Othello--CRAZY!

I knew characters would die at the end of the play because it was a tragedy, but I did not expect the people to die like this. I was sure that Cassio would die after Iago told Roderigo to kill him (IV.ii.221). He was the one who ending up living! I liked that he would get his revenge on Iago by deciding how he would be tortured (V.ii.366-369). I found it like poetic justice because all along it was Iago. Everyone thought Cassio was a terrible person when in reality he wasn't. I was also surprised that Iago actually hurt Cassio because he had done nothing really. I mean he had told people things and put thoughts in their mind, but he had never taken action like that. Emilia was surprising in standing up for herself by telling Iago she would not "charm her tongue"(V.ii..183). Instead, she calls him out and pretty much tells him he is a worthless liar who should die. Lastly, it was sad that Othello killed himself and Desdemona. He knew that she had done nothing against him, and what they had (according to the story) was true love. If it weren't for Iago, they would have lived happily ever after.

Othello--Protagonist and Antagonist

Othello is the protagonist of this play, or the hero. He is respected by lots of people, including the Duke (I.ii), and he has Desdemona. Desdemona is what Roderigo wants, so it can be said that Othello is who people want to be. His major flaw,or hubris, is how gullible and jealous he gets. By falling into the traps of Iago, he sets himself up for disaster. In Act IV, he slaps Desdemona as a result of the jealous ensued by Iago (IV.i.224). It shows that this is his flaw when Lodovico says "is this the noble Moor whom our full Senate call all-in-all sufficient?"(IV.i.249-250). This statement shows that Othello is not who he truly is after he gets jealous. He is not the person that the others know. The antagonist in the play is Iago. He is the evil one, and the character initiating all of the problems. He wants to bring down Othello because he thinks that he has slept with his wife, even though Emilia says that she did not(IV.ii.147). Also, he wants to bring down every other character until he gets what he wants. A set of foil characters would be Desdemona and Emilia. Emilia does not speak out against Iago's view of women while Desdemona does. Another would be Iago and Cassio because Cassio is seen as poliet since he treats women with respect while Iago does not. Lastly, I think that minor characters play an important role. They reveal things to the audience. I said above how Lodovico brings to attention that Othello really is respected, so it enhances the fact that he changed. Lastly, Roderigo plays an important role in the plan of Iago (V.i.23).

Othello--Themes

In Othello, there are a few themes that stood out to me. One of these themes is jealousy. Jealousy is the driving force in many of the actions the characters make. The worst part is that some of the jealousy is based off a notion or feeling, not even facts. Othello is a character who displays jealousy in Act V when he murders Desdemona. He says that "she must die, else she'll betray more men."(V.ii.6). This shows that his jealousy of Desdemona is great enough for him to find it reasonable to kill her. Also, his jealousy is based off what Iago makes him believe, which is based on no proof or facts. Iago always says "I think" or "I have heard". He never definitively says whether he knows for a fact Desdemona had an affair. Another person who has jealousy is Iago. He is the most jealous one in the play by far. Not only does he lie to every person in the play, but he even wounds Cassio in the leg (V.i.). He does everything because of his jealousy towards other people. He even says that he must have Cassio dead because if not Cassio's "daily beauty in his life that makes me ugly"(V.i.19-20). This shows how Iago is so jealous that he must try to get rid of anyone who makes him feel lacking.

Drama Blog- Othello 3

I do not like Iago at all. He is so sneaky towards every character in the story. In III.iii.322-323, He puts the handkerchief in Cassio's home. He lies and does anything in his power to get his way. I find him rude, especially when he talks down to Desdemona and Emilia in II.i.130-142. He is even decieving and rude to his wife, the one person you would expect him to treat right! Also, I find it very ironic when he talks about jealousy to Othello in Act III.iii.167-169. Earlier in the story he tells about his own jealousy for Cassio and his hate for Othello (I.ii.349-355). He is trying to warn someone about jealousy, yet jealousy is what is driving him to do all of the bad deeds he does. Also, he is very two faced. He tells about how he hates Othello(I.ii.349-355), and then he tells Othello "My lord, you know I love you" (III.iii.117). I just overall do not like Iago, and he is obviously the evil one in this play. I can't believe he is decieving so many people!

Drama Blog- Othello 2

The suspense in this play is created through Iago. I think that suspense is created by the many asides by Iago about his plan. In Act II.iii.39-54, Iago has an aside about his plan concerning Cassio. He plans on having him drink, which will lead to the next 'phase'. The suspense is created by the audience knowing what the plan is while all the characters besides Iago do not. The audience is filled in, so they have suspense by wanting the character to not fall into the plan set out by Iago. Also, I think that the suspense is caused by the audience knowing that the play is a trajedy, yet they are not sure of how things will happen. Instead, they are told the plan right before it happens. This leaves them wondering what is next. In the scene shared above, Iago and Cassio talk about how Cassio will not drink, then Iago says he will get him to drink. After drinking, Cassio leaves before fighting with Montano(II.iii.135). The time between the aside of Iago until the point of the plan being fulfilled causes suspense.

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.

Film Adaptation Blog

"Popular Mechanics"
1. Plot: So, there is not much plot to this short story. I would use the scene that the story has as the climax of my film. If I did not add to it, it would last maybe ten minutes! Therefore, I would add a lot. The climax would be consistent to the story, with pretty much no changes at all. The only changes that would occur would be how the story starts and ends. I want to start the story with the initiation of the fight. Instead of it being all about the worst part, I want to build up the suspense to make the scene in the short story even stronger. The two begin the day bickering over every little thing. The day would be seen as just another day by having nothing big happen. It might have to drag out a little by adding in something interesting, but not too big just so the audience doesn't get bored before the climax. Also, I want to make sure all of the foreshadowing that was in the story is used in the film. The organization or sequence would just be the everyday routine. The mother would nag and just do things that obviously make the father angry and annoyed. Then, something little, like a switch of the TV channel, sets the father off. The father then go off on the mother. The arguement starts out like the others, but it soon escalates into hateful words. The man heads to the room to pack just like in the story. The woman says out of anger how she is so glad he is leaving. After the climax, the film would end with the baby being with the father and the woman sitting there in shock.

2.Point of View: The point of view of the narrator would be third person omniscent. He would have not emotion and just state things how they are at the end. This would add to the story's detachment of the two. By having a detached feeling, the relationship will immediately feel like its falling apart. This point of view will also stay in line with the story. By not having it be first person, the ending will not have as much emotion. It would be very unexpected, just like it was in the book. I think that this point of view would do the similar effects that the third person omnisscient did for the short story "The Lottery". I want the focus of the story to be on the theme of the mechanical aspect of the entire story rather than the emotional aspect.

3. Characterization: I would like the characterization to stay consistent with the story. The story would reveal the characters the same as the story as well. Indirect characterization would take place, so the little actions that each of the characters do reveals what they feel. The two would not really be characterized as individuals. Rather, their attitudes towards each other and the relationship would be revealed. This would add to the mechanical aspect since this would make their relationship not have an individual or special touch. Although this is true, I want the father's strength to be shown, which would foreshadow him having more power which leads to him having the baby. Also, I want the mother to be given a nagging and annoying vibe from her actions,so the audience can understand why the father wants to leave her. It could be applied to various relationships in the audience's own life maybe. Rolling of eyes, talking under their breath, awkward silences, or avoidance might be some actions to relay the point to the audience.

4. Setting: The setting would be slightly different. Instead of it being at one time, it will be throughout the day. The movie would start with morning, and then progressivly get darker. I would want it to maybe be raining throughout the day. This would make the emotion towards the setting be that it is drowsy and sad. Rain always makes things seem gloom. The climax would occur at night when it is very dark. This would be the darkest scene;therefore, the setting should be the darkest. Also, the scene would take place during a storm. The storm would symbolize the anger from the scene and the tension between the two.

5. Theme: I want the theme to be the exact same as the book. All of these the elements would convey the relationship. In return, the relationship and other aspects from the elements would reveal the main theme of the mechanical way they do things. I want the relationship to not be anything special or different. It should be relatable. The universality of the theme would cause the audience to find a common thread in their own life. They should be able to think about one couple or relationship in their life that they can see similarities they have with the relationship portrayed. The theme of motivation and revenge would take place as well. This would be more effective by showing the previous actions that lead to the overall fight. The ending will show how the father is getting back at the mother for all of the things he has to put up with.