Blake Ellis
DRJ #4
Initial reaction: I wonder why Othello consulted only one man once he heard what Iago had to say about Desdamona and Cassio. He would have been better off if he had the council of many rather than of just one. Surely someone would have knocked some sense into him. It’s hard to believe that someone of such high rank and many skills could be such a poor judge of character. It’s a very sad ending and it makes you feel as if Iago accomplished everything he set out to do.
Character Analysis: Iago is very talented at deceiving and keeping the truth from everyone. He seems like the most trustworthy of friends when face to face, but behind the scene he is restlessly plotting to do the worst. He reminds me of an angel of death. On the outside he is beautiful, convincing, more sincere than anyone else around, he is trustworthy and gracious. The truth however is that he is none of these things. He is the complete opposite. He is out to kill, still, and destroy! He finds the weaknesses of his victims and exploits them relentlessly.
Theme Analysis: Iago proves in the end to be untrustworthy. Emilia sheds light on the situation when they are all present in his bed room. Among discovering the death and murder of Desdamona everyone instantly realizes what has happened. They had all confided in Iago, they all (except Emilia) trusted Iago. He proved to be a monster who was out for some revenge of his own. Weather it was for prejudice or jealously of Cassio or Othello, or weather it was because of ambition, or even if it was out of pure revenge, we will never clearly know his reasons. Based on the text I believe the answer is all of the above.
I highly agree with your interpretation that Iago is very good at deceiving. I found Iago telling the truth, but saying it in a way to make others think of opposite to what he says, to be very interesting. I believe that is a talent he has at manipulating people.
ReplyDeleteIt seems strange that Iago would have trusted Emilia and told her not to tell anyone about the handkerchief and that this didn't make Emilia think something was up. e must have been superconfident in his domination of her and probably everyone else or he wouldn't have attempted such a scheme.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to see Iago's actions created out of jealousy because he is already a married man, however there are many married men who want other married women. I think his actions were done more out of anger over being passed over for the position of liutenant. Iago tried to flippantly say that he thought that Othello had slept with his wife but I think that that was just a way for him to think that what he was doing was a sort of revenge.
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