Love relationships and their influence on society.
Love is the main social factor that is affecting the majority of families and young men in the world. This is described by Shakespeare in Othello. Some of the effects are as discussed below.
- a)How does lago intend to dispose of Cassio and Rodrigo?
Lago plans on how to kill Cassio and Rodrigo. For this to happen Rodrigo has to kill Cassio for claims of Cassio being handsome than Rodrigo for Cassio was in affairs with a beautiful lady Desdemona. Lago would kill Rodrigo after compensation of gold stolen from Cassio of which lago would use as a gift to Desdemona for love portion.
This is evident in Iago’s speech which is found in act V where he is quoted saying “he must die”.
This resulted to fight between Cassio and Rodrigo which made Rodrigo wound Cassio.
b)What transpires?
When Rodrigo failed to kill Cassio lago decided to visit Cassio. as Lago shows much concern about Cassio’s wound. lago was trying to disguise so that his plan would not be revealed out. As lago was dressing Cassio’s wound Rodrigo appeared and Cassio stabbed him(Rodrigo) to death.
- How does Iago’s treachery finally work itself out?
In act, V Lago’s plan reveals out wholly where Othello kills Desdemona leading to a great rivalry between Othello and lago. Othello decides to kill lago but he fails. Othello kills himself because of fear but instead lago kills his wife by stabbing her to death.
- What is the philosophical viewpoint prevails at the end of the play?
The physiological viewpoint in the drama is how each actor has been used to portray different character traits and also in plot development. Lago has an assurance that his treachery practice is following the right pathway. He thinks every step he takes in life will be for his achievement. He plans to kill both Cassio and Rodrigo that he may have Desdemona for love. He portrays a trait of in humans resulting in a theme of murder.
Desdemona beliefs in love which results in her falling in strong affection with Othello. Because of chauvinism she isolated and alienated for she has to adhere to Othello’s instructions. Due to this isolation led to disgrace and despair in Othello leading to the wrong decision of killing Desdemona.
- Consider the male/female relationships in Othello.(the relationship between Othello and Desdemona, Lago and Emilia, and Cassio and Bianca)
Relation in the play between men is one in that females are feeling inferior to men hence being submissive. The relationship between Othello and Desdemona is one in which this submissiveness has been portrayed. Desdemona says that “I will not offend you” indicating that she has submitted to Othello and she is ready to love him. Othello overlooks this towards the end of the play where he betrays this love by killing her.
This is replicated between Emilia and lago.emilla is submitting to lago for which she is less naive than Desdemona. Lago refers to her as a common thing and a foolish woman. She by all means does not react to this insult. She is also told by Othello to leave him indicating that he has authority over her.
The realationship between Bianca and Cassio is one in that the main interest is to satisfy sexual desires. Cassio’s Bianca is of the working class so she marries Cassio for only enjoyment. Cassio does not have feelings of love for Bianca.
From these relationships it is found that women are more loving than men. From this play it is seen that this is a characteristic of the majority of women as opposed to men. Men also tend to mistreat women even those who they claim to love.
Consider the relationships from a modern standpoint.
Such types of relationships are more pronounced in the current time. Men chauvinism is still dominant although some women have begun riot for equality and power in the family.
Oppression of women in families by their men is reducing due to legislation set by different nations and also civilizations that have encroached educating the women.
The more dominant relationship in the current time is that of Cassio and Bianca.
How have behavior and attitudes between the sexes changed since Shakespeare’s time?
The behavior in relationships has changed from the start of the play where love was strong but it tends to weaken towards the end of the act. In the end love changes to hatred where women are killed by their loved ones and even the love between individual men changes and they kill each other.
How have behavior and attitudes remained the same?
Violence between lovers as in Othello has been up to date. Men are killing their wives in the claim of having affairs with other men. This has also led to divorce and some women being abandoned by their loved ones.
- Analyze Othello’s speech to Desdemona about the handkerchief. Consider it in the overall context of the play including Othello’s later statement that his mother received it as a gift from his father. Do you think Othello tells the truth in his speech to Desdemona?why or why not?
Othello, tell Desdemona that the handkerchief is symbolic of her sexual state for the handkerchief had decoration on it. He first revealed that the handkerchief is an indication of a virgin but the strawberry decorations showed virginity that has been broken. This was suspected to have been broken by lago who once kissed her in the public. A comment made by lago concerning Cassio about the napkin which he used to clean his beard during dinner resulted in Othello reputing the handkerchief to adultery.
- Rodrigo, Cassio, and Othello are all manipulated by lago, but how are they different? What weaknesses or virtues do lago exploit in each.
Rodrigo is exploited by lago in that he is deceived to fight with Cassio where he wounds Cassio. Cassio in revenge he stabs Rodrigo to death. This happens when lago disguises to show concern with Cassio’s wound so that lago could cover up that he was behind the fight. Lago lies to Othello on issues about his wife Desdemona which results in Othello killing Desdemona. This occurs when he is told by lago that they go to kill their wives.
Lago uses a lie to win them for at long last he gets gold and his wife escapes death.
Discuss what makes Othello a tragic hero? Tragic heroes experience a “reversal of fortune” – a moment when they fall from power and happiness become invertible. When does this point occur in Othello?
- Othello is a tragic hero for he has noble characteristics for he highly ranked socially and has a genuine heart. He is a man of war since he is one of the officers of the army of Venice this makes him violent. Despite this he is of a loving heart which is seen as he speaks about Desdemona. Othello is the only black noble character in the play. This is the main flaw in his nature despite his being jealous of other races. It makes him feel that he is not the best man to love Desdemona.
What makes Othello a tragic hero is when he is played about by lago that his wife is unfaithful which leads to killing Desdemona. After killing Desdemona he stabs himself to death marking the end of the tragic hero.
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