In Othello, most of the action takes place between only two characters: Iago and Othello, and this "action" is basically intense conversation and plotting. What effect does this produce on us as a reader? What challenges does this pose for directors and actors? Is Othello a domestic drama? Does it feel claustrophobic? How does the scale and focus of the play reflect the themes of jealousy, hatred and obsession?
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• The effect of the play on the reader is that we feel that the character Othello is insecure about his social status and his love life because of this he is easily swayed into believing the lies about his wife and his 2nd in command, Cassio. Iago plays off his insecurities and makes the play very predictable once we know that Othello is basically a puppet in Iago’s hands.
ReplyDelete• The challenge that this play poses for directors and actors is that we basically know what is going to happen next. So the directors and actors have to make the future scenes surprising and entertaining, even though we know what is going to happen.
• Othello is considered a domestic drama because domestic dramas refer to a dramatic story containing an emphasis on its characters' intimate relationships and their responses toward unfolding events in their lives.
• The scale and focus of the play reflects jealousy, hatred and obsession because Iago goes through the trouble of having to set up so many characters and scenes so that his opinions come off as true, even though they aren’t. For example in order for Othello to doubt his wife, Iago gets Cassio to hang around Desdemona and get her to plead to her husband about Cassio’s brawl and because of her pleading to her husband, Othello believes that Desdemona may have a relationship with Cassio.
Good start, but your comments lack the necessary support from the play to give creedence to your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThe intense action and plotting between Othello and Iago forces the reader to focus on the syntax and diction given by these two. Based on pure action alone the reader would never be able to understand what the point is; following the intense conversation and plotting however conveys the storyline and plot. This makes it difficult for directors and actors because they have to speak and give the same expressions that Othello and Iago would have given. They have to read into the characters emotions. Although Othello seems like a doemstic drama, I do not believe that it is because it doesn't follow just the middle and lower class-Bianca and Cassio and Iago. It follows aspects of the upper class such as Othello and Desdemona. I do not believe that it is claustrophobic either because even though it does follow mainly Iago and Othello, it does bring in aspects of the military. The focus of the play is like the focus of Iago's hatred, jealously, and obsession. Iago only cared about Othello and didn't care what, or who, got in his way.
ReplyDeleteIn Othello the intense conversation and plotting between the two main charcters Iago and Othello puts the reader into the lives of these two characters and allows the reader to see into Iago's mind and watch Othello slowly turn against his wife. The reader is never completely sure about the supporting roles and their intentions because of this focus. This causes a problem for directors and actors because they must create their own roles as supporting charcters. The play Othello is not a domestic drama because by definition domestic drama expresses and focuses on the relistic lives of middle and lower class citizens. Even though the play's emphasis is on the intimate lives of its characters, the main characters Iago and Othello are not middle or lower class citizen because Othello is a General who led his country to victory against the Turks. The play Othello to me feels claustrophobic because of the main focus of Iago and Othello and although there are many characters in Othello very few have more than a couple of lines and are small supporting charachers. The play is obsessed with Othello and Iago this obsession also reflects the obsession that Iago and Othello have for one another.
ReplyDeleteThe focus on the intense conversation and plotting that takes place between Othello and Iago gives the reader insight on how the two characters gain their mindset on the situations that occur. It allows the reader to see Iago's jealousy and hatred toward Othello as well as how gullible Othello is. Although it makes it easier for the reader to understand what's going on sometimes, it poses a challenge for directors and actors because it leaves certain aspects of the play to their own interpretation. In order for the play to be accurate they must focus majorly on the lives of Iago and Othello. The play is not a domestic drama however because it doesn't only focus on the lives of the middle or lower class but also on the lives of a higher class. If Othello and Desdemona weren't a part of the play it may be considered that but it is obvious that they are of a higher status because of the respect they gain from the other characters. I believe the play is some what claustrophobic because of the focus on Othello and Iago and not on the other characters yet, that focus is what adds to the themes of jealousy, hatred, and obsession.
ReplyDeleteThis action makes us get to know those two characters more in depth than the others. The intense conversation may not give us enough insight on what the scene actually looks like, how the characters feel on the inside. Bringing these characters to life with movement, facial expressions, and great acting may be a challenge for directors and actors. Because the play is mainly focused on Iago and Othello, the play may get quite boring with two men standing in the same spot just talking to one another. It’s up to the director and actors to bring life and excitement back into the characters in real life. Othello is a domestic drama. Most conflict happens between Othello and Desdemona. Iago sets Cassio up to be a home wrecker and Othello’s marital trust in Desdemona crumbles. Iago’s jealousy of Cassio’s position is the main reason behind his devious plan to destroy Othello. His hatred of both Iago and Cassio continue to grow as he talks himself into that horrid plan and it eventually becomes an obsession.
ReplyDeleteBecause most of the action in Othello is “intense conversation” between Iago and Othello, it was often difficult to understand each person’s plan. Many times it was very chaotic and hard to decipher exactly what each character was trying to plan and who was involved in each plan. This would pose challenges for directors and actors because nearly half of the play is written in monologues. Therefore, a majority of the play would consist of one actor displaying their feelings alone onstage. This could often feel claustrophobic because of the ongoing dramatic irony throughout the play. The reader knows the main plot and the plans of action of both sides the entire time, while the characters are trapped, not knowing the truth behind everything. The play is definitely a domestic drama because of its constant focus on the relationship between the main characters. The play reflects the themes of jealousy, hatred and obsession; jealousy, when Othello begins to question his wife’s faithfulness after Cassio’s misunderstood interference; hatred, through Othello’s hate for his wife then his hate for Iago when he discovers the truth; obsession, through Iago’s obsession with bringing down Othello and boosting his own worth.
ReplyDeleteThe constant plotting and scheming makes the reader feel the stress and intensity that both characters feel. This may be hard for the characters to keep the attention of the audience because there is no real action. The characters must be very persuasive and believable in their plotting to kill. The play would be considered a domestic drama because it portrays the people’s normal lives. There are no unrealistic events that take place. The play is very claustrophobic because there are so many conspiracies going on at once. Iago is using almost all of the characters like puppets. The focus on the play is very small scale. I think this was intended to show the audience the different characters emotions towards each other. For instance, Iago is jealous of Cassio for taking his position of being general and hated Othello for giving out the position and possibly sleeping with his wife.
ReplyDeleteIntense conversation and plotting allow the reader to understand the dynamics of the major characters such as Othello and Iago. Conversation and plotting is the action that occurs in everyday life. Directors and actors face difficulties when it comes to capturing the essence of the characters through the words and facial expressions needed to understand Shakespeare�s dialect and meaning across to an audience. Othello is a domestic drama that ends with the death of Desdemona and Emilia who were both the wives of the major male characters. The tragedy is claustrophobic when illustrating the relationship between husband and wife it does not lend room for other characters. Therefore Jealousy keeps the male, female relationships separated from any and all outside relationships.
ReplyDeleteBecause the play Othello is intense conversation and plotting between Iago and Othello. You have to become both characters to understand. When inside the mind of Iago you can fell the hate towards Othello and inscurity he has within himself. Othello being very gullible, I believe Othello to be a domestic drama. Cassio was set up my Iago to be messing up Othellos marriage. Most conflict comes between Othello and Desdemona but the evil character is Iago
ReplyDeleteThe intense conversations and plotting between Othello and Iago throughout the play is helpful to the reader, is one is just reading the piece. It makes the reader pay attention to the emotion and character traits of Iago and Othello, because there isn't much action to distract from it. However, this would make it difficult for directors and actors to put on the play. The actors would have to be very clear with their facial expressions and tones of voice. The play is more relatable to every day life, because there wasn't always a fight to the death or sword fight, even in the middle aged. The conversation is more life like and easier for the reader to understand.
ReplyDeleteThe intense conversation and plotting between Othello and Iago make the reader able to fully understand Othello and Iago. We are able to see that Iago is very manipulative and that Othello is too trusting. Although this intense insight is helpful for the reader it could be a problem for directors and actors. Because so many of the other characters only have brief appearances the directors and actors have to work harder to try and interpret the emotions and actions of characters such as Desdemona, Cassio, and Emilia. They have to put more of themselves into creating the character. The characteristics of Iago and Othello is already completely written out for them. The strong focus on Iago and Othello does make it feel claustrophobic because it makes the reader feel overwhelmed and surrounded by the constant conversation between the two. The play reflects the themes of jealousy, hatred, and obsession. Othello is made jealous by Iago's accusation that Desdemona is unfaithful. Othello begins to feel hatred for Desdemona when he think she cheated on him and then for Iago when he learns he had lied. Iago is obsessed with getting back at Othello and making himself look better.
ReplyDeleteThe intense conversation and plotting grabs the reader’s attention and makes the reader thin more about the plot of the story. It allows for the reader to become more intimate with the characters because the reader learns so much of their personality. From the start of the play the reader knows of Iago's intentions and why he feels that way. The themes of the play include jealousy and hatred. Iago and Othello sufer from both of these themes. Iago starts off being jealous of Cassio and hating Othello and throughout the plot line his hatred grows mre and more. Also, Othello begins being jealous and hating Cassio because Iago has made him belive Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair.
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