Iago is
too good at what he does. What does he do? He takes your worst fears and helps
you believe they have come true. He helps
make your nightmares become a living hell.
With that said it is no surprise as to what was going to happen in the
end. You could see the result from the beginning
of act three that he was going to kill his innocent wife, but who could have
stopped him? It was like a bad train wreck with so much momentum and force driving
it off the tracks, there is nothing to do to stop but just sit back and watch
in horror.
Shakespeare
uses the Character Emilia to show that hiding behind a reputation doesn’t make
a person better than anyone else. Emilia
flat out admits to Desdemona that she would sleep with another man for the
world. She brings the harsh reality to
Desdemona that a woman cheating on her husbands is more frequent than she would
expect, and that there are many reasons for it.
Emilia also is the one to make remarks, “I bet my life some evil
busybody, lying jerk made up this rumor to get some position” (4.2.138-40), believing
a person could be so evil as to carry out such a plot as Iago’s way before
anyone even suspects Iago. Not being
caught up in reputation she is also able to see Othello’s jealousy early on, “Is
not this man jealous?” (3.4.95)
Shakespeare
uses the symbolism of light and dark as a pattern of imagery for evil deeds
done by those who wish to preserve their reputation. Barbantio’s reputation is wounded when at
night he is told of his daughter actions, he cries, “Light, I say, light!” (1.1.145-47)
Crying for the light that would hopefully disprove the slander against his
reputation, when at that moment Iago is using the dark to preserve his
standings with Othello. Also at the time
of Cassio’s attempted murder, Iago uses the night to commit his evil deed
without being discovered, and Cassio cries out for light and a surgeon to
preserves his reputation, his life. Not
only those with deceptive and evil desire use the dark to hid their evil deeds,
but Othello himself someone who had high standing with the people, polluted
with jealousy and rage blows out the candle that light his room where Desdemona
lies. His blowing out the candles also
symbolizes the death that will soon take place in the dark room.
I can see your point how Shakespeare uses light and dark. The entire play seems to be about light and dark symbolism. All of the relationships turn dark, sooner or later, and all light leaves the story. Othello, with his conflicting self imagery over being dark skinned says a lot also.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you put Iago's plan and it is like a train wreck because Shakespeare makes it seem like nobody could stop this guy and at the end nobody did. At the end it was a big tragic event that made the many points clear. He proves that jealousy, insecurity, vengeance, weak minded, and many other actions can only lead to worse. Shakespeare use of light and dark was clear throughout the story. He mixes the good and evil acts we as humans can commit and wants us to realized the evil actions and thoughts will have a bad outcome.
ReplyDeleteI can totally see that Emilia is not just another character in this play after you emphasized her actions to keep her reputation. Your examples are also very helpful to support your main point! Also, when you talk about the light and dark theme of the play, I agree. Shakespeare used it to symbolize the mood of the play and also how there is racism present.
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