#6 How do the various physcial effects-theatrical components such as sets, lights, costuming, makeup, gestures, stage movements, musical effects of song and dance, and so forth-reinforce the meanings and contribute to the emotional effects? By what means does the playwright indicate the nature of these physcial effects-explicitly, through stage directions and set descriptions, or implicitly, through dialogue between the characters?
"Do but encave yourself, / And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorns, / Thar dwell in every region of his face." IV.i.79-81
"That's not amiss. / But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw? (Othello retires)" IV.i.89-90
The physical effects are an important part of the play. Without the theatrical components, it would be much harder to understand the play. It is very important to pay attention to the stage directions, especially in certain scenes like the one in the quote. The quote above is from a scene where Iago is telling Othello to hide so he can hear Cassio admit to the affair. However, if the reader doesn't notice the stage direction that says Othello hides, than the reader would think Othello is talking to Cassio in the following conversation but he is not. While Iago is talking to Cassio, Othello is in a corner listening and making comments to himself. Therefore, the stage directions are important and the audience show pay close attention to them.
The playwright indicates the nature of these physical effects both explicitly and implicitly. The quote above is an example of both of these. First, the action is indicated implicitly by Iago when he tells Othello to hide. Then, the action is indicated explicitly by the stage direction.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Othello (4)
#2 Is the play a tragedy or comedy, a melodrama or farce? Does it mingle aspects of these types of drama? How important to experencing the drama is the audience's awareness of the classification of the play?
"O Spartan dog, / More fell than anguish, hungar, or the sea! / look on the tragic loading of this bed: / This is thy work. The object poisons sight, / Let it be hid." V.ii.360-364
Othello is both a tragedy and a melodrama. It is tragedy because multiple characters die in the end. Roderigo, Desdemona, Emilia, and Othello all end up dead in the final scene. It is also a melodrama because strong emotions are expressed throughout the play. I don't think the play would be as clear if the emotions were not expressed so strongly. All the action takes place because of emotions such as hatred, jealously, and deceit. Iago drives the action of the play through his lies and tricks while the other characters also help drive the action by easily falling for Iago's lies.
The play does not really mix the aspects of a drama because it is not humerious. This is a serious play with a tragic ending for multiple characters. I also think it is not that important to know classification of the play to experience it. If the audience does not know the classification beforehand, the audience would find out pretty quickly into the play.
"O Spartan dog, / More fell than anguish, hungar, or the sea! / look on the tragic loading of this bed: / This is thy work. The object poisons sight, / Let it be hid." V.ii.360-364
Othello is both a tragedy and a melodrama. It is tragedy because multiple characters die in the end. Roderigo, Desdemona, Emilia, and Othello all end up dead in the final scene. It is also a melodrama because strong emotions are expressed throughout the play. I don't think the play would be as clear if the emotions were not expressed so strongly. All the action takes place because of emotions such as hatred, jealously, and deceit. Iago drives the action of the play through his lies and tricks while the other characters also help drive the action by easily falling for Iago's lies.
The play does not really mix the aspects of a drama because it is not humerious. This is a serious play with a tragic ending for multiple characters. I also think it is not that important to know classification of the play to experience it. If the audience does not know the classification beforehand, the audience would find out pretty quickly into the play.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Othello (3)
"As I am an honest man, I though you had received some bodily wound. There is more sense in that than in reputation. Reputation is an idle and most false imposition, oft got without merit and lost without deserving." II.iii.244-247
I have found quite a bit of irony in this play. This quote above is a perfect example of irony. Iago is telling Cassio that is an honest man, which the audience knows is not true. The irony of the situation is that Cassio believes that Iago is honest. Multiple times thoughout the play, the other characters refer to Iago as an honest man. Iago is the farthest thing from honest; he is a lying, scheming, and deceitful man. Iago is only interested in himself and advancing his career. I also found it ironic that Iago hated Othello because there was a rumor that Othello slept with his wife, but Iago did not even love or respect his wife.
I have found quite a bit of irony in this play. This quote above is a perfect example of irony. Iago is telling Cassio that is an honest man, which the audience knows is not true. The irony of the situation is that Cassio believes that Iago is honest. Multiple times thoughout the play, the other characters refer to Iago as an honest man. Iago is the farthest thing from honest; he is a lying, scheming, and deceitful man. Iago is only interested in himself and advancing his career. I also found it ironic that Iago hated Othello because there was a rumor that Othello slept with his wife, but Iago did not even love or respect his wife.
Othello (2)
#4 How is dramatic suspense created? Contrast the amount of information possessed by the audience as the play proceeds with the knowledge that various individual characters have: what is the effect of such a contrast?
"Touch me not so near. / I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth / Than it should do offense to Michael Cassio. / Yet I persuade myself to speak the truth / Shall nothing wrong him. Thus it is, General." II.i.199-203
Shakespeare does a good job of creating dramatic suspense in Othello by plotting the characters against each other. Iago's actions create the most suspense because he manipulates everyone else. In the Act II, Iago manipulates Montano, Cassio, and Othello all at the same time. Iago gets Cassio drunk so he will be easy to provoke. Then, Iago makes Montano believe that Cassio is a drunk and convinces Othello that he is loyal to both Cassio and Othello, even though he is not. The audience knows Iago's plan, but the other characters each have different ideas about Iago. Each character thinks Iago is being truthful and honest to them, while he is in fact deceiving each one of them. The audience, on the other hand, knows the truth about Iago.
"Touch me not so near. / I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth / Than it should do offense to Michael Cassio. / Yet I persuade myself to speak the truth / Shall nothing wrong him. Thus it is, General." II.i.199-203
Shakespeare does a good job of creating dramatic suspense in Othello by plotting the characters against each other. Iago's actions create the most suspense because he manipulates everyone else. In the Act II, Iago manipulates Montano, Cassio, and Othello all at the same time. Iago gets Cassio drunk so he will be easy to provoke. Then, Iago makes Montano believe that Cassio is a drunk and convinces Othello that he is loyal to both Cassio and Othello, even though he is not. The audience knows Iago's plan, but the other characters each have different ideas about Iago. Each character thinks Iago is being truthful and honest to them, while he is in fact deceiving each one of them. The audience, on the other hand, knows the truth about Iago.
Othello (1)
# 3 Identify the protagonist(s) and antagonist(s). Are there any foil characters? What dramatic functions are served by the various minor characters?
"The Moor is of a free and open nature / That thinks men honest that but seem to be so, / And will as tenderly be led by th' nose / As asses are. / I have ’t. It is engendered! Hell and night / Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light." I.iii.379-384
In Act I of Othello, it was clear that Iago is the antagonist and Othello is the protagonist. The play begins with Iago making a plan for revenge. Iago has the characteristics of an antagonist because he is deceiving and manipulative. Othello is the protagonist because he is a respected general and he handles himself calmly. When he was accused of tricking Desdemona into marring him, Othello remained calm and was very civil. The except above illustrates Iago plotting against Othello.
There are also foil characters in Othello. Iago and Cassio are foil characters, as are Desdemona and Emilia. Iago and Cassio have very different views on how to treat women. Iago does not respect women at all and thinks they should make a home and raise children. Cassio, on the other hand, respects women and treats them kindly. He greeted the women with a kiss and showed them respect. Desdemona and Emilia are also foil characters, which is evident through their actions. Desdemona is determined, defensive, and not afraid to stand up for herself. In contrast, Emilia is soft-spoken and does not stand up for herself - she lets Iago put her down. In addition to these characters, there are other minor characters that help shed light on the actions of Iago and Othello.
"The Moor is of a free and open nature / That thinks men honest that but seem to be so, / And will as tenderly be led by th' nose / As asses are. / I have ’t. It is engendered! Hell and night / Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light." I.iii.379-384
In Act I of Othello, it was clear that Iago is the antagonist and Othello is the protagonist. The play begins with Iago making a plan for revenge. Iago has the characteristics of an antagonist because he is deceiving and manipulative. Othello is the protagonist because he is a respected general and he handles himself calmly. When he was accused of tricking Desdemona into marring him, Othello remained calm and was very civil. The except above illustrates Iago plotting against Othello.
There are also foil characters in Othello. Iago and Cassio are foil characters, as are Desdemona and Emilia. Iago and Cassio have very different views on how to treat women. Iago does not respect women at all and thinks they should make a home and raise children. Cassio, on the other hand, respects women and treats them kindly. He greeted the women with a kiss and showed them respect. Desdemona and Emilia are also foil characters, which is evident through their actions. Desdemona is determined, defensive, and not afraid to stand up for herself. In contrast, Emilia is soft-spoken and does not stand up for herself - she lets Iago put her down. In addition to these characters, there are other minor characters that help shed light on the actions of Iago and Othello.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
"Popular Mechanics"
#1 Discuss the story's final lines. What is the "issue" that is "decided"?
"But he would not let go. He felt the baby slipping out of his hands and he pulled back very hard. In this manner, the issue was decided."
"Popular Mechanics" by Raymond Carver was definately strange. I did not expect the story to end the way it did. In the last few lines of the story, the husband and wife basically tear their baby apart. The "issue" that is "decided" is who will get the baby. The last few lines reveal that neither of them get the baby because the parents killed the baby by fighting over it. The issue was decided when the father "pulled back very hard." the last line implies that the baby was killed by the parents tugging back and forth on it like they were playing tug-of- war. I think it was a sad story of how divorce can destroy a family, and divorce is a sad reality that many people face in today's society.
"But he would not let go. He felt the baby slipping out of his hands and he pulled back very hard. In this manner, the issue was decided."
"Popular Mechanics" by Raymond Carver was definately strange. I did not expect the story to end the way it did. In the last few lines of the story, the husband and wife basically tear their baby apart. The "issue" that is "decided" is who will get the baby. The last few lines reveal that neither of them get the baby because the parents killed the baby by fighting over it. The issue was decided when the father "pulled back very hard." the last line implies that the baby was killed by the parents tugging back and forth on it like they were playing tug-of- war. I think it was a sad story of how divorce can destroy a family, and divorce is a sad reality that many people face in today's society.
"You're Ugly, Too"
"'Maybe I sound whiny to you,' said the girl, 'but. Simply want my history major to mean something.' 'Well, there's your problem,' said Zoe, and with a smile, she showed the student to the door. 'I like your bow,' she added."
"You're Ugly Too" by Lorrie Moore was strange. I did not really know what the purpose of this story was. However, I did find some irony in the story. I though it was kind of ironic that Zoe had characteristics of a man and Earl was dressed as a woman. It was also ironic that when Zoe was trying to be funny, no one else though she was funny. Everyone else just though she was being rude. The quote above is an example of how Zoe interacted with others. Zoe is very sarcasitic and her students take it as her bein rude. I think Zoe was just a little socially awkard and did not know how to act appropriately around other people.
"You're Ugly Too" by Lorrie Moore was strange. I did not really know what the purpose of this story was. However, I did find some irony in the story. I though it was kind of ironic that Zoe had characteristics of a man and Earl was dressed as a woman. It was also ironic that when Zoe was trying to be funny, no one else though she was funny. Everyone else just though she was being rude. The quote above is an example of how Zoe interacted with others. Zoe is very sarcasitic and her students take it as her bein rude. I think Zoe was just a little socially awkard and did not know how to act appropriately around other people.
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