Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Reflection on "Othello, The Moor of Venice" by William Shakespeare Acts III-V

Acts III-V includes the part when Desdemona drops the handkerchief, the first gift that Othello gave her and Emilia (Iago's wife) picks it up and gives it to Iago. Then Iago places it in Cassio's room so can he can convince Othello of Desdemona's infidelity. Othello believes Iago and plans to kill Desdemona. In my opinion, I think that Othello shouldn't have killed Desdemona, he should have talked to both of them first, that is Cassio and Desdemona, and then decide what he was going to do. Also, he shouldn't have believed Iago instead of his wife, in whom he should trust.

It all ends in a tragedy and with Iago not guilty for what he has done because he finally got what he wanted; revenge. I believe that if Iago wasn't in the play, there wouldn't really be "Othello", because all the action turns around him.

An aspect I consider important, is the fact that Othello is dark-skinned, and that is why he is referred to the "Moor". This proves that during Shakespeare's time there was racial classification, but yet, he makes Othello (being black) part of the highest nobility. It is very interesting how Shakespeare tries to demonstrate the audience about how men treated women and how there was a lot of conflict in the supremacy, which makes me bring it to the present, showing that these conflicts have been existing since a long time ago, and still exist in the political area.


Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Reflection on "Othello, The Moor of Venice" by William Shakespeare Acts I-II

I consider "Othello, The Moor of Venice" a very dramatic play. It involves a series of characters which rotate in an abstract circle around conflict. I think it has a lot to do with revenge, because it is what started the whole conflict that ended up in a tragedy. It also reflects the amazing work of Shakespeare, and thus has been popular for it's form of language and situation of control.

It all starts with Iago, who is angry at Othello for choosing Cassio as his lieutenant, and not him; which leads to the beginning of the revenge against both of them. Iago turns Roderigo against Cassio, and Othello against Cassio and Desdemona (Othello's wife), making him a traitor and the one who caused all the tragedy.

Shakespeare starts the play with Iago because he wants the audience to know his intentions and his evil character. Iago is a selfish and cynic man who will do anything to achieve his goal.

The author reveals how betrayal and jealousy line up together to develop tension in the play. He based "Othello, The Moor of Venice" on a story from a tale "Of the Unfaithfulness of Husbands and Wives", by Giraldi Cinthio, showing his interest of allowing the audience to know about an actual incident that happened in Venice in his time.

Acts I-II are based on the introduction of Iago's intentions and the cause of them. Iago and Roderigo talk about getting Desdemona for Roderigo, since he wants to marry her, and having revenge against Cassio for getting the position of Othello's lieutenant. It is when they plan to kill Cassio and when Iago tells Othello that Desdemona is being unfaithful to him with Cassio; the conflict begins.

I think that in these first two acts Shakespeare wanted to introduce us the character of Iago and he wanted us to know how evil he was and his objective. All the trouble is caused because of Iago's jealousy.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Reflection on "Trifles" by Susan Glaspell


I find this play interesting and mysterious. It reflects how the author has feminist views, when she shows two female characters that solve a mystery that male characters couldn't solve. I think it was realistic because of the way men treated women. Although there were laws to maintain gender equality, women were oppressed by men, and that is just reality.

The men, being involved in the mystery, don't pay attention to the little things, in this case the "trifles", or unimportant issues, that interest the women and which they laugh at, will actually lead them to the answer they're looking for. I think the women should have given them what they founded and show them that they are not just "ladies who just worry about trifles", but that it is more than that. The men miss all the evidence considering that "worrying about trifles" was just beneath them and not important.

I think the canary and the birdhouse details were very intriguing, because Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters had to think through what has happened before in Mrs. Wrights life, to consider the bird as a symbol of her life.

It is very obvious that the author concerns about sex roles and she wants to prove a point. She clearly worries about women roles in society and in this play, she wants to convince the reader or viewer to recognize women's and men's different perspectives, and sets up a tension in the drama.