Not too shabby

Upon starting Othello, I was apprehensive as to how I would get through this whole thing. I saw how many pages I would be reading, and how little time I had. However, once I started, I realized it wasn't too bad. I realized it was actually very funny. I realized the fact that these themes are timeless and can be applied to all walks of life, no matter what the time period. We sometimes chalk Shakespeare up to this figure we don't know who lived before us and can't relate to. However, after reading the scene about uglies and smarties, I realized this is completely untrue. In addition, I was scared to death about the language the play was written in. However, once I got into the mode and forced myself to think they way they spoke during the time period, it really wasn't all that bad.

Dead or alive?

Dramatic suspense is created best in the fifth act. Knowing the play is a tragedy assumes that everyone will die in the end. However, the order and causes of each death leaves the reader wondering how it will all go down. When Othello is in the process of killing Desdemona, Emilia walks in. This leaves the reader wondering if Des is really dead, or if she is still alive. Upon the death of Emilia by Iago, everyone is in shock as to what just happened. The reader thinks that the play is over and enough damage has done. Little do they know that Othello is about to kill himself as well.

Themeeeeeee

A theme of Othello is honesty. During this time period in history, there were no cell phones, internet connections, or instant messaging. Because of this, the only sense of communication was word of mouth. We think it is difficult at Roncalli high school to overcome rumors, but imagine how it would be with everyone talking at different times and rarely being together. Iago thoroughly believed he would get away with the whole scheme. Never did he imagine that he wouldn't. However, conscience always gets the best of everyone, and they end up getting caught in the end. No matter how hard or inconvenient it may be, honesty is always the best route.

I must admit, I laughed

I know I have discussed this scene numerous times, I feel like the scene in Act I, scene iii. This scene really made me think that Shakespeare maybe did have a sense of humor. I feel like in today's world, girls do use their blonde hair or stupidity to their advantage. Rich men will want to get them in bed. Smart women then again do the same thing- use their wit to their advantage. This also made me realize that maybe Shakespearean themes are timeless. They apply to all eras of life. This is just evidence that Shakespeare wrote for all generations, and no matter what technology may bring- girls will be girls and will never change. Pretty sad when you think about it actually.

How tragic...

Shakespeare's Othello is a tragedy, for in the end everyone will die (spoiler alert). However, there are also elements of comedy as well. Shakespeare does a phenomenal job of bringing comic relief to a plot line that would otherwise be considered dull and boring. In Act II, scene i, Iago talks about the different types of women to Dez. This added an element of disbelief to the audience. The audience was not expecting Iago to break into a speech about how all women just want to be in bed. He had a very creative response to each question he was asked. Each time another question was asked, the audience expected him to not have an answer- but he did. Each answer was surprisingly similar in its nature.

Ugly v. Pretty

In Act II, scene i, realistic conventions were portrayed to the reader. Iago was describing to Des all about how ugly, pretty, stupid, and smart women get their way in the world they live in. According to Iago, all women just want to get in bed with a man - degrading. However, in all reality this is how a substantial number of women operate these days. This is a stylized convention in the story. It was incorporated in order to show Iago's view of women. This reveals to the reader that he as an ulterior motive with his later actions (i.e. getting Cassio drunk for the sole purpose of getting him fired by Othello). The entire play is not this way, for this bit is an motive of characterization for the audience to get to know Iago better. If this scene did not exist, it would make Iago more of a sympathetic character- something Shakespeare doesn't want him to have.