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SCANDALOUS.
                                                                                             

Iago for President

"I told him what I thought, and told no more Than what he found himself was apt and true." V. ii. 175-176
So, recently, I've been drawing a lot of comparisons between Iago and politicians. They're both smooth-talkers, people-pleasers, and they get the job done. And by that I of course mean that they kill off minor characters for no apparent reason. Anyways, because Iago is represented as the protagonist telling the story, I think I'm going to have to side with him. While despicable and vile in ways unimaginable, you gotta admit, he's talented. He can manipulate anyone around him without them knowing it- Roderigo, Cassio, Othello, Emilia, just to name a few. He pleases anyone who's around him, telling them what they want to here. And he's been known to, after delivering bad news, whip out a guilt trip on the person who should be angry at him. Just one example is when he "confesses" Cassio's dream and actions to Othello, who half-strangles him, when Iago then makes Othello feel bad for punishing honesty and love.

This guy would be a great world leader! He's obviously very passionate about leadership (or plotting the leader's gruesome death). That's not to mention he's efficient (considering he in/advertently killed 5 people in a matter of days), people love him before they know what he's done, they trust him blindly, going as far as to put "money in thy purse," and overlook anything he's done wrong, as shown in the quote. As bad as it sounds, Iago has the potential to be the perfect dictator. Point one for the bad guys!  >:)
                                                                                          ^ Iago's creepy smile

Othello Act V

"Cassio did top her, ask thy husband else. Oh, I were damned beneath all depth in Hell But that I did proceed upon just grounds To this extremity. Thy husband knew it all." V. ii. 135-138

Addressed here is the question about whether the play is a tragedy, comedy, melodrama, or farce. I would say that this play is a mixture of tragedy and melodrama, maybe with a sick sense of humor thrown in. First, I think it's safe to say the play is a tragedy because, like most things Shakespeare wrote, half the cast dies. It also shows the unraveling of the arguable protagonists Othello and Iago. Othello's flaw, his gullable and quick-to-anger nature, or Iago's not-so-fool-proof plotting.

Next, the play could be characterized as a melodrama because of the dramatized actions of the characters. Shown in the quote, Othello's thought process was essentially solid. He thought he was doing what was just, and simply believed the word of a friend, but he definitely overreacted-killing Desdemona-to show the manipulation of his character. Although the drama makes for an unrealistic scenario, the actions effectively show how quickly characters can change in a plotline.

Finally, one could argue that this play includes a comedic flavor because of the irony. For me personally, Iago's cunning and suck-up-ity (yes, I just made that up) created a perfect, honest image of himself when in reality he's a sick jerkface who manipulates people just because he can.

Othello Act IV

"But, Roderigo, if thou hast that in thee indeed which I have greater reason to believe now than ever- I mean purpose, courage, and valor- this night show it. If thou the next night following enjoy not Desdemona, take me from this world with treachery and devise engines for my life." IV. ii. 207-211
This blog addresses the question of protagonists, antagonists, and foil characters. First of all, unlike most stories, the protagonist is the bad guy. While the audience still probably hates Iago, his point of view in telling the story makes him the protagonist. I, on the other hand, hate him, so I would consider him an antagonist. One could also argue both positions for Othello. Basically, I think if you respect clever evil, Iago is your protagonist, and if you value truth and justice, Othello is your man.

There are a few foil characters in this play. The first is referenced in the quote above. This back-and-forth between Iago and Roderigo shows that opposites attrack in a repetitive but somehow humorous fashion. Several times we see Iago calm Roderigo down in an effort to use him to kill Cassio, supply jewelry, or maybe just for a good laugh. This shows Iago's personality: clever, manipulative, evil. On the other hand, Roderigo shows his true colors by constantly returning to Iago: dim-witted, malleable, and good (by default). The only reason I didn't hate Roderigo was because he was too stupid to be evil. He just followed what Iago said. Another pair of foil characters are Desdemona and Emilia. For example, in the conversation about the perfect woman, Emilia is portrayed as timid, quiet, and complacent, especially in the presence of her husband Iago. Desdemona is, however, more confident and outspoken, and plays along with Iago's criticism. Until the end, when Emilia spills the truth, she is shown as a weak character whereas Desdemona was truly innocent throughout. It's such a tragedy she died...along with half the cast. 

Othello Act III

"Therefore be merry, Cassio, for they solicitor shall rather die Than give thy cause away." - III. iii. 26-28

Personally, I find the suspense and irony in this play to be what make it easy and enjoyable to read. It is an interesting point of view to hear the story from the antagonist. In most stories have the hero explaining everything, the reader is compelled to "root for" the person telling the stories. However, here, it's a different story. The fact that Iago, the "bad guy," is telling the story doesn't make the audience cheer for him, but it shows the cunning, careful planning, and the alternate personalities of him, which I find really interesting. I love the suspense that is created due to the fact that we the readers know more than the other characters, and we can't wait to see how Iago's plans will unfold. Besides suspense, irony is absolutely everywhere in this drama. The biggest example I've noticed is that Iago has been called "an honest fellow" (III. iii. 5) on several occasions. I can just taste the irony that everyone thinks highly of Iago when, in actuality, he is plotting something despicable for nearly every character. The fact that he is a woman-hating, critical, jealous, and bitter person merely sweetens the deal. Lastly, I thought this quote was ironic in that it shows Desdemona practically pledging her loyalty to Cassio in a non-romantic manner, even to the death. This is probably foreshadowing of some drastic action Othello will take. He will suspect Cassio and his wife of doing the dirty, and kill her out of a false sense of betrayal. SCANDALOUS.

Othello Act II

"Two things are to be done: My wife mut move for Cassio to her mistress, I'll set her on, Myself the while to draw the Moor apart And bring him jump when he may Cassio find Soliciting is wife. Aye, that's the way. Dull not device by coldness and delay." - II. iii. 345-351

This post addresses #4 on pg. 1119, addressing how suspense is created. First off, sunspense is a very big portion of this play so far. Starting sort of in "the middle of things" in the lives of the characters, rather than before conflict occurs, the audience experiences the tension right off the bat. Next, suspense for me is created mostly in Iago's soliloquies. For example, in this quote, Iago has just told Roderigo that it will take a little time for him to win over Desdemona, but Iago's real intention is to anger Othello, discrediting Cassio, and getting revenge for not being promoted to lieutenant. Showing his alternate personalities, Iago's speeches show his true colors and create suspense by creating two scenarios: what the audience is honestly told about Iago's intentions, and who other characters perceive Iago to be. Suspense is also created in the discrepancy of the amount of information the characters know versus what the readers know. This creates the effect of on-edge eagerness to read ahead. Even though Iago spells out the entirety of his innermost thoughts, the reader feels an urge to continue because the reader does not know how or when those details will be revealed to the other characters or how his plains will unfold.

Othello- Act I

"And, in conclusion, Nonsuits my mediators, for, 'Certes,' says he, 'I have already chose my officer.' And what was he? Forsooth, a great arithmetician, One Michael Cassio, a Florentine," - I. i. 15-20

This response is for the first question in the book regarding the play's realistic conventions. I think this play is extremely realistic and easy to relate to. First of all, it is based on a scenario that happens in real life, not just to a certain age, race, or particular area. The issues of racial stereotyping, jealousy between once-friends, infidelity, and competition are omnipresent in every culture. One example of this is how Iago's jealousy of Cassio's job promotion causes him to plot against Othello, shown in the quote above. And the fact that the reader can see this happening in every-day life makes reading this piece easier to comprehend and more enjoyable. On the spectrum from literalistic imitation of reality to stylized or surrealistic representation, the play is situated closely towards reality. I'm not sure if there are breaks from the conventions established as a norm in the play. One could be that the marriage of a white and a moor (African) is not socially acceptable, but Othello and Desdemona stay together anyways. This creates the dramatic effect that what those characters are doing is scandalous and must be stopped, creating suspense that leaves the audience asking the question: how far will Iago will go to create chaos and separate them?