Blog #6- Othello, Act V
Act V: 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 Othello
enters the bedchamber and begins to ready himself to murder Desdemona, there
are clear signs of an internal conflict in his soliloquy. Rewrite two direct comments made by Othello
illustrating his internal conflict and then summarize how he reconciles his
intentions. Why do you feel Othello’s murderous intentions win out over his
clear and apparent love for Desdemona?
Ensure that your response reflects the complexity of issue.
OPTION 2-
Upon awakening, Desdemona soon realizes the
seriousness of her situation and desperately tries to change Othello’s mind.
What are three verbal attacks and accusations made by Othello and how does
Desdemona respond in her own defense?
Locate direct quotes as textual evidence for each example. Construct a
single, complex sentence generalizing the argument between Othello and
Desdemona.
Opinion 1
ReplyDelete"Not scar that whiter skin of hers than snow And smooth as monumental alabaster. Yet she must die,else she'll betray more men." Act 5, scene 2, page 81
He says he won't scar her skin, but he must kill her before she cheats on more men.
"I must weep. But they are cruel tears." Act 5, scene 2, page 82
He says he will cry for doing this, but he must be cruel to get it over with.
I think Othello's murderous intentions when over his love for Desdemona because he, although he loves her, must stop her before she cheats on more men and commits more sins. He is fighting back tears and his love for Desdemona because he thinks this is the right thing to do. This is to ensure that other men don't go through the suffering that he had to go through. (C.Hill.1st period)
I completely agree C. Hill he does not want scar her skin but he does feel her demise is necessary. I also agree that despite his love for Desdemona, he is convince that this is a necessary evil. (C. Drucker 1)
DeleteOPTION 2: As Desdemona wakes up, Othello is all fired up. Othello accuses Desdemona of committing sins. First, Othello says, "You gave that handkerchief, the one I loved and gave to you,to Cassio" ( 5.2.52-54). Desdemona knows this is not true and responds saying," No, I swear by my life and soul! Bring him here and ask him" (5.2.55-56). After this accusation, Othello continues on to talk about how unfaithful Desdemona was, and tells her, "he had sex with you" (5.2.77). This completely shocks Desdemona, she repeats the statement out of shock and then tells Othello that is wrong and Cassio would never even say that happened. If the two previous accusations weren't enough, Othello goes as far as saying that Desdemona was in love with Cassio. Of course this comment makes Desdemona angry, she responds saying," I never loved Cassio,except with the pure love that I feel for humankind" (5.2. 67-69). Also, during the whole argument Othello is telling Desdemona that she is a liar and that he is about to kill her for all the sins she has committed. Basically, Othello is telling Desdemona what he thinks is the truth, while Desdemona is telling the actual truth, but neither of them listen to each other because they are stuck on what they think is true, so the whole argument is pointless.(B.Bair 7)
ReplyDeleteOption 1- Othello's two motives for killing Desdemona are the loss of his mother's prized handkerchief and the fact he thinks she's cheating on him. This is supported by the sentence where he accuses her of cheating with Cassio, due to the fact he found his handkerchief, or so he thinks (it's really the copy made earlier in the story), on Cassio. His murderous intentions are those of heartbreak. When he decided that Desdemona had cheated with Cassio, he became so betrayed and angry, he decided to kill her. Why? He loved her, so the fact that she "cheated" on him broke him. He killed his love because she broke his heart, or so he thought. (A. Osborne 1)
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you are saying about why Othello wanted to kill Desdemona and Cassio, but Othello did this because in this time period, it was not uncommon for a man to become frustrated with his wife and kill her. (H. Kimble 1)
DeleteOption 2
ReplyDeleteAn accusation made by Othello was that Desdemona gave the handkerchief to Cassio. She replies by saying "No, I swear by my life and soul! Bring him here and ask him" (5.2.65-66) Othello refuses to believe her and tells her that she is on her deathbed. Desdemona tries to explain that her only sin was loving Othello to much, but he replies by saying "Yes, that's why you have to die." (5.2.45) He is so brainwashed by Iago that he wont even give his lover a chance. Othello also calls Desdemona a whore and she replies by saying "Send me away lord, but don't kill me." (5.2.88) She is desperate to live another day. Although Othello still cared a great deal for Desdemona, he let false accusations made by Iago get to his brain and wouldn't even allow himself to consider that what Desdemona was saying was true. (E.Degue 7)
I agree with your opinion. When Desdemona wakes up, she realizes her situation. I personal can't imagine the fear she had then. She was minutes away from death. The fear she must've experienced is unbelievable. Just goes to show even the smallest of rumors can create conflict,which can result in tragedy. (C.Hill 1st period)
DeleteOption two- Othello is accusing Desdemona for committing a sin, and that is fooling around with Cassio. She replies “They are loves I bear to you.”(5.2.82) She is expressing that the only sin she has made is loving him so much. He doesn’t want to hear it and says that she has to die. Then Othello accuses her of giving Cassio her handkerchief. Desdemona says to him "No, by my life and soul! Send for the man and ask him.”(5.2.83) Othello once again doesn't believe her and is telling her that he is going to kill her. Othello again accuses her of something else and this time it is of having sex with Cassio. She says to him “How? unlawfully?” (5.2.83) Desdemona is trying her best to get Othello to believe what she is saying and not what Cassio and Iago has told him. Othello thinking that Iago and Cassio were being honest, got to his head and he would not hear a single word that she was trying to say for herself.
ReplyDeleteI really agree with what you are saying here in the sense that Othello was accusative the whole time and not giving Desdemona a chance to defend herself. (H. Kimble 1)
DeleteOption 2- After Othello enters his bedchambers to kill Desdemona, he says . . . "If you bethink yourself of any crime . . . solicit for it straight." (5.2. 30-32). Here, he is accusing of her of being a woman who is guilty of crime so often, that she doesn't even think to pray for forgiveness anymore. But Desdemona comes back with . . . "Talk you of killing?" (5.2.38). She thinks that Othello thinks that she killed someone, as opposed to him prefacing him killing her. Othello then goes on to say . . . "Think on thy sins." (5.2.48). he is calling her a liar by telling her to think long and hard because he doesn't believe her. But Desdemona defends herself with . . . "They are loves I bear to you". She is telling him that the only sins she has was her love for him, even though they aren't. (H. Kimble 1)
ReplyDeleteOption 2- After Othello enters his bedchambers to kill Desdemona, he says . . . "If you bethink yourself of any crime . . . solicit for it straight." (5.2. 30-32). Here, he is accusing of her of being a woman who is guilty of crime so often, that she doesn't even think to pray for forgiveness anymore. But Desdemona comes back with . . . "Talk you of killing?" (5.2.38). She thinks that Othello thinks that she killed someone, as opposed to him prefacing him killing her. Othello then goes on to say . . . "Think on thy sins." (5.2.48). he is calling her a liar by telling her to think long and hard because he doesn't believe her. But Desdemona defends herself with . . . "They are loves I bear to you". She is telling him that the only sins she has was her love for him, even though they aren't. (H. Kimble 1)
ReplyDeleteOption 1- Othello in his words to himself he refers to her physical beauty as he says he will not scar, or make bleed the skin that is as white as snow, and as smooth as the finest marble. This makes stops him from committing the infamous action. The Othello goes to say it must be done to protect other men from being hurt by her as he was. Then he uses light as a metaphor as he says if he extinguishes the light he can relight it if he regrets his decision, but once he puts out the light not even magic could cause that light to relume. He has a internal confliction as he looks at her beauty or smells her balmy breath which is his love shining through. However, he continually repeats "it is the cause, it is the cause" as to convince himself that this has to be done. His use of repetition is an obvious sign of internal conflict; it is common as a way of persuasion. His murderous intent wins over his love as jealousy and his internal persuasion won over his mind. The monster of jealousy and doubt was too strong for Othello to overcome. (C. Drucker 1)
ReplyDelete