to deny Iago's invitation by saying, "I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking." Of course, Iago already knows this. I can tell the wheels are turning for the evil plan in Iago's head at this moment. All of these moments of manipulation will eventually culminate into an elaborate end that works out well for Iago. Then Iago gets Rodergio to pick a fight with Cassio, Montano gets involved, people get hurt, and Montano faints like a girl (that's unimportant). Iago manipulates three men in this scene. He gets Cassio to drink, he gets Roderigo to pick a fight with Cassio, and he convinces Montano that Cassio has a drinking problem. Iago had this whole thing figured out in advance, or he is incredible at improvisation. Now here comes phase 2 of this plan. Iago is going to get Cassio to ask Desdemona to talk to Othello for him, which will make it appear to Othello that Desdemona is sleeping with Cassio. Then the act closes with Roderigo complaining to Iago again. I bet Iago gets rid of Roderigo the instant he is of no use anymore.

Othello Act II (part 1)

I have to saw this, Act II for Othello has a disappointing opening. Act I ends and I'm thinking "yeah we got a whole war coming up for the rest of the story," and then boom war's over. How anticlimactic. The good part about the beginning though is that we get some more juicy characterization of Iago. Shakespeare throws in this little chit-chat between Iago and Desdemona (don't worry about Emilia, her character is worthless). In essence, Iago comes off as a chauvinistic but witty man. My favorite line Iago has during this conversation is the one about a woman is ugly but smart: "Shell find a white that her blackness fit." Pretty much Iago is just saying well she'll be smart enough to find a man who is as ugly as she is. Then of course, Iago reveals that he thinks women are only good for sex and housework, so that explains his caustic remarks about women. The appearance of Cassio shows a contrast to the differing views of women. Cassio cares for women and shows them affection. Cassio kisses Iago's wife, and Iago shows his love for his wife by calling her a nag. Iago, the ever good villain that he is, sees Cassio's friendly behavior around women as a mode to achieve his own ends.

Othello Act I

As Othello opens, Shakespeare uses synecdoche to show the feelings Iago and Roderigo have for Othello. Roderigo refers to Othello by saying, "What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe/If he can carry't thus!" the use of synecdoche shows that Iago and Roderigo do not even see Othello as human. Iago's true character is revealed through little comments throughout the play. The racist feelings Iago and Roderigo have for Othello are shown by their referring to him as "thick-lips." Iago must be a pretty evil guy to start this whole revenge scheme mostly because Othello is black. I mean I get the whole "oh he may or may not have slept with my wife" thing. That's just a typical reaction, but I guess the fact that Othello is black makes it all the better for Iago. Then Iago goes on to get Roderigo to make money for him. I would definitely call that manipulation. True villains don't use their own money, every self-respecting villain knows that (it's like how cool guys don't look at explosions).