Blog #3- Othello, Act II
Act II: Choose one of the following options for your
blog comment. When you post, title your
comment with the option you chose. Remember to sign your comment with your
first initial, last name, and class period.
OPTION 1-
As the main
body of characters wait for Othello’s arrival, the audience witnesses Iago’s
treatment of his wife and his view of women in general. Locate and list three cited comments made by
Iago, and explain what each reveals about his views and beliefs. Offer a single,
complex sentence summarizing what the audience learns about Iago’s personality.
OPTION 2-
First:
Reflect on who has been wronged the most by the end of act II. Is it Roderigo, Othello, Cassio or
Desdemona? Write several sentences
expressing your opinion. Use cited
evidence as needed. Next: Make a
prediction indicating What you think will happen to the character you discuss.
OPTION 2: Personally, I believe Cassio has been wronged the most. First, Iago tried to trick him into liking Desdemona, and eventually he gets pushed into saying," She's a perfect woman" ( 2.3.24). Already, Iago could use these words to get Cassio in trouble, but Iago goes further. Iago is able to get all the men from Cyprus drunk, and Cassio had a little bit to drink, which was enough for him to act drunk. This situation allowed things to get heated quickly. Eventually, Iago is able to get Roderigo to chase after Cassio, which leads to a fight. The fight awakens the whole town, including Othello. In the end, with the help of Iago's conniving words, Cassio gets fired. You'd think this would more than please Iago, but no. Instead, Iago continues to deceive people. Iago tells Cassio, " Othello's wife has a lot of influence now... Ask her to help you get back your position" (2.3.298-303). So now, Iago will accuse Cassio of flirting, and I believe Cassio will continue to get in trouble. Cassio has already "wronged" Othello once and talking to Desdemona will push Othello over the edge, someone is likely to be killed. (B.Bair 7)
ReplyDeleteI agree with this as well, Cassio wasn't treated fairly either.
DeleteI completely agree with you Cassio was manipulated and treated unfair. Iago's manipulation towards Cassio will soon lead to the demise of Cassio, Desdemona, or both alike. (C. Drucker 2)
DeleteShortly after the beginning of Act II of the play, we see Iago go on a rant toward woman, and holds no filter on how he feels about them. " Come on, come on! You are pictures out of door, bells in your parlors, wildcats in you kitchens..." (2.1.121-125). "She never yet was foolish that was fair, for even her folly helped her to an heir." (2.1.151-152). "She that was ever fair and never proud, had tongue at wit and yet was never loud..." (2.1.163-164). All three of these remarks made by Iago are all demeaning and insulting comments made by women. What makes these comments even worse than they normally would be, is that Iago made them in front of his wife and the wife of the man he answers to. Option 1. (H. Kimble 1)
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning of Act II, we see Iago going on a rant about women, revealing how he feels about them. "Come on, come on! You are pictures out of door, bells in your parlors, wildcats in your kitchens..." (2.1.121-125). " She never yet was foolish that was fair, for even her folly helped her to an heir." (2.1.151-152). "She that was ever fair and never proud, had tongue at will and yet was never loud..." (2.1.163-173). All three of these comments are very rude and demeaning to women, but to make matters worse, he made them in front of his wife and the wife of the man that he answers to. Option 1. (H. Kimble 1)
ReplyDeleteI agree with your opinion. Iago does make those comments about women which are of course insulting and cruel. What makes Iago a true villain is that he has no regards to anyone feelings at all. He is only being nice to Othello so his plan will work. Other than that, he is really cruel. Those comments about women are just the start. I can't imagine who else he will be cruel to.
Delete(C.Hill.1st period)
Iago does not show any kind of affection towards his wife Emilia. In the beginning of scene 2 there are many comments made by Iago that proves this and his view of women in general. The first comment that stood out to me was "If she gave you as much lip as she gives me, you'd be sick of her by now" (2.1.110-111) This shows that he doesn't appreciating the presence of Emilia. When Iago says "You don't take your jobs as housewives seriously, and you're shameless hussies in bed." (2.1.120-121), this proves that he views women as people who are supposed to clean the house, cook, and take car of kids instead of someone who could do more in life. Iago also believes that all women try to do is get women to sleep with them. He mentions that "No matter how ugly or stupid the woman is, she plays the same dirty tricks that the smart and pretty ones do" (2.1.150-151) The dirty tricks that he is referring to is a woman's ability to make attracted them no matter their looks or intelligence. Although Iago has a wife who seems to care for him, Iago treats her like a tool and views all women useless if they do not act like housewives. He shows no respect towards woman at all. (E.Degue 7)
ReplyDeleteThree Citations
ReplyDelete"In faith, too much;"
Act 2, Scene 1, page 24
He thinks women talk too much, implying that he thinks that they shouldn't have a say.
" If she be black,and thereto have a wit, She'll find a white that shall her blackness fit."
Act 2,Scene 1,page 24
He thinks even if a women is ugly, she'll find a guy to sleep with.
"There's none so foul,and foolish thereunto, But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do."
Act 2,Scene 1, page 25
He thinks that know matter how ugly or stupid a women is, they will use the same dirty tricks to get men.
Iago, to the audience, is a racial,sexist, and ignorant man who only sees women as whores and less then men and wants revenge on Othello due to ignorant pride and jealousy towards Cassio. He may also want revenge on Othello due to him being African and to have married a Caucasian women.
(C.Hill.1st period)
Option 2- I believe the character wronged the most in Act 2 is Othello. Roderigo makes insults about Othello, merely based on the fact he wants Desdemona and she chose Othello. Regardless of this, Othello keeps his composure, only to be heckled by his father in law, Brabanzio. Brabanzio, twice, accuses Othello of dabbling in black magic and using it on his daughter to make her fall in love with himself. He even stoops to racism as a defense, stating that he didn't believe there was any way his daughter could fall in love with a black man unless her "senses had been blinded." I predict Othello may either be put in jail or have to in hiding. (A. Osborne 1)
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you are saying because Roderigo and Barbantio are both being quite harsh with their insults and heckling towards Othello. (H. Kimble 1)
DeleteOption 1:
ReplyDeleteWhile awaiting Othello's arrival in Cyprus, Iago exposes his view of women to the main body of characters. He begins by slandering his own wife, telling the others "she talks too much" and if they knew how much she complained, they would "be sick of her by now" (2.1.110-13). Iago continues on his rant by generalizing women as being "pretty as pictures when... in public, but in (their) own houses (they) are a noisy as jangling bells" as well as claiming they do not "take (their) jobs as housewives seriously and... are shameless hussies in bed" (2.1.118-21). Both of these instances show his traditional values of hard-working, modest women and a disrespect for women who do not hold up these values. The party begins questioning him on how the traits of women affect their worth and ends with the statement: "No matter how ugly or stupid the woman is, she plays the same dirty tricks that the smart and pretty ones do" (2.1.150-51). This final statement summarizes Iago's distrust in women. By reading this passage in Act 2, the audience can determine that Iago is an insecure, narcissistic man that is motivated by the notion that everyone is inferior to him; as well as feeling that others are motivated by their own self indulgent lives. (E.Stacey7)
By the end of Act II I believe that Othello has been the most wronged. I say this because from the very start Iago and Rodrigo have been out to get him. Iago says repeatedly “I hate him” but he continues to be faithful to him so that he will trust him and tell him things. Iago is like a snake in the grass, you don’t see it but its there to bite you at the first chance. Rodrigo on the other hand is love sick over Desdemona from the start he even says “I will incontinently drown myself.” (1.3.18) personally that is ridiculous, she is married!! Then Iago and Rodrigo come together to help each other make Othello fail. I think that eventually Othello is going to catch on that someone close to him isn’t really on his side and he is going to be furious and fire Iago. As with Rodrigo it will probably start a fight.
ReplyDeleteI agree with putting the blame on Iago for Cassio being victimized. Iago plays an innocent bystander and continues to throw Cassio under the bus and ruin his life.
DeleteI agree with this because Iago is hateful towards Othello and his entire devious plan is to ruin Othello. I believe the other people are mainly just collateral damage.
Delete(Z.Lipscomb 2)
In my opinion I thin Cassio has been wronged the most. He was given a position of lieutenant and because of it, his life became ruined. First Iago persuades Cassio to drink by saying "o, they are our friends; but one cup."(2.3.30) Then he loses is job from it with Othello saying "Cassio, I love thee; but never more be officer of mine. Then Iago convinces him to seek out Desdemona's kind hand to get his job back. This cause Othello but the end of Act 3, scene 3 to want Cassio dead, which is completely unfair. Cassio had done nothing wrong yet Iago leads Othello to say "within these three days let me hear thee say That Cassio 's not alive." (C. Drucker 2)
ReplyDelete2- I believe Cassio is wronged the most. Iago is using him to his own advantage and manipulating everyone around him to put the blame on Cassio as well. However, Iago is not the only one technically using him. Othello is also not trusting of Cassio by listening to Iago over him. While most believe he is playing victim, he actually is the victim. He is being tossed from scenario to scenario as Iago's puppet with Othello out to kill him when he has done no harm. If anything, he probably believed things were going right for him after his promotion. Since he was revoked that position and involved with the chaos, it has gone downhill for him. However, good things come to those who wait and what goes around comes around. Most likely, since Cassio is pretty much innocent, he should have a good ending. (J.Deeter 2)
ReplyDelete