Week 14:Othello
This week we begin our quest to study how a great poet, Mr. Shakespeare, portrays the fall of a noble soul who is entrapped by jealousy into deeds of violence which bring about their own destruction. "I am not what I am." Iago
Although the story line of Othello is a spin-off of an Italian novella by Cinthio, the Hecatommithi (1565), Shakespeare’s end product is a vastly richer, more deeply probing presentation of human love. As Othello and Desdemona live out their love story in the two-hour condensation of his stage, the author reveals them in shifting lights of hateful Iago (the most hated villain in the literary world), the shallow Cassio, the wordly-wise Emilia, and the foppish Roderigo. Each character, dexterously manipulated by Iago into his web of destruction, is caught by his/her own weakness. As each character in this action-packed drama “struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more,” we realize that Shakespeare has once again held up his magic mirror wherein we can see ourselves and our times reflected clearly.
Note well that imagery expresses the themes of jealousy, revenge, and love; the conflicts of good and evil, of man vs women; of attitudes to love and marriage.
We are involved immediately in the action of the play. How does Shakespeare do this? Why? -- What does the opening scene establish (characterization, tone, imagery).
Have a good week!
Tuesday, December 5: Abstract,
The Awakening.Tuesday, December 5: Blog response,
Othello.
If you have questions about these assignments, please leave a comment or
email me directly. Remember, I will check the blog until 9:59 pm. You know I need my
Seinfeld fix.