Othello Part 2

Answer questions 1-3 and 5-6 of act IV and questions 1 and 4-6 of act V on
pgs. 1601-1602. Post the answers on your blog.

Come prepared to write tomorrow!


Act IV
1. Othello overhears the conversation between Iago (who plotted it) and Cassio talking about the sexual advances Bianca made towards whose name was never explicitly stated and boom - she comes in and adds fuel to the fire by showing the handkerchief given to him by his "lover." 


2. It's an outlier, I suppose. the probability of that occurring is very rare; it seems too artificial to be coincidental. The handkerchief is very important for Othello and it is what drives him crazy since it's the most tangible evidence. Sadly, it's being manipulated by Iago. It represents Othello's marriage, Desdemona's importance to him, and in her losing it (or him rejecting it earlier); it's as if she's figuratively 'throwing away' the marriage -- it is of not importance to her. 


3. He sees her as a whore of Venice since so many men want her yet she rejected them. He's confident he misjudged her due to her 'cleverness.'


5. Desdemona takes marriage seriously and she's the pinnacle of the virtues of a wife and a woman in society. She's faithful. Emilia, on the other hand, is quite "eh" implying that's she isn't all a role model nor the other side of the spectrum either. She finds infidelity okay. She rationalizes that women have the same urges as men do and doesn't find why they should be allowed yet women aren't. They're as much to blame. 


6. Desdemona requests that her wedding sheets be laid on the night of her murder(?)! Oh, and when Emilia and Desdemona try to find who the suspect is; that the person responsible for Othello's fit is the same that suspects Emilia of sleeping with Othello. Seriously, why would Othello sleep with Emilia when he's faithful? or who else besides your husband would care so much about the suspicion that you may be sleeping with Othello? Your husband, duh. 


Act V
1. Iago plots Rodrigeo and Cassio to kill each other. They fail, Iago finishes the job. Miscommunication happens. Othello kills Desdemona. Emilia explains everything. Iago tries to kill her, but he fails. Everything unravels. Othello regrets; grows angry at Iago; stabs him. 


4.What impels Othello to kill Desdemona is out of betrayal, to say the least. He was faithful to her and expected the same. In hearing accusations that she was unfaithful, it violated what he expected from her and it gave him a sense that he was betrayed. I suppose he decided to kill her because he emotionally invested too much in her and it seemed like she just outright violated it all, which infuriates him. It would infuriate anyone really. The greatest weapon anyone can use is your mind and Iago's good at that. 


5. He loves a person very much, but it isn't always the 'right' person. He is very much capable of love, but he can't choose the right person to love (but you did, stupid). 


6.  Yes, well, he always had his dignity and nobility, the issue was his trust in people. Yes, I agree because he dedicated his life to serving the military and his love. He was great of heart in more than one way. Including his trust.