Drama Blog- Othello 1

The play Othello is a tragedy. I am not exactly sure how I would have known this besides being toldbefore we read it. By knowing what type of play this is, I think that the audience definitely reads and understands it in way different than that of a comedy. The issues and encounters of certain characters is not seen as humourous. Rather, the scenes relay a more serious and almost dark tone. Even if the scene seems to be a little funny, there is always that thought of the overalll trajedy and questions of what role it plays in that trajedy. I feel that this thought in the back of the minds of the audience causes them to read and take certain scenes in a different way. One example would be the talk between Iago, Emilia, and Desdemona in Act II. He says that "would she giver you so much of her lips as her tongue she oft bestows me, you'll have enoug"(II.i.109-111). In a comedy, this could be taken as a teasing thing to say. In the trajedy, it is taken seriously, and it reveals more about the character of Iago, which is very decietful, untrustworthy, and harsh. Also, the knowledge of the type of play allows for the sudience to pick up on people who have a dark vibe or personality because they are lookingout for those who are 'bad' and those who are'good'. For example, Iago is quickly established as one with jealousy for Moor in I.ii.349-355 and in the opening scene in Act I Scene I. The audience recognizes this aspect of his character and can infer that he will most likely have some kind of a role in the trajedy. Since jealousy is associated with sin or things that are bad, he will most likely be a almost villian like person.