Pity in Othello Team EZ-E

*Note from Professor: Sorry, I posted this on Wednesday but got an error message and didn’t see it ’till today, so your response isn’t due ’till before Wednesday’s class

Texts discussed: Act 5 of Othello and academic article

Theme: Pity
Literary Element: Pathos (Emotional Appeal)

“Because Othello is a warrior, love is presumably less instinctive to him…”

Article Summary: Our article revolves around the theme of pity. The first time pity appears in Othello is significant because it is how Othello came to marry Desdemona, but pity alone does not lead to marriage. Pity is a factor that leads to love in Othello, and the lack of pity Othello believes Desdemona has is what leads to her death. When Desdemona took pity on him she fell in love with who he was and was aware of the problems he faces and still chose to accept him through and through. Because Othello had no reason to pity her, he was less attached to her and was able to kill her. The rhetorical device of pathos is what Iago used to manipulate Othello, by using his known emotions (pain, hate, fear) and forming them into a monster that overpowered his unknown emotion (love). When understanding pity and the importance of it between lovers, it is easy to understand why Othello did what he did when he believed Desdemona gave Cassio Othello’s handkerchief. In Othello’s mind, Desdemona pitied Cassio, and loved Cassio instead.

Act 5 Summary:

The act starts off by Iago speaking with Roderigo and preparing him to kill Cassio. As Rodrigo gets ready, Iago mumbles with himself the pros and cons of the death of Cassio but he still proceeds with the plan as it will play in his favor. As Cassio enters, Rodrigo draws his sword but Cassio gets a stab in. While Cassio is on the floor, Iago stabs him and runs away. While they both scream in pain, guards come in to see what is wrong and they see the aftermath. Cassio yells that Roderigo is the enemy therefore Iago stabs him. As time passes by, Othello enters the bedroom where Desdemona is sleeping. While he watches her sleep, he wraps his head around what needs to be done. Othello wakes up Desdemona and he gives he that chance to confess any wrong doings but she insists that the only crime done is having too much love for him, her husband. Her answer infuriates Othello and tells her to say her last prayer as he strangles her with a pillow. Emilia interrupts Othello with the news of Roderigo and finds Desdemona in distress and calls out Othello for his actions. When the others come in, Iago’s plan is revealed. As Othello charges at Iago, Iago stabs his wife, Emilia, for not keeping her trap shut. Iago gets caught after fleeing and Othello gets the chance to stab him. Everything then come to light, the plan gets revealed and Othello feels like a fool and then stabs himself. As he lays next to Desdemona, he kisses her one last time as he dies because he had kiss her when she died.

Act 5 Summary

Act 5 Scene 1

Act 5 Scene 2

 

Questions:

1. Why do you believe that Desdemona didn’t expose Othello for killing her to Emilia, seconds before she died?

2. Why did Desdemona blame herself for her death?

3. Do you believe Iago should have the death sentence for his crimes?

4. What do you think would have happened to Othello if he didn’t kill himself?

Group D (No Title: Act 4, Sc. 2&3)

Texts discussed: Shakespeare’s Othello 4.2-3 & Academic Article

Theme: Misogyny

Video Analysis: The first video is a rehearsal of the Royal Shakespeare Company between the actresses who play Desdemona and Emilia. The scene is examining their perspectives of how Emilia and Desdemona see men. Emilia understands that there are men that are jealous and treat their wives unfairly while Desdemona is shocked that wives can be unfaithful. The actresses at the end have a discussion about how Emilia has a point that men and women should be equal yet they are surprised that Desdemona doesn’t understand that women can be cheaters also.

Article Summary: The article, basically focuses on how Shakespeare’s use of ecofeminism, which is a way to  describe a feminist approach to understanding ecology. Ecofeminist thinkers draw on the concept of gender to theorize on the relationship between humans and the natural world. Within Shakespeare’s writing he tends to focus on the idea of set gender roles. Most of his plays like Othello focus on the idea that women have been raised with the idea to please their fathers and future spouses, which in a way fulfills the expectation society has for them.  In a way Shakespeare’s use of misogyny creates the idea that men tend to create the image and affect women’s actions within the plays. Misogynistic thinking is present with most of Shakespeare’s plays, which leads to women not really having a choice in the way that they are being portrayed.

Summary:

Othello is in a jealous rage and wants answers. He questions Emilia to find out the truth and when he doesn’t get the answer he wants he starts bashing on Emilia and asks her to get Desdemona. He just wants to find out if everything he’s hearing is true. Seeing Desdemona puts him more into a rage and he starts being even more hostile. He sends Desdemona to bed without her servants. Most likely planning to kill her.

• Othello questions Emilia about Cassio and Desdemona.

• Emilia tells him there’s no wrongdoing and nothing is going wrong, but Othello doesn’t believe her and starts bashing on her.

• He tells Emilia to get Desdemona and he confronts her and starts being rude to her.

• Desdemona is upset and confused and runs to Iago for comfort

• Rodrigo goes to Iago angrily and tells him that he was promised Desdemona but still hasn’t gotten her and he tells him to be patient and when Othello leaves to kill Cassio.

• Othello sends Desdemona to go to bed and tells Emilia and all her other servants to leave her alone for the night.

• Emilia comforts Desdemona and tells her that it’s all husbands faults that wives cheat and men don’t treat their women right.

Questions:

1. What does Emilia say to Othello in regards to Desdemona? How did Othello react when hearing Emilia speak on Desdemona?

2. When looking at how Othello has treated Desdemona, what is her reasoning as to why she still loves him?

3. What will Iago achieve by killing Cassio and allowing Othello to kill Desdemona?

4. Do you believe that Emilia loves Iago? Provide evidence to support your claim.

“Husbands need to know that their wives are human beings too”

Iago’s Machiavellianism

Texts discussed: Shakespeare’s Act IV & “The Humiliation of Iago”

Theme: Manipulation
Literary Element: Symbolization

The article talks about the actions between Desdemona, Othello, and Iago. It also talks about the different meanings and truths behind the words the characters are saying. It examines the way the outcome of each character happened and to why it was the way it was. The article tries to answer questions about the motives and reasons behind the actions specifically of Iago. His main motive is to have power and it starts with jealousy and turns into manipulation.

 

1. What is Iago trying to do to Othello in the opening of Act 4, Scene 1? What happens to him as a result of this?

2. Who does Iago want to speak with? Why? What does Iago want Othello to do?

3. What is Iago’s “medicine”? What is meant by “thus credulous fools caught, and many worthy and chaste dames even thus, all guiltless, meet approach.”?

4. In your assumption, how will the action of Othello be perceived by Venice as witnessed by Lodovico?