Let's look at some facts. Iago is a downright evil mastermind. He's complex, he's unique, and he's relatively mysterious. But honestly, he's the only seemingly intelligent character in the whole play. Everybody in the play is busy running around, killing each other, and growing hatred towards one another, but they're all pawns in whatever game Iago is playing. While Iago get's what he wants for a vast majority of the play, they don't always go as planned. Yet, when things don't go his way, he somehow manages to find a way to manipulate the situation to work in his favor. Whether it be getting Othello to think he's "of exceeding honesty" (3.3.299), or getting Roderigo to "take thy stand" (5.1.8) against Cassio. Or when he stabs Cassio in the leg when that didn't work. So why should we want such an evil, manipulative character? Well, Shakespeare wants us to. Why else would he draw out Iago's character so much more than even the character the play is named after? He is making us look further into Iago's character, and trying to make us come up with a reason, or reasons for Iago's wrongdoing. Maybe he's just flat out evil, or maybe he wants to be the general instead of Othello. We'll never really know. But what we do know is that Iago is much smarter than the other characters. And that alone is enough to want to root for him. Shakespeare also makes it play out for Iago incredibly well around almost every corner. Especially when his wife, Emilia (Shakespeare rest her soul) gives him the handkerchief "the Moor first gave to Desdemona" (3.3.353). Iago's careful use of the handkerchief is what really set off Othello. In fact, it's what made Othello decide he'd "chop her into messes" (4.1.219). It's this manipulation that makes us want Iago to win so badly. It really makes you respect him more as a character. So all together, Iago is really the character who you want to succeed. While you know he's evil, and the "villain" it becomes really difficult to not want him to succeed. Not that he didn't succeed anyways. It was really inevitable when you think about it. After all, nobody else knows how to communicate aside from him. And let me tell you, it's difficult to want somebody so stupid to succeed. And so you should root for Iago, the evil mastermind that makes Shakespeare's play so interesting.
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Throughout Othello, a plethora of what we'll call "unfortunate" events transpire, and it becomes difficult to decide who's completely at fault. The blood of Othello, Desdemona, Roderigo, and Emilia has to be on somebody's hands, right? It could be Iago. It could be Othello. It could be Cassio. Or maybe just bad timing. I'm sure that a vast majority of people would think that it's either Othello, or Iago, and for the most part, you'd be correct. But it's more the character's lack of communication that did them in. Let's think logically about this. If Othello had simply talked to Desdemona, rather than assuming right away that she was "false as hell" (4.2.48) based on the word of "honest Iago" (2.3.189). But if Othello had simply asked Desdemona about her affairs, and clarified that he was worried about his and her relationship, perhaps things could've been mended, and things wouldn't have ended the way they did. Othello and Desdemona aren't the only examples of a lack of communication, though. Had Iago simply mentioned that he thought he was "worth no worse a place" (1.1.12), Othello may have rethought his decision, and rather given the position to Iago instead of Cassio. All in all, I suppose nobody is 100% at fault, however, everybody had a role in the inevitability that was the four deaths at the end of the play. The only thing that can be blamed is... Well, I have a pie chart for a visual. Had the character's had any rational thoughts, and communicated, the play wouldn't have ended how it did.
Shakespeare is an incredible playwright, both in his own time, and still in ours. His works have transcended centuries upon centuries of other plays and works, yet still, he remains on top. Although his plays are genius both in conveying human emotion, as well as tackling social issues that were a problem then, and can still apply to today. It's unfortunate Shakespeare was a part of the Venetian Renaissance and couldn't have written his plays in today's terms. However, with some effort, it can still be understood, and here's how. Shakespeare likes his long monologues and soliloquies, and when you try and understand the whole thing, it can often cause loss of appetite, loss of cognitive reliance, loss of sleeping ability, and suicidal thoughts. So what you need to do is just read the first few lines, and the last few. Shakespeare uses the middle information to seem smarter, and make his work seem much longer. It's a technique we've all employed some time or another, it's just adding fluff. The main ideas that are needed to get across are just the first and last thoughts. Shakespeare also likes to make up odd words to achieve a certain flow pattern in his writing, like "ariseth" (2.3.181). Not only that, but because Shakespeare's work is so old, he uses tons of words that don't make sense to us today, like "ho" (2.3.167), and "Diablo" (2.3.169). This can be excruciatingly aggravating, and harder to understand than a six year old holding his tongue and saying "apple." And so the best thing you can do to push through said words is to simply skip them. The rest of the text will more than likely make more sense than if you were try to read it with the entire line. That, and just reading the first and last line are way less likely to give you a brain aneurysm. My final tip for reading Shakespeare is to take breaks at a regular interval. Reading for hours upon hours is not something I'd recommend, as you will likely get fatigued, and you'll just be reading instead of comprehending. The best way to avoid fatigue is to take breaks while reading. Reading can be boring, especially if you aren't interested in what it is you're reading, and many people don't like Shakespeare. So TAKE BREAKS. Shakespeare's comedies, tragedies and other plays are definitely good and interesting reads, and they put into question some social issues and instabilities that can still be applied today, but it's not always the easiest to comprehend. But when you put everything together, skipping words, skipping long lines, and taking breaks, it's incredible how much easier it becomes to come to an complete understanding. It'll be as if Shakespeare himself is helping you read his great works.
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Peyton LepperI like to write. And draw. |