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“Now will I question Cassio of Bianca, A huswife that by selling her desires Buys herself bread and clothes. It is a creature That dotes on Cassio, as ’tis the strumpet’s plague To beguile many and be beguiled by one. He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain From the excess of laughter. Here he comes”.

From this section I see that Iago can be talking to himself, and revealing his plan to the audience. I can tell all of this because he doesn't seem like he is talking to another character. Also it makes me wonder why he would be saying his plan to himself. Although maybe he wanted to get his plan in the air. Maybe he wanted to see how it sounded. So from those reasons you really can’t chose what Iago was doing. Therefore he could have been speaking to the audience, or himself. Iago is a tricky character, because he reveals his plans a lot, and when you don't know if another character is there you wouldn't know who he was talking to.

Journal 2:

Barbantio- Page 41, Act 1 section 3 

Barbantio saw many things, but on page 41 he saw Desdemona confessing to her being with Othello. He personally saw that her saying she was with Othello. Barbantio was not happy with the fact that they are together, and that they were having intercourse. He didn't like how they were together, and how they were open with it. He was told that they were doing it everywhere, and that they do stuff together a lot. He was told that they ran away together. Barbantio was mad at the fact that it was Othello, and he thought that because he was different that he forced Desdemona to be with him. Othello was african, so he just assumed he had a spell on Desdemona to be with him. We can understand how he was angry, and how he was mad at the fact it was Othello.

Journal 3:

Desdemona was a good girl, but she had a freaky side. While she was growing up every boyfriend she had was in love with her, because of how sexual she was. She made the days of many with a simple kiss. As she got older, her sexual knowledge expanded. She found out more, practiced more, and got more experienced. When she left men, it broke their heart. Not only was she a kind, considerate, and just plain nice girl, but she had a freaky side as well. When she got to Othello, she showed him a different way of being sexually active. It was so good, he fell in love. Othello knew about her sexual touch, but not her loyalty. He knew her touch was enough for a guy to go off. So thats why he believes she is cheating. So that brings us up to Othello killing Desdemona.

Journal 4:

I’m using my girly voice, and having my fake breast on. The tone i’m using is the tone of a defensive person, but a not defensive voice. I needed to be serious about my role, because we traded places. So since I was Desdemona, I needed to be super professional.

My prop was the fake breast. It made our scene look funny, but they brought out the women in me. It made me look more like a lady. They aren't really needed, but I like them.

The end scene made us stand out because nobody else ended their scene like that. The strangle scene was the best. It makes the audience understand the seriousness of the scene.

Journal 5:

"Ay my lord" Desdemona says yes my lord to Othello. Even though she knows she is about to die, she is still showing love towards him. She still addressed him as her lord. She still took pride that he was her husband. She never got loud, and tried to avoid it. She didn't try to force her way out. She could have gotten violent with him, however she didn't. She kept her cool and knew what was about to happen. She knew that Othello was losing something, and he wouldn't be able to get it back. She was saying if you kill me thats your loss. This line was important because Desdemona knew she couldn't really escape death. She couldn't escape her fate. She knew what ever was to happen would happen. Therefore she didn't fight off Othello. She tried what she wanted, but never got physical. With the line "ay my lord" she still is looking at othello as her husband, even though she knows he is planning on killing her. She knows he was tricked, but kept with it. In her eyes she was meant to die. I delivered this line fast, and direct. I did that to let my partner, who was Othello that Desdemona still loved him. I made sure that most of my lines were direct so that Desdemona was still on the defense. I made sure Desdemona was on the defense with most of the lines I said.

I think our performance went as expected. It went how we planned. I had fun doing the scene with my partner. I think we really got across the strangle part of the scene. Since strangling is so physical, and brutal I think we did a good job. We really took the roles seriously. I think that being Desdemona was fun, because I got to act different from what I would have not normally been. Normally, I would have been Othello, but because we switched I got to be Desdemona. The only thing I would have done differently was know my lines. I think it would have been more fun, not reading of the paper. For the 2 scenes where I sat there as a dead desdemona, I probably would have laughed in scene 8. Other than that I felt like my partner and I did a fine job. Shakespeare is a hard text to speak, and understand so I think we read well. We also were serious during our scene. That was due to how many times we practiced it. We practiced our parts a lot of times, and I think it reflected in our scene.

When performing it, the scene came alive to me. It made me understand how it feels to have someones hands around my neck. I know how the scene plays out. The scene was important in the story. So I'm glad I got to be apart of it. I wasn't nervous about doing the scene. I was looking forward to doing it with my partner. I like acting, so I was ready to do the scene.

Benchmark Journal 1 

(aside) I have rubbed this young quat almost to the sense,

And he grows angry.  Now, whether he kill Cassio

Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,

Every way makes my gain.  Live Roderigo,

He calls me to a restitution large

Of gold and jewels that I bobbed from him

As gifts to Desdemona. 

It must not be.  If Cassio do remain

He hath a daily beauty in his life

That makes me ugly.  And besides, the Moor

May unfold me to him—there stand I in much peril. 

No, he must die.  But so, I hear him coming. 

Notes: 

Iago at this point has taken a few steps away from Roderigo turns his head, and is speaking to himself.  He has this look upon his face of sneakiness.  He isn’t talking angrily at all, but more of in a sneaky soft voice.  As he continues to speak to himself he becomes cautious, because he knows that if Roderigo even starts to get suspicious, he will be done, for that will be his life.  Then again he knows that Roderigo is not smart enough to figure him out.  Iago now looks at Roderigo and makes a decision that he must die.  In this speech any time that Iago says  Othello’s name or says the Moor his voice gets aggressive because he doesn’t like him at all.  While he is doing his speech to himself one hand is in his pocket while the other hand is on his mouth,covering it so that Roderigo does not see him speaking to himself.  

Benchmark Prep Journal #2

Emilia:

• Emilia was in a big scene,when she stole her handkerchief from Desdemona and gave it to her husband Iago in Act 3, scene 3. 
• Another was when Emilia was right there when Desdemona was getting screamed at by Othello for not knowing where the handkerchief was at in Act 3, scene 3. 
• Lastly, in Act 5 scene 2, Emilia had confessed to giving the handkerchief to Iago because he asked for it.  This was after Othello had killed his beloved wife.  

1. Emilia at first does not think anything of stealing the handkerchief from Desdemona because it was for her husband, and she will do anything for him.  She feels this way because Iago’s love for her has faded.  Emilia knows this because when she was talking to Desdemona she was babbling on about how a man should love his wife and how much Othello loves Desdemona and it kind of sounded like jealousy. She see’s how happy Othello is with Desdemona and she wants that with Iago again. She is willing to do anything at the moment to please her husband. Even though it is hurting someone else she thinks that she will gain from it in the end.  
2. Emilia was going on this whole time throughout the play with no idea on what Iago was plotting on doing, so when she gave him the handkerchief it just was the icing on the cake for him.  When Emilia went into Othello’s room and saw his wife suffocated she wanted to know why . When he started to explain, and he brought up the handkerchief it was a trigger, all she could say was “My husband?” She knew then that she was a part of Iagos plan.  She didn’t think that her husband would do such a thing but everything in her head started to make sense and she was able to see how bad of a person her husband Iago really was.  
3. We understand this character's motivations better when we concentrate only on their scenes because we are then able to have a close reading and analyze their state of mind. We are also able to put ourselves in their shoes and really understand their feelings towards the situation that they were put in to.  We can imagine the scene and understand how the surroundings effects the characters. We are also able to envision what their actions might have been like in the situation, like if they were pacing, yelling ,or talking to themselves. It would just help clarify the way the situation is taken under control. 

Benchmark Prep Journal #3 

The Duke of Venice was born as an only child.  His father and his mother were very wealthy people. The Duke as a child was spoiled, but only to a certain extent.  His parents wanted him to grow up to know how and want to make his own money even though he had money.  That is the reason why he is the Duke.  He strived to be on top because thats what his parents wanted him to do. The reason why the Duke is okay with Othello being black is because when he was younger his best friend was a little black boy, but his parents didn’t like the idea of him playing with a black boy.  The Duke doesn't want Desdemona’s best friend / lover to be taken away from her just because of the color of his skin.  

Benchmark Prep Journal #4 

For my performance of the Duke I will be making sure that I stand up and speak loud because he is a very proper man because he is like a king.  He does not talk with any type of slang. I will be making sure that I respect people and give them eye contact because that is what people who respect others do, and I feel like he is a very respectful person. I will also be talking with curiosity, I will be doing this because I feel as though the Duke is put in this very odd situation and he doesn’t really know how to handle it and he is curious to hear what they all have to say about the situation to prove their case.  

The prop that I will be using will be a royal chair. I will be using a throne because I am the Duke.  In the situation/scene that I am in, I am the highest, I am above all of the other characters. The Chair represents a sense of power and a separation in social classes.  While everyone is talking, my chair is going to be placed in a position as if i’m looking down on them and they have to look up at me.  This will show that I look down on them and they look up to me.  They come to me because I am who they believe in.  

My group's presentation will stand out because we  have a scene where you would think not much is happening on stage,but we are very good with making eye contact and interacting with one another on the stage.  Our group has talked about  what props we would use and what they would symbolize on the stage. We also agreed on the way that we would transition on and off the scene.  I think my group will stand out because we worked well together and it flows.  

Benchmark Prep Journal #5 

I feel as though an important line that The Duke said was, “But,Othello,speak:did you by indirect and forced courses subdue and poison this young maid’s affections? Or came it by request and such fair question ss soul to soul affordeth?” This line is important to the play because it tells the audience that the Duke does not take any sides he is not jumping to the conclusion that he put a spell on Desdemona. He is giving Othello a chance to explain his side of the story. Here it’s important because its kind of like he is mocking Brabantio.  I say this because he was like, okay, did you steal this girl’s heart by casting a spell or now speaking realistically, where you such a good man she fell in love with you for you? The way I delivered this line in the play was in a sarcastic way because like I  it sounds like mocking. I also did it in a concerned way because then again I am the Duke and I am supposed to be as professional as I can.  I had to be respectful to both sides of the stories. I also did this line sitting down in my throne while everyone was standing because I wanted them to know that I was the one who held the power in the situation.  

I feel as though my groups performance went as we expected and planned. We planned for everyone to have a prop that brought meaning to the scene and they did that. They did not put their backs to the audience. They also spoke clear and loud so that everyone could hear and understand. We did a great job I think with bringing a lot of emotions into the scene so everyone could feel what we felt,and with the actions so that everyone could see how we felt. Now that it is over I am very proud that my group had fun working together. One thing that I would do differently was learn my lines.  

Performing the play changed my understanding of it because I was able to feel how the characters felt in the scenes. It also helped me understand the stage directions a little more and who was talking to who while they where in the scenes with a whole lot of people.  

Benchmark Journal #1 

Soliloquy 

That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it;
That she loves him, 'tis apt and of great credit:
The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not,
Is of a constant, loving, noble nature, 
And I dare think he'll prove to Desdemona
A most dear husband. Now, I do love her too;
Not out of absolute lust, though peradventure
I stand accountant for as great a sin,
But partly led to diet my revenge, 
For that I do suspect the lusty Moor
Hath leap'd into my seat; the thought whereof
Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards;
And nothing can or shall content my soul
Till I am even'd with him, wife for wife, 
Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor
At least into a jealousy so strong
That judgment cannot cure. Which thing to do,
If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trash
For his quick hunting, stand the putting on, 
I'll have our Michael Cassio on the hip,
Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb—
For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too—
Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward me.
For making him egregiously an ass 
And practicing upon his peace and quiet
Even to madness. 'Tis here, but yet confused:
Knavery's plain face is never seen tin used.

I think he definitely is talking to himself, but also he is sharing his thoughts with the audience so that they know his heartfelt decisions. Making in the beginning he could be pacing around,thinking to himself, and just tapping his hand on his head. But in the middle of it, he could be looking up to the sky/.ceiling because he may be in pain at the fact that this is happening. "Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards;And nothing can or shall content my soul.Till I am even'd with him, wife for wife, Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor At least into a jealousy so strong.That judgment cannot cure."Reading this quote can make me imagine his in vain at the thought of jealousy, and he can "talk to a high power" of how nothing can make him feel content with his soul. He could be asking higher power for something to make him feel a little satisfied.

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Benchmark Journal #2 Investigating Perspective

When Emilia grew suspicion upon Iago's plan to kill othello, there were many ways she saw this coming. For one in the scene's of when Cassio asked Emilia "Give me advantage of some brief discourse with Desdemona alone.", she let it happen but was also curious of why he wanted to do so.

Another instance is when Iago so willingly and desperately wanted Emilia to fetch the handkerchief for him and steal it from desdemona (not knowingly) and give it to Iago.Iago takes it from her when she does see him, and she makes her swear not to tell anyone about his/her whereabouts.

We can see that in the first couple of scene's she is described as young, and she is Iago's wife. She is also the attendant of Desdemona. Being the smart intelligent woman she is, she gives much advice to her friend desdemona of the laws of relationships and men. Such as the speech she gave her. Iago uses her friendship with desdemona to get to her steal her handkerchief and later put it on Cassio's property to make it look like they had an affair and this would be "proof" that they had an "affair". Emilia didn't wanna do it, so he took it from her). 310-320

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Benchmark Journal #3 Events during the Play

The Duke of Venice:

I think The duke is a wise man. He decided that instead of just sentencing Othello to death, he made the wise decision of letting Desdemona speak for herself and confess her love towards Othello. He told Brabantio that if he let her love Othello, maybe they will all be happy.There wasn't really much said of the duke, or so many clues to say who the duke was, but he also was the one who appointed Cassio Governor of Cypress since Othello was recalled from it. This shows his responsibility towards the rulership of Cypress because he knew that if Othello was going through all of these "trials" and disappointments and ups and downs in his life, then he is to busy to be looking over this area and people. This leads me to think, that he is a responsible man, (who should be since he is the duke of venice). His decisions depending what they should do with Othello in this scene is also very important, since he is responsible for what happens. He runs the house in this scene,no one else does.

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Benchmark Journal #4 Actions

Im bringing Power, since The duke of Venice is the most powerful in the room. He runs the courtroom so  he has to act very powerful and high.

I would wear a cloak with a cain maybe, and also i would probably wear a fancy hat. 

To have certain gestures to show what we are doing, such as bowing down and hand kisses, and also acting elderly and old.

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Journal #5 Analysis 

“What in your own Part can you say to this” Fetch Desdemona Hither”-Duke.

I thought this was very important for the play because it describes the responsibility that the Duke has. He has to sentence anyone who is unjust, and make the decisions in the court. But instead of just sentencing the Moor to death, he orders for the guards to go get Desdemona, to hear her side of the story. He wasn’t racist like everyone else int he room was, and he was definitely wasn’t drawling to conclusions. This shows that he probably has been through this before, and using his knowledge from his past experience to get to the solution of this conflict.

I wasn’t there for the performance, but when i practiced my lines with my group, I realized that the Duke is a very powerful man. He is like a judge in medieval times, but he delivered a powerful presence towards the court and the people. For me this meant that i would have to act manly(since he was a man), but a powerful man. Perhaps walking slowly with a cloak on, rod in my hand, and stroking my beard. When the Duke says “Fetch Desdemona Hither”, i imagine him saying it with a wave of his hand as if he is ordering his peasants around. Practicing it had made me realize that becoming the Duke, wasn’t an easy task. Being the Duke was fun, however, since I was the most valued in the room, I had to act like w as of high value. Changing into someone the total opposite of me is hard. Im personally to myself at times, and laugh all the time. The Duke was to be taken seriously, so i had to hide my smile and put on a facade. I was a gentlemen, who took into consideration other’s side of the story, instead of jumping to conclusions.

My understanding of my character and every other character in the play Othello, made me realize how every action and every word that someone says out there mouth is extremely important on how they act. Just the smallest gestures mean so much, a touch on the leg, a kiss on the knee, a bow... the smallest things can be considered a huge act of respect or disrespect. There are so many sneaky and clever people in the plays of Shakespeare, and the way he wrote Iago was very intriguing in a way. He always had a plan B, just incase someone said something wrong that wasn't in his maniacal plan. The language, both verbally, and bodily functions can be a big influence o how the play would turn out. Just like the Shakespeare instructor mentioned to our class when he visited said, There wasn’t any “queues” or lines that gave the “signal” to make an action. They were the professionals deciding on their own what to do, who to talk to, and where to go. Its all in the wording, and the wording is what you make of it.

Journal #1

Iago's Soliloquy - Act 2, Scene 1, Lines 148 - 158

She that was ever fair and never proud,

Had tongue at will and yet was never loud,

Never lacked gold and yet went never gay,

Fled from her wish and yet said, “Now I may,”

She that being angered, her revenge being nigh,

Bade her wrong stay and her displeasure fly,

She that in wisdom never was so frail

To change the cod’s head for the salmon’s tail,

She that could think and ne'er disclose her mind,

See suitors following and not look behind,

She was a wight, if ever such wights were—

Notes 

I think that Iago should start out speaking slowly, as if he is working out something in his mind, in the process of coming to a conclusion. He should be pacing at first, and look down as though he is talking to himself, with an anxious and concerned expression on his face. Then gradually get louder and louder, with more confidence, and start to talk to Emilia angrily, as if he was conveying to her very important instructions. By the end he should be at his loudest, addressing the audience, as if trying to convince them of what he is saying. He should make gestures with his arms towards the end, and as he is addressing the audience, beseeching them to understand him, and still glance over at Emilia because it is her that he is talking about, after all. This represents Iago’s journey from not an atypical person of the time, to a ruthless murderer, liar, and criminal. The audience will get the feeling that he moving from the calm and rational and becoming more and more frantic and desperate. 

Journal #2

My character is Rodrigo. He appears in scenes with Iago mostly, He is in the first scene Act 1, Scene 1, where Iago and Rodrigo inform Desdemona's dad about her marriage. In the next scene he threatens to kill himself, and is talked out of it by Iago. He gives Iago jewels to give Desdemona, as a token of his love. Iago promises to give them to her, but doesn’t. Rodrigo doesn’t appear until the end when in Act V, Scene I-II, he comes up to Iago, angry that Desdemona has not fallen in love with him yet. Iago assures him that all is well, and that if he kills Cassio, Desdmeona will love him. Rodrigo agrees and them wounds Cassio, only to be killed, to his surprise, by Iago.

By looking at only the scenes that Rodrigo appears in, you can clearly follow his story, and motives. The only thing t hat Rodrigo was after the whole time was Desdemona’s affection. He was hopelessly in love with her, and it was that love that ended up killing him.

Journal #3

Desdemona was always an obedient girl. Her mother died when she was young. She loved her father, and never spoke back. She went to boarding school where she learned things that she thought she would one day need, and then pass down to her children, like sewing, cooking, manners, dancing, embroidery, etc. She had always hoped to have a girl. Desdemona hardly ventured out into the real world, and because of this she was pretty naive. She liked reading books with happy ending, and dreamed of one day marrying a prince. She believed that people were truly good at heart. 

She wants to have an adventure of her own, so when Othello came telling her of his stories, she fell in love with him/them. She always wanted a happy ending, which adds irony and is tragic because she doesn't get a happy ending. She believes that people are good, and doesn't think that Othello would really kill her. She is obedient to her father, which is why she is so devoted to Othello. She never really had a mother figure so she completely devotes herself to men. 

 Journal #4

When I walk on, I will curtsy to the Duke of Venice. I will keep my tone clear, and fold my hands. When walking out, I walk out arm in arm with Othello. I am going to bring in a headband to wear during the scene, because it something that I believe Desdemona would have worn, to decorate herself. Out groups presentation will stand out because we made it interesting. We incorporated the use of levels into our presentation. We also have a lot of stage movement, and thought through the blocking and character movements on the stage. We have a lot of emotion in ours, as well as gesturing, which we worked out ahead of time. You can tell that our group collaborated well. We all get really into our characters, and we have a side conversation, a soliloquy, bowing, arguing, talking, and beseeching. Our scene is very interesting.  

Journal #5

“My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty. To you I am bound for life and education. My life and education both do learn me how to respect you. You are the lord of my duty. I am hitherto your daughter. But here’s my husband, and so much duty as my mother showed to you, preferring you before her father, so much I challenge that I may profess due to the Moor my lord.”

  This quote is the first thing that Desdemona says in the whole play. The way she put together her words shows thoughtfulness. She does not say that she belongs to Othello first, and does not disrespect her father. She acknowledges that she has a “divided duty.” She praises him first, and then says that she needs to be with Othello before her father, just as her mother chose Brabantio over her own father. She plays with her father’s emotions, and it shows just how clever she is. These clever convincing words later make her confident when trying to help Cassio, while unknowingly fueling Othello’s anger and jealousy. Showing that Desdemona is honest is important because it shows just how poisoned Othello was by Iago’s words, when he was blind to her convincing truthfulness.

In the play, I delivered this line as honestly as I could, with a clear and even tone, to portray this. Our group’s performance went exactly as planned. I think we did well. We played with emotion, levels, stage directions, and props. If I was to do anything differently I would have even better costumes, and have it even more put together and extravagant but there is only so much you can do with the time we had. 

The play really pulled all the pieces of the book together for me. I understood the book, but the play definitely added.  I thoroughly enjoyed this whole experience, both with acting out Othello, and reading the book. I gained a lot. 

Azaria Burton

Benchmark Journals # 1-5

Journal 1

"Despise me

If I do not. Three great ones of the city

(In personal suit to make me his lieutenant)

Off-capped to him, and by the faith of man

I know my price, I am worth no worse a place.

But he (as loving his own pride and purposes)

Evades them with a bombast circumstance

Horribly stuffed with epithets of war,

And in conclusion

Nonsuits my mediators. For “Certes,” says he,

“I have already chose my officer.”

And what was he?

Forsooth, a great arithmetician,

One Michael Cassio, a Florentine

(A fellow almost damned in a fair wife)

That never set a squadron in the field,

Nor the division of a battle knows

More than a spinster—unless the bookish theoric,

 Wherein the toged consuls can propose

As masterly as he. Mere prattle without practice

Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had th' election

And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof

At Rhodes, at Cyprus, and on other grounds

Christian and heathen, must be belee’d and calmed

By debitor and creditor. This counter-caster

He (in good time) must his lieutenant be

And I, bless the mark, his Moorship’s ancient."

In this part of the play Iago is talking to Roderigo about how upset he is that Othello chose Cassio to be his Lieutenant instead of him. Although Iago is talking to Roderigo he is also talking to the audience. Iago is telling us that he hates Othello and giving only a bit of insighton why he really hates Othello. If I were the play director I would tell Iago to stand boldly towards the audience and say very loudly, “Despise Me If I do not.” The slowly say the rest of this part of the play. While doing so showing much confidence so that the audience can get a good idea on who Iago really is. I also believe when Iago speaks about Cassio he should add sarcasm in his voice when he says, "And what was he? Forsooth, a great arithmetician,One Michael Cassio, a Florentine (A fellow almost damned in a fair wife) That never set a squadron in the field,Nor the division of a battle knows…" While I understand that Iago is talking to the audience I know that technically he was having a conversation with Roderigo, so in order to make this more obvious everyone in a while Iago should turn his attention away from the Audience and speak directly to Roderigoand give a lot eye contact to Roderigo. I believe using these techniques will really help show Iago's personality and add to the idea of Iago being an evil trickster. 

Journal 2 

Scene 2 Act 3 Line 1416, “Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation!” Cassio has just gotten drunk and ended acting foolishly by stabbing Roderigo. Cassio panics when he realizes that his actions make him not only look like a sloppy drunk but also, it puts negativity towards his normally p good reputation. He really does not like the idea of having a bad reputation. This part of the play shows how innocent Cassio really is.He confines in Iago not knowing that it was Iago who got him drunk on purpose. Scene 3 Act 3 Line 1640, “Ay, but, lady,That policy may either last so long, Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet, Or breed itself so out of circumstance, That, I being absent and my place supplied, My general will forget my love and service.” Cassio is talking to Desdemona about Othello. He is explaining that he really does love Othello and does not want his position to be taken away.This part shows how innocent Cassio is however, Iago is able to use this kindness and twist into something it is not. Cassio is definitely an outsider through almost the entire play until the very end when everything gets out about Iago's plan. All Cassio wanted was to help Othello and he needed the help of Desdemona to do so. Throughout the book Cassio continues to not only confess his love for Othello but also state how much he honestly would love to work for Othello after he loses his job. It is very obvious throughout the play the Cassio’s intentions are not in any way bad and he is nothing like what Iago makes Othello believe he is. 

Journal 3

Emilia is Iago's wife.She is twenty-five years old and has been married to Iago for seven years.Her parents Leonardo and Saisha Warrens both loved her very much and took great care of her. As a child her mom would always tell her that in order to get to the top in the world you must sacrifice many things and work hard.Growing up Emilia loved to read and to taking long walks. Emilia loved to take walks because it was her only way out of the secretly hectic life she had. Although Emilias mom did not know, Emilia knew that her dad, Leonard, was always cheating on Saisha. Emilia had secretly caught him in the act a few times. She often wondered how a man that seemed to love his wife so much would still cheat. That is when she came to the conclusion that most people cheat and sometimes cheating can get you ahead in life. When Emilia met Iago he was the man of her dreams. He was very sweet and did everything he could for her, it was so easy for her to fall in love with him. However, Iago would constantly complain to her about his officer Othello. He wanted to get a head in life and he felt the process was moving to slow. Emilia loved Iago so much that she was willing to do anything she though would take this burden from him. She went and had a couple of private conversations with Othello and did him some favors for him in order to get her husband, Iago, ahead. A couple of months went by after Emilia had her private conversations with Othello, Emilia noticed that Iago was starting to create a distance between them. Iago wasn’t so nice anymore and he would often scream at her. Slowly, Emilia realized their once great marriage was going to shambles. She wanted to fix it and she would do what ever Iago asked of her in order to get their love back. Emilia becomes Desdemona's maid and seems to love Desdemona very much and she seems to be very loyal. Except the fact that she stole Desdemona's handkerchief and gave it to Iago because he asks her to. Then when Desdemona goes on to tell her about how much grief losing that handkerchief is causing Emilia does not tell her that she found it on the floor and gave it to Iago. Emilia only gave the handkerchief to Iago because he begged of her and she thought that maybe if she stole it for him he would be sweeter to her. After Othello kills Desdemona Emilia walks in. Othello tells her that Iago told him that Desdemona was not faithful. Emilia realizes how sneaky and manipulative Iago is and that quickly, falls out of love with him. Although she stole the handkerchief from Desdemona, she did love her and wouldn’t ever want anything to happen to Desdemona especially if it was her husbands, Iago, conniving ways that caused it. Emilia goes on to tell Othello, in front of Iago, that she stole the handkerchief because Iago asked her too. After she airs out Iago’s dirty laundry he gets angry and kills her. It is very surprising to Emilia that the man she once worshiped would kill her, it hurt her to her core. However, she died knowing she did the right thing. 

Journal 4 

During my performance Emilia is almost arguing with Iago in order to prove Desdemona's innocence to Othello. In order to get this strain and fight for truth to come forth in my acting I will be doing a number of things. When I speak to Iago I will be sarcastic and rude. I will make it obvious that I find Iago sickening by scrunching up my face and specifically when I say, "…if thou'st be'st a man…" I will be really obnoxious and try my best to make this statement seem very belittling by looking at Iago as if I already know the answer. When I speak to Othello I am trying to be convincing and so I will give eye contact and I will touch him in order to get his full attention. But, I will also be a little rude by speaking mockingly towards him. I will do this because when I read the play I feel like Emilia is mocking Othello. She calls him "dull" which can be considered quite rude and she calls him cruel. It seems although Emilia wants to prove Desdemona's faithfulness to Othello she also wants him to feel stupid for believing such nonsense by speaking down to him. For my prop I am going to bring a handkerchief and two X's to put over my eyes when I die. I will use the handkerchief when I talk about me giving one to Iago. I will swing it around Othello's face just to make the scene more dramatic. I think if as a group we make the scene between Iago and Emilia seem more like an argument and a fight for Othello's trust the scene will be more interesting. Also, I get stabbed in this scene and Othello kills himself so the scene alone is very dramatic and interesting. When I worked with my group we all tried to make the scene less bland by touching each other and moving around instead of standing there reading off the paper so the presentation will stand out. 

Journal 5 

"You told a lie, an odious,damned lie,upon my soul, a lie, a wicked lie. She false with Cassio!-- did you say with Cassio?" Emilia is talking to Iago in front of Othello about Desdemona. Emilia asked Iago what he had told Othello about Desdemona and Iago tells her that he told Othello that Desdemona was cheating on him. At this point Emilia flips out and tells Iago that he is a liar. I think this part is important in the play because it is the first time someone calls Iago out for what he really is and it just so happens to be his “loyal” wife that does it. Iago has been lying to everyone except the audience the entire time and he gets caught in his lies way too late in the game but, it is important that what he has been doing comes out. When I read this line while performing I spoke with hatred in my voice and I also spoke very fast because I find when someone is really angry and they are calling someone out, their adrenaline starts to pump and everything they say seems rushed. I wanted it to make it obvious that Emilia did not only catch on to Iago's plan but, she is also very angry about it and is ready for the truth to come out. It didn't go exactly how I expected it but, it didn't go bad either. I do know that sometimes when you practice things alone and then in front of people, your group members may get nervous and forget certain little details that were given to make to scene go by smoother but, in all it was good. I am proud of how I delivered the lines. I tried my best to put forth the anger and pain Emilia must have been feeling at this point in my voice so that the audience could really get a sense of how terrifying the whole experience was for Emilia, finding out that Desdemona was dead and it was her husbands fault. Also, Emilia played a part in Iago's plan without even knowing it. If she hadn't had stolen the handkerchief, Iago wouldn't have been able to perfect his plan the way he did.I would practice my emotions more because showing emotions is really important for the audience to understand the mood of the play at that particular point in the play. But, also I would love to remember all my lines so that the play could look more professional. When I acted out the play I really got a good understanding on how Emilia must have felt at the end out the play standing in front of Desdemona's dead body. Having to try to prove Desdemona's innocence to Othello all the while looking at her husband who is not only insulting her but, boldly and arrogantly stating that he had a major part in everything that is happening.

Prep #1:

(Act 2 scene 1)

She that was ever fair and never proud,
Had tongue at will and yet was never loud,
Never lacked gold and yet went never gay,
Fled from her wish and yet said “Now I may,”
She that being angered, her revenge being nigh,
Bade her wrong stay and her displeasure fly,
She that in wisdom never was so frail
To change the cod’s head for the salmon’s tail,
She that could think and ne'er disclose her mind,
See suitors following and not look behind,
She was a wight, if ever such wights were—

 speaks

In the first line, Iago should be looking at Desdemona as he speaks, because she just asked Iago a question in conversation. At "ever" and "never", he should raise his voice a bit to appeal to Desdemona (and be on her good side) by stressing the complimenting words. Since it becomes apparent that Iago is using opposites to describe this woman, he should stress the opposite words and phrases throughout the rest of the soliloquy (i.e. yet never, at will, etc.). When he switches to speaking to the audience, he should face them but still kind of hint with his body language that he's speaking of/to Desdemona. If he were speaking to someone like Othello, his words would sound humbled and slowed, because he knows Othello trusts Iago and values what he has to say. In the middle, he should be more flowing with his words to a point where he's almost rushing, but not completely. As he nears the end of the soliloquy, Iago's body should slowly turn back to addressing Desdemona and finish energetically.

Prep #2:

I am talking about Cassio. 

The important scenes Cassio appears in include the scene where he is being convinced by Iago to have drinks (Act 2, scene 3), where he is trying to get his job back through Desdemona (Act 3, scene 3), and when he is speaking to Bianca (Act 3, scene 4), his Cyprus woman. In Act 2 scene 3, Cassio sees that Iago is trying to be hospitable by inviting him for drinks at a part in honor of Othello. He knows enough to refuse the drinks at first because of his actions while drunk. He's told by others (Iago) that one drink won't hurt him that much, and in turn is convinced enough to have some to drink. In the next scene, after losing his job, Cassio is giving Desdemona putting his best forward because he wants his job back so badly. In that, he is ensured that he will get his job back after Desdemona clears it with Othello. Finally, when displaying affection to Bianca, Cassio sees nothing of it, but the audience sees Iago's master plan loosening up a bit. By these few scenes, the only things that seems to matter to Cassio are Bianca and surviving on his job. By focusing only on his scenes, we don't really see much of Iago's plan in the bigger spectrum. Seeing only the scenes they are in creates a nice filter for a deeper understanding of the play. 

Prep #3:

Before the period the play was set in, Othello lived in Africa, with his mother and father, and before he left to find different paths outside of his own home continent, Othello's mother went on to give him a very valuable and magical handkerchief. He was to give it to his only love. Somewhere along the way to becoming general of the army in Venice. Before making his way up, Othello was enslaved by people who took him for granted. As many slaves were treated, Othello was treated quite harshly, and because of how badly he was treated before meeting Desdemona and becoming a general, he learned to never put people through what he went through. Only in some instances would he lose his temper and went against his promise to himself. As a person, he learned how to be gentle and love. As a general, Othello learned how to take out all of the anger (on his enemies) and frustration that he once had as a slave. That is why Othello is the way he is in the play. 

Prep #4:

As Othello, I move quickly and since I just killed Desdemona in the play, I'm also a little frantic and in fight or flight mode. With that, my speech is quicker and I act suspicious of something in front of Emilia. My emotions are a wreck. My character is going to have a dagger, because in the lines, there is talk of a sword being pulled out and Emilia's boldness against it. Our presentation stands out because, although it is a little short, it is filled with lots of detail. To me, that detail contains a coming down from the climax of the play, the climax being Desdemona's death. It stands out because of the rapid back and forth responses between Othello and Emilia, and then Othello's realization in his mistake. There is also a bit of physical blocking, which, for some people, makes it more interesting.

Final entry:

The line from my scene, originally in Act 5, scene 2, has Othello say:

“Ay, ’twas he that told me [on her] first.

An honest man he is, and hates the slime

That sticks on filthy deeds.”

This, coming from Othello, is a line explaining to Emilia part of the reason why he killed Desdemona. He’s telling her that her husband, “honest Iago,” told him that Desdemona was cheating and ultimately that lead to her own death. At this, Emilia became upset, which led to the little scuffle on stage as the lies Iago told unfolded. The alliteration in “slime that sticks” was delivered with emphasis on the “s” to make it sound like Desdemona’s “crime” was the worst possible she could have done. 

I believe that my group’s performance did well. It was good that both of the people in our scene had the power to be able to not break character and be loud enough to stress the tensity of the situation that was happening at that very moment. Besides the lack of a better dagger/sword prop, I think that everything went smoothly for our scene. Now that it’s over, I’m glad that we could spend a lot of time rehearsing to get even better than the last time we ran through the scene. What I mean is that every time we rehearsed the scene there was a higher amount of energy going into it, and so gradually we got better. So, our best performance was the one in front of the class because of that. The only thing that we could have done differently that our Shakespeare mentor suggested was going completely crazy in the scene. If we were off script completely, there could have been more action. Being that we didn’t have a lot of rehearsal time, though, it is understandable why we didn’t get that far.

Performing plays, especially those by Shakespeare, always make things more clear than just reading them. There is an altogether different interpretation of the characters, and when you study/act as one character you begin to feel how they felt in the play. It gives a higher comprehension because when you act out all the movement, blocking, and emotions of the characters it’s better seen than read. That is, because when you see someone crying in real life, sometimes you begin to feel sorry or at least concerned for them. In a book, you know why they are crying, and it doesn’t really move or impact you as much. Now, I know more of Othello’s feelings, background, and reactions to different situations. You kind of create an understanding of your character’s actions and why things played out the way they did when performing.

-  Negative space is the space that make the object appear.  

B. Explain how you found negative space in 1. your cut out?, 2. in your still life drawing?

  - I had to cut things out to find the negative space in my cut out and then glue it on the opposite side. In real life, I decided to draw the object first and then draw the negative space later.

  C. Why does it help an artist to see in negative space?

    D. Does seeing in negative space enhance drawings, why or why not? 

Journal #1:

“Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,

A huswife that by selling her desires

Buys herself bread and clothes. It is a creature

That dotes on Cassio, as ’tis the strumpet’s plague

To beguile many and be beguiled by one.

He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain

From the excess of laughter. Here he comes.”

- In this quote he is talking to the audience, telling them what he is about to do. He also is describing Bianca, by what he thinks of her and talking about Cassio. He seems to be talking about people in a mean way to himself, a lot in the play and this is one of those times. 

“ He takes her by the palm. Ay, well said, whisper! With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do, I will gyve thee in thine own courtship. You say true, 'Tis so, indeed.”

• In this quote Iago is talking to himself about Cassio and Desdemona and how he is taking her hand and whispering to her and laughing. Iago is thinking that his plan is going perfectly. He is encouraging the things that they are doing but not  out loud to himself.

 “I have rubbed this young quat almost to the sense,

And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio

Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,

Every way makes my gain. Live Roderigo,

He calls me to a restitution large

Of gold and jewels that I bobbed from him

As gifts to Desdemona.

It must not be. If Cassio do remain

He hath a daily beauty in his life

That makes me ugly. And besides, the Moor

May unfold me to him—there stand I in much peril.

No, he must die. But so, I hear him coming.”

- In this one he is talking to himself and his conscience. He is thinking about the different ways of how his plan could go and how it would effect him and the people around him.

Journal #2:

Emilia: 

She doesn't really observe anything in the beginning, she just did what her husband asked her to do. Iago asked her to take the handkercheif from Desdemonas stuff. She was unaware about the plan that Iago had. She didn't knwo that he was going to use the handkerchief to manipulate Othello, Cassio and Desdemona. 

Later in the story, she realizes how aggressive Othello can get when he is mad. He got pretty aggressive when he was mad at Desdemona for "cheating". Emilia was shocked at his destructiveness. She also saw that  Iago used her to trick Othello and the fact that Iago lied about everything he told everybody. She also realized that Iago was not as an honest man as she thought he was.

She didn't really have a motivation, but I think it was to help Desdemona out, and try to be on her side about the dispute. And to also try to convince Othello that she didn't cheat and to not hurt or kill her.

Journal #3:

Before the play Othello’s dad gave a handkerchief to his mom, which was a token of his love to show how much his dad loved his mom. Through his life he saw how important that was and what it meant to his parents. His mom gave it to him so that he could give it to his wife when he got older and fell in love with somebody. Throughout the book you see how much of a huge deal it is to Othello. The handkerchief is similar to how we use rings, marriage / engagement rings as a sign that you are taken and are in love.

Journal #4: 

1. The tone I am going to use is confused and serious at the same time. I'm not really using my actions that much I’m just going to use my hands and arms a lot when I'm talking. I'm not really in the scene that long so their really isn’t anything i'm going to be doing because I only have 2 lines.

2. We are going to use cups as prop because we are suppose to b drinking in the scene. I am also going to bring a hat just in case to see if we need it. There really isn't any other props I really need because I'm not in the scene that long.

3. We have come up with a good way to do our slapping scene. We are goingt to have sound effects on the offstage while the scene is going to make it seem more interesting and less boring. We think the sound effects will keep the audience interested and actually feel like they are there and this will also give them a better idea of what's going on.

Journal #5:

• “ I know, Iago, thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, making it light to Cassio. Cassio, I love thee, but never more be officer of mine.”

Othello is basically saying I love you Cassio, but Cassio not going to ever be an officer of mine because Cassio is trying to get his job back since Othello thinks that Cassio slept with his woman. So of course, Othello was rude and doesn’t give him the job since he controls that. In the first sentence I think Othello is telling Iago to let Cassio down nicely. Then in the second sentence, he realizes that Cassio is actually there and just decides to tell him himself.

• I think the performance went better than I expected because my partners never seemed to want to do the performance and on show-day they did much better than I expected. I would have experimented with my character a little bit more than I did. So I could really see what he was trying to get across and what he is really feeling at the time.
• I think performing the play helped a lot since we took out all the uneccessary scenes and focused on the important ones. When we were reading the book the uneccessary scenes thrown me off sometimes, and made it a little bit harder to understand the story. But when we put on the show it helped me understand the whole point of the play and what they play was really about.

1.) What is negative space? (explain this concept to a fourth grader that has never heard of      it).

2.) Explain how you found negative space in 1. your cut out?, 2. in your still life drawing?

3.) Why does it help an artist to see in negative space?

4.) Does seeing in negative space enhance drawings, why or why not?

      Negative space is the space that you see between the objects you drew. To find a negative space you basically have to look for a background. Your background is your negative space. You cut out positive space and then visual that when you fold your paper your drawing will look full. Negative space helps an artist to find a subjects so your eyes can see it better. Seeing in negative space enhance drawings because you can see more details and how drawing looks. 

Journal #1

That Cassio loves her, I do well believe ’t.

That she loves him, ’tis apt and of great credit.

Iago is sure that Cassio and Desdemona love each other.

The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not,

Is of a constant, loving, noble nature,

And I dare think he’ll prove to Desdemona

A most dear husband. Now, I do love her too,

Not out of absolute lust—though peradventure

I stand accountant for as great a sin—

But partly led to diet my revenge,

For that I do suspect the lusty Moor

Hath leaped into my seat. The thought whereof

Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards,

And nothing can or shall content my soul

Till I am evened with him, wife for wife.

Iago won't give up until he can get revenge on the Moor.

Or, failing so, yet that I put the Moor

At least into a jealousy so strong

Another plan of Iagos, is to make Othello feel so much rage that it clouds his judgement.

That judgment cannot cure. Which thing to do,

If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trace

Iago apparently does not give a shit about Roderigo.

For his quick hunting, stand the putting on,

I’ll have our Michael Cassio on the hip,

Abuse him to the Moor in the right garb

(For I fear Cassio with my night-cape too)

Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me

Iago wants to trick the Moor into favoring him, so that he can proceed with his plans.

For making him egregiously an ass

And practicing upon his peace and quiet

Even to madness. 'Tis here, but yet confused.

Knavery’s plain face is never seen till used.

Journal #2

Cassio-Act 2 Scene 3

Cassio and Iago have a drink even though Cassio can't hold his well. Cassio gets drunk quickly, maybe after two glasses of meed, or wine. Iago then forces Roderigo to fight Cassio, and since Cassio is drunk, he does not know what is happening. After beating up Roderigo, Iago calls for help and Othello comes in. Othello then sees all of what happened, and can't believe that Cassio would do such acts of hatred. Since Iago's nickname is Honest Iago, Othello relies on Iago to tell the truth on what happened. Iago plays his cards well and then Cassio realizes that his life, and all the power he has built up, collapsed right in front of his face. Iago then tells Cassio that interacting with and, talking to Desdemonia can fix his trouble. This is just a lie and Iago is pulling Cassio right into his trap. Honest Iago does not seem very honest after all. Also the fight between Cassio and Roderigo gave Roderigo the reason to attack Cassio with his sword when Iago told him to later in the play. 

Journal #3

Cassio was always a persistent but nice person. However he was not nice to his enemies, slain by the sword they were. The battles he faced were only his calling for a greater role. Cassio was put under Othello's command and improved as a warrior. Othello noticed that Cassio had potential and decided to take him under his wing. Once after a battle, Othello took Cassio out to a pub. Cassio soon found out that he could not hold his alcohol well. Cassio had many great talents but drinking was not one of them. Slowly as Cassio rose through the ranks, Othello started to like him more and more. Othello had to decide who to promote to General and he could not decide between Cassio and Iago. Othello remembered that Cassio fights very well and decided to make him General. Cassio went farther in life than he ever thought he could. But someone else wanted Cassio’s position and Cassio knew nothing.

Journal #4

My character is Cassio who is a General in Othello's army. He is a powerful man who likes to have his orders followed. He probably has great posture and his back is straight. He speaks forcefully, and clearly but with emotion. I expect him to be drinking in the scene and Iago knows that he has very poor and unhappy brains for drinking. He could be drinking wine or maybe meed. Wine is hard to find but meed is very easy to make. so meed would be more likely to be drunk. Even though Cassio is a General and I'm guessing he is rich, he would drink meed because, he is a man of the people. Cassio carries himself with great power, and people probably feel his presence in the room because he is General. Of course Cassio has an alcohol problem, and thus will get drunk, and fall into Iago's trap.

Post Journal

Reputation, Reputation, Reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation!

This quote is said by Michael Cassio, and is said after the fight between Cassio, and Roderigo. Iago calls for help, and Othello, and his attendants run into the bar, or place where Cassio, and Iago were drinking.  Othello calls to Iago, and asks him what happened, because everyone calls Iago, Honest Iago. Iago then exaggerates his feelings for Cassio and says something similar to, “I could not talk against Michael Cassio but if I need to tell what happened my Lord.” Iago then tells that Cassio got into a fight because he was drunk and it was an accident. Othello listens, and Cassio is worried about his rank, and the reputation he is losing because of this incident. Iago then tells Cassio to visit Desdemonia to gain back what he once lost, which of course is a trap and will lead to Cassio’s demise. This is what Iago wants to happen, so that he can become General and get Othello for fucking his Emilia. All of the characters are part of Iago’s plan of power and they do not even know it.

Journal #1

Act 4, Scene 1, Page 5 

Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,

(Bianca and Cassio’s relationship is being questioned.)

A huswife that by selling her desires

Buys herself bread and clothes. 

(Bianca buys herself food and clothes with Cassio’s money)

It is a creature,

That dotes on Cassio, as ’tis the strumpet’s plague

To beguile many and be beguiled by one.

He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain

(Cassio is truly in love with Bianca)

From the excess of laughter. Here he comes.

(Even with people talking about how bad Bianca is he still loves her)

Journal #2

An important scene Emilia was in was Act 3 Scene 3. Another one was Act 5 Scene 1 and Act 5 Scene 3. In Act 3 Scene 3 Emilia experienced Cassio telling her to betray her friend. Emilia experiences first hand that she's stealing a handkerchief and she also saw Desdemona die. Emilia experienced her husbanding screaming in pain after he was stabbed second hand. Second hand she also experienced walking in on Othello killing Desdemona. Emilia's character motivation was to do good by her husband and be a good friend to Desdemona. 

Journal #3

Before Emilia was in the play she lived with Iago her husband. They got married when they were 18 and 19. There wedding day was the most amazing day of her life. It started at 5 o’clock in the morning. Emilia woke up and went away with Desdemona. They went into Desdemona’s house to get ready. And Iago was with Rodrigo. After everyone was ready they had the wedding. When the wedding was over Iago and Emilia moved in together. Emilia began to work for, Desdemona and Iago begin working in the office. But because they were always working they never saw each other. They began to have issues within there marriage and always got a divorce. But then they made up and promised to each other that they would find time to spend together. Emilia always promised to do whatever Iago asked her to do no matter how evil or hard it would be. 

Journal #4

My character is Emilia. The actions I have to do in my play is pick up a handkerchief and try to get it back form Gabe (Iago). Emilia has to speak with a joking voice when she first finds the handkerchief then she has to be shocked that Iago wants to take it and make Othello and Desdemona sad. My character is going to bring a tissue for the handkerchief. My groups performance is going to stick out because we added some real life things like Will is going to take aspirin for his head ache. 

Journal #5

My scene was Act 4 and my character is Emilia. Act 4 is when Iago asked Emilia to steal the handkerchief. Something important she said previously was, “If it be not for some purpose of import give’t me again: poor lady, she’ll run mad when she shall lack it.” This quote was important to the play because Emilia knew her husband was wrong for taking the handkerchief however she didn't try very hard to get it back. Desdemona and Emilia are friends so Emilia knew how special it was to Desdemona but she took it anyway. Emilia was trying to be a good wife but at the same time she was being a bad friend. I delivered this line with trying to sound worried but I spoke a little bit too fast therefore it did not come out as worried as Emilia actually was. 

My groups performance did go as expected. Im proud of how well we did with bringing the scene to life. I think the props we used made it help it become alive. I think if we would change how we did the performance we would practice more on how to define the relationship between the characters. For example when Desdemona was trying to make Othello feel better we should have made her rub his head and be really sensitive. 

Performing the play changed my understanding because it made me realize how much they all betrayed each other. It also changes my understanding because I saw how much Desdemona actually loved Othello but he didn't see that she was faithful. I also saw how much of a bad temper Othello had. He never gave people the chance to talk he just yelled and grew angry quickly. 

 Wynn Geary,

Friday May 3^rd 2013 

E Band

 #1

IAGO:

#2

Emilia appears in Act 2, scene 1, Act 3 scenes 3 and 4, Act 4, scenes 2 and 3, and Act 5 scenes 1 and 2. In the beginning o the play, she not only observes, but is an instrumental pawn in Iago’s plan to “dethrone” Othello. She gives Iago Desdemona’s handkerchief. Secondhand, I feel like Emilia is somewhat out of the loop in the play, She doesn’t realize how absolutely insane Iago is until like the last scene. I think that Emilia being “out of the loop” explains a lot about her “motivations”. She really doesn’t fully get what’s going on, and for anyone that’s out of the loop, not just her, that can lead to uneducated decisions being made. I think that essentially, Emilia being out of the loop shows that her actions are neither right nor are they wrong, they are simply uneducated and while they still are critical in the progression of the story, they don’t have either a positive or negative motivation behind them. If we zoom in on one of her scenes in particular, in act 3 scene 3 she picks up Desdemona’s handkerchief and gives it to Iago, if you focus on only this scene, her actions only become increasingly more disjointed.  

#3 

Iago: 

When Iago was a boy, he grew up in a small house in a northern Italian town called Padova. His father was a metalsmith for the army; his mother, a stay at home mom who kept watch of Iago and his brother and sister. Iago and his siblings spent their days in the woods and meadows just outside of town; Iago (being the youngest) always had to be the villain in any games they played. Some say that the oppression of his siblings lead to Iago becoming coldhearted and jealous, explaining to an extent his becoming twisted and doing the awful things he did later in life. As a teenager, Iago studied and he spent more time with books than girls - and as a result had few relationships. 

That all changed when (to the excitement of his father) he joined the army and moved to Venice. He met a girl there, also from a small town. Iago and Emilia braved the city of Venice and soon found themselves in love. Even after they were married, Iago’s jealousy showed, he would become angry with Emilia when he saw her talking to men, even in the market. After years of living together in Venice, As Iago moved up in the army ranks, he and Emilia moved to Cyprus, where “Othello” takes place. 

There isn’t a whole lot we could do with our scene, yes, 2 people die, but we just didn’t feel like we had tons of control over the way that it happened. A couple of the things that I (Iago) do are, run onto the stage panting a little bit, yelling a couple of curse words, and then doing a little choreographed stabbing of Emilia. My plan is to make a cardboard dagger, it’d be great if I could find a legitimate looking dagger, but I don’t think that’s possible given the amount of time. I also have a cool puffy white button down shirt that I think will be the perfect thing to wear during the performance. I think that the main thing that makes our group’s performance stand out is that we have the finale. Everyone except for Iago dies and I think it’s the only scene where almost everyone ends the scene lying on the floor. In terms of things that our group has planned out, the biggest thing is the stabbing, we have a little choreographed thing and it seems to run smoothly in rehearsal so, fingers crossed it goes well tomorrow. 

“I told him what I thought, and told no more than what he found was apt and true.” This is a line that brings the audience up to speed on what has happened and brings Emilia up to speed as well so that she finally realizes all of what’s been going on. In rehearsal I spoke this line with a partially guilty tone, although I’d realized that Iago isn’t guilty at all, so I  to switch it to more of a sly tone. I was really surprised at how great everybody’s performance was, last minute I felt like I totally had to step it up. I messed up once because I thought I had one more line before it was my cue. I had to fumble with my script to deliver my last line. Otherwise, I think our presentation went really well. We all remembered our lines for the most part and our choreographed stabbing went really well. I was a little lost at the end because no one clapped and we had to announce that the scene was over, but other than that I think it was great. 

I’m proud of remembering my lines, honestly, if I had one more day with my script I wouldn’t have needed it at all. There are more things that I wished I had done then hand’t done, I think we could have been more creative with our skit for sure. I think that it would have been awesome to have a full on long rehearsal before the real performance so that we could have noted what other groups were doing and had time to make some minor edits to our own skits. I know this is a really simple answer, but watching the full play all the way through made me have a fuller understanding of the play. Being able to sit down and see the entire story of the play all in one sitting opposed to reading the book, stoping and leaving parts of the story disjointed and rough. This really connected the story completely and shed light on parts of the play that may not have made sense when reading the book. 

Journal #1

Act 2, Scene 1, Page 8

IAGO

(aside) He takes her by the palm. Ay, well said, whisper! With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do, I will gyve thee in thine own courtship. You say true, 'Tis so, indeed.

- Iag0

In this scene Iago is talking to Desdemona and Cassio, they are talking about how the think women should act. They are talking about what they should and should not do. Everyone leave the scene and Iago is left on the stage and is talking to himself. He is talking about how Cassio is falling right into his plan. He is going t frame him of cheating with Desdemona. 

The feeling that I get when reading this soliloquy is that Iago is trying to be quiet also very sneaking. I would use more pauses between his words to show that he is being dramatic. I would also have Iago slurring his words to show that he is trying to be quiet but also to show that he is really excited about casssio falling into his plan. 

Journal #2 

The secondary character that I choose from Othello is Roderigo. I picked him because he played sort of a big role in Iago's plan. Roderigo is in a lot of the earlier scenes of Othello until he is of course killed by Iago. When we first get introduced to Rodergio we learn that he is in love with Desdemona. He feels as though he will make Desdemona an honesty women out of her. He is told by Iago that he will be able to make Desdemona fall in love with him. Roderigo falls right into Iagos plan. “I tell you 'tis not very well. I will make myself known to Desdemona: if she will return me my...” In this quote Iago is talking about his love for Desdemona. Roderigo is soon killed in the Play. But throughout the play Roderigo was always able to confess his love for Desdeoma. 

Journal #3 

Iago Lucas Santano was born on March 12 to Lucas and Iagoana Santano. From the beginning he was a very bulky child. Some may call him pleasantly plump. Growing up his father Lucas was a evil man. He was never satisfied with what he had. He would constantly yell at his children Bill, Mary, Tom and Sue but he was especially hard on his oldest son Iago. Iago's father thought that his son wasn't had enough. Iago enjoyed dancing where as his other brothers wanted to be sword fight and get dirty like " Normal Boys". Iago was bullied by his Dad until he finally Man up and join the army. When he meant his wife Emilia he vowed that when they had children he would never become like his father. Iago and Emilia parented three children Iagoana, Lucas and Emilia. Iago became a great warrior but like he father he still carried hatred in him and always wanted more. That is when the hate started to filter with Othello. He was jealous that a Man like him could become a moor. 

Journal #4

In the scene that we are doing my character is Iago. In the scene he only has a big paragraph at the end. He is talking about his plotting against Othello ( like always).When reading the line I got that he was very anxious. I decided to walk back during the scene to show that he is anxious. The prop that I am going to use is a scarf. When doing the scene I am going to throw the scarf around my neck to show my arrogance.. I think something that make our group stand out is the we have accents.

The scene that I had was 1b and Iago only had one line in the scene. Though it was only one line it was a very long one. “ I hate the Moor: and it is thought abroad, that ‘twixt my sheet he has done my office:....” In this paragraph Iago is talking about how he is going to break up Othello and Desdemona. Like most of his lines. Iago is a man that seems to repeat himself often. He is a very obsessive man. Once he gets an idea in his head it seems as though he can never really get it out. When reading the quote the first thing that came to my mind was that Iago was very urgent in the way he was speaking. 

I feel like my group and I could have done way better. I feel as though we didn’t do as well as planned because we were missing a group member and it through us off a little. I feel like my part could have went better if I was able to connect with the audience a little more. I should have memorized my lines a little more so I could worry more about my hand movements and my facials. I am proud that everyone kept their character. 

Journal #1: Soliloquy

Act 5, Scene 1:

I have rubbed this young quat almost to the sense,

And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio

Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,

Every way makes my gain. Live Roderigo,

He calls me to a restitution large

Of gold and jewels that I bobbed from him

As gifts to Desdemona.

It must not be. If Cassio do remain

He hath a daily beauty in his life

That makes me ugly. And besides, the Moor

May unfold me to him—there stand I in much peril.

No, he must die. But so, I hear him coming.

In this scene, Iago is breaking off from his conversation with Roderigo to talk to himself/the audience.  I would have his voice be somewhat softer compared to his conversation with Roderigo. He will also be turned towards the audience, side stepping from Roderigo. When he says "Live Roderigo...", Iago will bring one hand up, and when he says "If Cassio do remain..." he will bring the other up, as if weighing the two options. When he says "And besides, the Moor may unfold me to him..." he will wipe his hands away, as if erasing a thought written out in front of him. He will also say this as if pointing out something obvious. This will show that he is changing his thinking, figuring something out for the first time, talking to himself. He will say "No, he must die." gravely, all emotion somewhat gone from his voice, as he shows no regret for the morbid plan. When he says "But so, I hear him coming.." he will say that softly, and walk back over to where he was before this soliloquy. 

Journal #2: Secondary Characters

My character is Bianca. The first time Bianca is seen is Act 3, Scene 4, when she runs into Cassio, on the way to his house. We see that they are in an intimate relationship, and that she is clearly eager for Cassio's love. She becomes jealous when she sees the handkerchief of another woman in his possession. She's then mentioned in Act 4, Scene 1, where Cassio explains to Iago that she is a whore, and he has no intention of marrying her, which she seemed prepared to do. Bianca then appears, apparently having thought that it wasn't possible for Cassio to have simply found the handkerchief, and seems to be full of rage. She sees that Cassio has the token of another woman, and does not know where he got it from. We do not know what Bianca is specifically told, though we do see that Cassio is somewhat agressive with her when Iago is there, and she ends up leaving in anger, basically saying she will not invite him to her house any more. If we only concentrate on the scenes with Bianca, we can see that she is unaware of anything going on with Iago, Desdemona, or Othello, and Cassio's involvement in it. All she sees is the man she loves having something from another woman in his possession, and it's understandable how that strikes her jealousy. 

Journal #3: Character Background

My character is Desdemona. She was born into a rich family, her father being a senator. She had an easy childhood, excelling in her studies, and not having to worry about much else. Her father spoiled her, giving her anything she wanted. Her mother died when she was younger, and she spent a lot of her childhood either alone, or with her tutor, due to her fathers busy schedule. This made her aware of how important it was to show your love for people, as she often felt somewhat neglected. She met Othello through her father, and was immediately drawn to his story. She saw his broken past, and fell for him, wanting to be the one to fill him with love. She knew her father would never let her get married so quickly, but she felt so sure of Othello, and their love, that she decided it was worth it to go behind his back.

Journal #4: Characterization

I'm playing Desdemona in the scene where they appear in the court to justify their marriage. To do this, I have to make sure that I show my respect for my father, as well as my commitment to my husband. I'll kiss my fathers hand, but go and link arms with my husband to enhance both of these things. I tried to make my voice buoyant and kind, because Desdemona is described as gentle and sweet. I think that for my prop I'm going to pile on a bunch of necklaces, because she's rich and probably wore a lot of jewelry. I have a few rings that I might wear as well, just to look more feminine and wealthy. I think that since our scene doesn't have as much action, it's harder to make it stand out, but our characterization is really key. We've decided on some interesting developments regarding voice and posture, so I think that will make our scene really work.

Journal #5: Reflection on Performance

“But here is my husband, and so much duty as my mother showed you, preferring you before her father, so much I challenge that I may profess due to the Moor my lord.” Act 1, Scene 3.

This line comes right after Desdemona reassures her father of her respect for him. It shows that, although she does respect him, her husband is where her loyalty lies. When I performed this, I made sure to move from my initial position of standing by my father, to next to Othello, linking arms with him and showing my commitment to my marriage. This line is delivered to Brabantio, which leads me to think that Desdemona in a way kicks a soft spot in her father, and it’s a little bit of a guilt trip. 

Our performance didn’t go exactly as planned, because we were actually missing one of our actors. However, I think we were still able to do all that we planned to do, as far as delivery goes. I think we did really well with characterization, each of us sort of bringing our own twist to our respective character. Our scene didn’t really have a lot of action, so it was difficult to bring it to life, but I think that we were able to do our best with it.

Performing the play made me more aware of key elements within it. It’s easy to get lost in Shakespeare, because there are so many details, and it’s all hidden behind difficult language. Breaking it down, and seeing it performed, as well as performing it, made it not only easier to follow, but easier to notice important parts. 

Will Amari 

4/23/13

Silver

Benchmark Journals

4/24/13 Journal #1: 

Find a soliloquy in Othello when Iago might be addressing more than one of the possible audiences discussed today. Write out / copy and paste the soliloquy, and add your own "director's notes" indicating where Iago would switch delivery techniques to appeal to a higher power, and then to himself, etc. Indicate how his line delivery and physical movement might change to show he is changing audiences. 

IAGO

That’s not amiss,

But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw?

Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,

A huswife that by selling her desires

Buys herself bread and clothes. It is a creature

That dotes on Cassio, as ’tis the strumpet’s plague

To beguile many and be beguiled by one.

He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain

From the excess of laughter. Here he comes.

As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad.

And his unbookish jealousy must construe

Poor Cassio’s smiles, gestures, and light behavior

Quite in the wrong.—How do you now, lieutenant?

Directors notes: 

Initially, it is clear that Iago is speaking to Othello. They are the only two people present at this part of the scene, and Iago is asking him to hide from Cassio. After Iago says, “Will you withdraw?” Othello hides and Iago begins to either talk to himself, to God, or to the audience. You know this because he starts using the word I with the phrase, “Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,” even though no one else is with him, It is most likely that he is talking to himself, because of Iago’s bizarre nature. He is the least sane person in the play, thus he is the antagonist. Iago has talked to himself previously in the play, and he will continue to do so later. When Iago says, “—How do you now, lieutenant?” He is now speaking to Cassio, who has just entered the stage. Shakespeare uses a dash, to show that Iago has stopped ranting on about his plans, has moved on to turn and greet Cassio, who is the lieutenant he was referring to in that sentence. 

4/25/13 Journal #2: 

Choose another secondary character from Othello (that is, not Othello or Iago or Desdemona) and investigate the play for his/her perspective. Answer the following prompts in paragraph format (150-200 words.)

Name a couple of important scenes that this character appears in. (You'll have to look them up, and include the act and scene numbers.)

• What does this character observer first hand? (What do they see personally?)
• What does this character observe second hand? (What are they told by other characters?)
• How can we understand this character's motivations better when we concentrate only on their scenes?

At the end of Act 1 Scene 3, from lines 343 to 425, Rodrigo and Iago are alone and have an important conversation. Rodrigo is in a deep state of depression and is planning to drown himself. He adores Desdemona, who is married to Othello and realizes that Desdemona truly loves the Moor, and has not planed to find another. Rodrigo truly trusts Iago because he is confessing his shame. He feels that killing himself is the only way out of torture. 

Iago convinces him that to kill ones self is a foolish act. He says he’d rather be a baboon. Iago claims that the reason why he feels love is because he feels lust. Essentially, he tells him to man up. He advises him to sell all his land and possessions and that Desdemona is unable to love the Moor. He tells him that Desdemona will dump the Moor for a younger man, and she’ll be looking for a man with money. Iago says that he’ll take the money that Rodrigo makes, and that he’ll keep it safe. 

This illustrates that Rodrigo is gullible and desperate. He truly believes that Iago is a safe and trustworthy man. He invests his faith in Iago and because of this his mood quickly changes from a dangerous depressed state to becoming immensely happy. 

4/29/13 Journal #3: 

Write a character background using your Character Sheet as a guide. Tell the story of the life of the character before they enter the play. Explain how these events influenced them to be the kind of person they are during the events of the play.

Iago: Iago was born in the small town of Todi, Italy. His father, Lorenzo was a blacksmith and his mother Adriana, taught Iago at the young age of four to read and write. Iago, because he grew up in a small town, didn’t know a lot of people so he didn’t have many friends. Lonely and bored, he would often play by himself in the foothills of the countryside. There he found contentment by spending time chasing rabbits, climbing trees, and watching clouds drift by in the sky. Due to his lack of nourishment, Iago was very skinny and smaller than many other boys his age. When his father died of a heart attack, he moved to Venice at the age of sixteen to live with his aunt and uncle. His uncle Bruno was a wealthy banker and took good care of Iago.  He was allowed to attend school and then became Bruno’s apprentice. Iago did quite well for himself and eventually married his second cousin, Emilia. They were both in their mid-twenties at that time. One day, Iago was challenged to a duel against a man named Hassan, a Moroccan Moor who claimed to have loved Emilia first. When Iago refused this challenge, The Moor called him a coward, and further insulted him when he proclaimed that he had slept with Emilia the night before Iago married her. Iago angrily walked away and began to plot a plan to kill Hassan but, before he go through with it, Hassan was arrested for the rape of two sisters. Iago feeling satisfied, began working as a banker, but because of his love for the city of Venice, he quit banking to join the army.  

4/30/13 Journal #4:

• What specific actions, movements, and tone of voice are you bringing to your character during your performance?
• What PROP and/or COSTUME item is your character going to have? (It is your job to brainstorm one item that you are responsible for.  Some props are clear, like a handkerchief or a wine glass. Others will take a little more creativity!)
• What is going to make your group's presentation stand out? What have you worked on and agreed on as a group for your scene?

My character is Othello, and in this scene he is stressed out, sick, and tired. I am going be sitting for most of the scene. He has a pain at his forehead, so I will rub it, to show that I have a headache. I have been practicing my best Moroccan accent, and I will speak in low and heavy tones. Othello seems like a big guy so I’ll try spread out my body. I want to bring a bandana as the handkerchief, and a blanket as a cloak. I think the blanket as a cloak is a nice touch. Then I am going to memorize my lines and try to sound as convincing as possible. Hopefully everyone’s acting skills will be in top condition. I believe if everyone memorizes their part, knows when to come in and out, and brings in a prop, then we’ll be fine, and we’ll stand out for sure. My scene is a very important part of the story. This is the scene when Iago finds the handkerchief he is going to use to frame Cassio. 

5/1/13 Journal #5:

• Analyze one of your lines from your scene. Quote it directly and then explain why it is important to the play, and how you showed its importance in your performance. How did you deliver this line?
• Did your group's performance go as you expected and planned? Now that it is over, what are you proud of? What would you have done differently in your performance?
• How did performing the play change your understanding of it? 

I played Othello, and although my lines were short, they had a lot of meaning, and had an huge influence on my overall performance. I had three lines, and out of all of them, the one that said the most to me, was the one when I stood up and said, “I have a pain upon my forehead here.” It doesn’t seem very important at first glance, but Shakespeare did write this line for a reason. He wanted to show the first step towards Othello’s downfall. The “pain,” is arguably foreshadowing that could hint at greater pain for Othello in the future. He is stressed and sick and it will only get worse later on. This is also when he loses his special handkerchief, which causes him to lose his sensibility and he is mentally conquered by anger and jealously, the green-eyed monster. If Othello wasn’t sick, he wouldn’t had been angry, which means he wouldn’t have thrown his handkerchief onto the ground. If he hadn’t left his handkerchief out there in the open, Emilia never would had been able to steal it and give it to Iago. If Iago was never given that handkerchief, he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to frame Cassio. The handkerchief is the most important item in the story. Without it, there would be no plot, thus my scene where Othello loses the handkerchief, is the most important scene in the story. 

My performance went very well. I actually think we were one of the best ones. I memorized my lines and stayed in character. Sure I wasn’t expecting a Tony/Oscar performance, but It did go the way I expected. It could’ve been worse, but it wasn’t, so I’m happy. If I had to do anything differently, I would encourage my group members to memorize their lines, but over all I thought that my (excuse me) our performance went well.

Performing the play was an interesting experience because I could now witness Shakespeare's words come to life. So I guess seeing the action helped me understand the visuals a little better. To be honest when we were reading, we discussed, wrote about, and analyzed this book so many times, that by the time we performed, I had already understood Shakespeare's language as if it was my own. Recently I saw a Shakespeare comedy called Love’s Labor’s Lost. I’ve never read or heard of this play before, and when watching it, I was surprised by how well I could keep up with the plot. I understand Othello, and I understand Shakespeare.

Wendy Tepoz 

Journal #1 :

 IAGO

(to himself) I’ve rubbed this young pimple until he’s ready to pop, and now he’s angry. Whether he kills Cassio, or Cassio kills him, or they kill each other, it all works in my favor. If Roderigo survives, though, he’ll ask me for all the gold and jewelry that I stole from him and said I gave to Desdemona. I can’t let that happen. If Cassio survives,he’s so handsome and well-spoken that he makes me look ugly. And besides, the Moor might tell him about my lies about him.—That would be very dangerous for me. No, he’s got to die. Let it be so. I hear him coming.

Iago talks to reader/ audience in the writing. He changes the people who he interacts with. He first talks to the characters in the story, and its like he lies to the character, and he tells us the truth; the thoughts he is thinking in his head. In this paragraph, he talks to himself talking about the plan that will happen in the play. Iago in the first paragraph he tellls Rodrigo to stand and stab Cassio. When he starts to hide, he talks to himself and tells himself that if the plan goes well, Cassio and Rodrigo would kill each other, and it will be less work for Iago. The mood changes through this scene because Iago first is motivated to tell Rodrigo things that will get him mad, so he can kill Cassio. When he starts talking to himself, he becomes more evil, thinking the plan will work. 

Journal #2 

Act 3 Sc 3 Line 335

 EMILIA

Oh, is that all? What will you give me now

For the same handkerchief?

IAGO

What handkerchief?

EMILIA

What handkerchief?

Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona,

That which so often you did bid me steal.

IAGO

Hast stolen it from her?

EMILIA

No, but she let it drop by negligence

And, to th' advantage, I being here, took ’t up.

Look, here it is.

Emilia knows her husband wants the handkerchief, so she sees it fall and thinks she will give it to her husband because he called her stupid. She only told him about the handkerchief to torture him.She had the handkerchief but she did not steal it. She took it because Desdemona dropped it. She changes through the story because first she is very nice to her friend but then she trades on her by not giving the handkerchief back. She gives it to her husband.

Journal #3

Bianca came in to a play, she had a bad experience with men and she got cheated on many times. It happen to her a lot and when she got in to the relationship with Cassio, he gave her the handkerchief. She knew it was from someone else. She doesn't trust men so much because of her past with them men have cheated on her lied to her, or used her as a toy. She felt insecure about herself. She tried to protect her self by hiding her jealousy and making it into madness and assume she isn’t the only women in a man’s life. As she says it the play, give it to your “whore” because in the past it happened before to her. She doesn't want it to happen to her again. There fore ,she was trying to stand up for herself.

Journal #4 : 

What i am bring to my performance , is in my tone of voice anger, because I am supposed to be angry at Cassio. I am bringing a handkerchief to the class because Cassio gives Bianca a handkerchief. She gets very upset to hear that the handkerchief is something he just found in his room. She got very angry with his actions. Bianca gives the handkerchief back to Cassio because she thinks a whore left it there. I think this scene is powerful because there is a lot of emotion when with Bianca being angry, and Iago being sneaky with his plan that he wants Othello that the Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio. What my group and i have agreed on is that when Bianca says her line, she is going to run off stage and Cassio going to run after her, we have to have a loud voice, and a lot of passion with our lines.

Journal #5 : 

"What do you mean by the same handkerchief you gave me even now, a likely piece of work that you should find in your chamber and not know who left it there" The reason i think this line is important is because it completes the whole quote what she says because it describes why she is mad, why the plan that Iago has is going to work, and when Bianca came in it was just a coincidence. With the lines she says with the plan because if it wasn't for her, Othello wouldn't believed as much has he did. Bianca was clear why she was angry, those were the most important lines, threw all. Also i showed importance in my part is because when i did the hand movements and when i threw the handkerchief at Cassio, and my hand movements. I deliver my lines by an anger tone of voice, and the hand movements. My group performance did go as i expected and planned but when i ran out i got my hand stuck on the door which messed me up. I was mad because I got my hand stuck and I broke character. Also it did go as I planned, because everyone were in their places, and good actors. Now that the play is over, I am proud of that I remembered my lines, and I would have done differently by putting more anger in my lines, because i don't think I did good with that, I am not a very good actor, I was nervous, and I really don't like to talk in front of people, I am very shy, so I think I would do differently by speaking more louder. By preforming the play, it painted a picture in my head more clear and it made it more understandable. Reading the play was kinda hard to understand but when we all acted it out, it became more clear what i was reading. it was creative how we all acted out.

Edgar Pacio

Gold Stream

Journal #1

IAGO: [looks down, hand on chin]

That’s not amiss,

But yet keep time in all.

Will you withdraw? 

[looks at Othello]

OTHELLO Exits

[looks at audience] 

Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,

A huswife that by selling her desires

Buys herself bread and clothes.It is a creature

That dotes on Cassio, as ’tis the strumpet’s plague

To beguile many and be beguiled by one. He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain

From the excess of laughter.

Here he comes. 

[looks away]

Enter CASSIO

[looks up]

As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad.

And his unbookish jealousy must construe

Poor Cassio’s smiles, gestures, and light behavior

[slowly looks towards CASSIO]

Quite in the wrong.—How do you now, lieutenant?

  This quote is from the beginning of Act 4 Scene 1 during one of Iago’s soliloquies. Iago looks down at the ground with his hand on his chin. This is a pose that many people make when they are in deep thought. Iago looks towards the audience to indicate that he has switched from thinking out loud to informing the audience. He tells them about his plan to make Cassio talk about Bianca in front of Othello. He then switches his audience again by looking up as if speaking to a higher power as he finishes his plan and realizes what it will cause. As he turns towards Cassio, we now know that he has switched his audience as he begins to talk to Cassio.

Journal #2

“EMILIA: 

Thou hast not half that power to do me harm

As I have to be hurt. O gull! O dolt!

As ignorant as dirt! Thou hast done a deed—

I care not for thy sword, I’ll make thee known

Though I lost twenty lives.—Help! Help, ho! Help!

The Moor hath killed my mistress! Murder, murder!"

In Act 5 Scene 2, Emilia observed Desdemona's death first hand. Desdemona spoke to her as she took her last breaths and Emilia weeped over Desdemona when she finally died. Most things Emilia observed were second hand. She was told about the fight out side and the death of Roderigo. Othello told her that he had been the one who had killed Desdemona. She was also told about how her husband, Iago, made a plan and what its consequences were. By focusing only on her scenes we can understand that Emilia was very fond of Desdemona becuase she was her servant and perhaps even a mother figure. She was there for her every need and stood by her as she died. We can also see that she was loyal to Iago when she stole Desdemona's handkerchief. From Emilia’s actions it can be assumed that her loyalty to the people she is close to is her most important characteristic to the play. Overall she is loyal to those people that seem to have good intentions.

Journal #3

Othello was sold into slavery when he was six years old. He was taken into an army at the age of seven and was put under the wing of a kind retired war hero. As Othello grew older he began to go away from his janitor duties and was taught to become an Italian soldier. He was a soldier for many years until he was recruited to become a general after he had survived many battles against invaders. Since he rose in rank he got to meet more high class families, which is how he met Desdemona. Othello started talking with her and finally won her over. They had a secret marriage together in Venice. 

Othello's past shaped him into what he was. He was faced with many hardships in life, struggling and working hard to reach the rank of army general. He is a dedicated person, which shows when he is determined to carry out Iago's plan to kill Desdemona. He is also a very sensitive person under all his brutish manliness. Othello was truly in love with Desdemona since she was attracted to him for who he was and the struggles he went through. When he went to kill her he was overcome by grief which proves his ability to love people. 

Journal #4

The scene that my group had was a breakdown of Act 3 Scene 3. In the scene Othello is speaking in a quiet, faint, and annoyed voice because he has a headache. He points to his head when he shows Desdemona where on his head he feels the pain. When Desdemona tries to bind his head he becomes somewhat annoyed and takes the handkerchief and tries to put it in his pocket. Othello accidentally drops it without noticing. My prop will be a cloak. I think my group is going to stand out because we have practiced several times and the argument between Emilia and Iago is the most expressive part of the scene. We have worked on the stage directions like Iago snatching the handkerchief, Othello dropping it, and the interactions between Othello and Desdemona.

Journal #5

“Your napkin is too small. Let it alone. Come I’ll go in with you.”

This quote shows that Othello is a bit annoyed with Desdemona and his current situation. Iago told Othello that Desdemona was cheating on him. This caused Othello to have a hard time processing it and thinking about the truth behind Iago’s accusation. When Desdemona tries to bind his headache he pushes her away. He takes out his frustration on her. I delivered this line in a kind of annoyed tone.

My group’s performance did go as I planned. I am really proud of my group members especially Donesha and Haneef because I feel as though they delivered their argument scene very well. If I could do something differently I would have probably made my final line a bit more expressive. Performing the play changed my perspective by making it more clear. It was like re-reading a sentence you didn’t understand at first. Seeing the play again in a shorter and simpler version made it entirely clear on what was going on in the play.

    B. Explain how you found negative space in 1. your cut out?, 2. in your still life drawing?

- It helps because if you can see the negative space then you could see the details of the object you're trying to define.

   D. Does seeing in negative space enhance drawings, why or why not?

Iago

(aside) He takes her by the palm. Ay, well said, whisper! With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do, I will gyve thee in thine own courtship. You say true, 'Tis so, indeed.

Iago is talking to himself. He is talking about how Cassio should keep talking to the girls so that he can get Cassio and his plan can come together. Knowing this is a good indicator for the characters body language and his movements. It can be like he is talking in his head or time froze and it is just him talking to himself or the audience. He could also be talking to the audience because he is plotting to frame Cassio and Shakespeare could have added this scene to clarify what Iago is planning to do. His movement could be pacing back and forth, showing his impatience to make the plan all com together. Or he could just be frozen; showing that he is just thinking in his head for that split second. If he is talking to the audience, he can grab a chair and talk to them saying what his ambitions are and just state what he wants to do.

2.

Clown

Act 3, Scene 1 Lines 4 – 31 Act 3, Scene 4 Lines 1 - 22

- What does this character observer first hand? (What do they see personally?)

The clown observes the various messages and conversations in the short scenes that he is in. In the Clown's first scene, he experiences Cassio giving him a gold coin to go get Emilia so that he can talk to her. But Iago ended up doing the Clowns job. In the Clown's second and last appearance, the Clown is kind of joking around with Desdemona, saying puns about lying. After the puns, he goes and gets Cassio for Desdemona. I think that he doesn't think or know of what is going on because he is joking and things like that and it also seemed like Desdemona really needed Cassio, and the Clown didn't really take notice.

- What does this character observe second hand? (What are they told by other characters?)

The Clown, in all of his scenes is just told to do little errands for the main characters. In his first scene, he is told to go get Emilia for Cassio, even though Iago ends up doing that errand instead. In his second scene, he is being asked by Desdemona where Cassio is, and the Clown jokes around a little and after that he goes and gets him (exits). That is the last time the Clown shows up in the book.

- How can we understand this character's motivations better when we concentrate only on their scenes?

I think that his motivations are just for money. I don't think that the Clown would just do little errands for people unless he was getting paid. What else would be the purpose? I think that this character is one of the easiest because he is in such few parts/lines of the book. If the book were in just the Clown's point of view, we would know nothing that is going on.

3.

Othello

Othello started off a normal life when he was a kid. When he was about 10, he was taken and forced into slavery. He fought in the Venetian army for the last 15 years and slowly rose in rank, showing his skill in fighting and military tactics. That is what led him to become what we now know as The Moor. He has since gained his freedom and, as we know is still fighting for the same people that enslaved him. I think that even though these experiences are broader, it puts in perspective how someone in his position would think. To me, it seems like he has learned to be calm or passive to people (at least in the beginning of the book). I think that this helped him in our scene because he could have flipped out or even just have not talked to Brabantio about it. He actually got Desdemona to confirm it and I think that this helped him win over Desdemona even though Brabatio doesn’t approve.

4.

1.                   I am going to try to speak in the accent that Othello had in the audio. It adds a foreign feel to him because everyone else speaks similar except Othello. For my movement on the stage, I am going to have a different posture. I want to make him look powerful because he is the moor and he has killed many people. Since Desdemona and Othello are in love, I am going to show that by holding hands and stuff.

2.                   I am going to use a sword. Its actually not going to look like a sword that much since it is an umbrella. I think that it shows Othello’s power. It kind of shows that he is a good person because he has the power to kill Brabantio and just take Desdemona but he doesn’t. Another prop that I was thinking about using was a crown but I don’t have one or know where to get one. Also it really wouldn't make sense because he is not a king or anything.

3.                   I think that Jenny's role as Brabantio is really good. So far in our practice, she has done a good job showing Brabantio's anger and sadness. She gets in my face and I think that it adds to it standing out. We worked a lot of work on our movements, accents, and what we will be doing on the stage while we are talking (or not talking). We also have to assume what people are doing when they are not talking. For example in the script, it says Iago enters but he doesn’t talk so we assumed that he was sneaking.

5.

1.                  “If you do find me foul in her report, the trust, the office I do hold of you, not only take away, but let your sentence even fall upon my life.”

                  This quote shows that Othello has nothing to fear about Brabantio. Desdemona actually likes Othello. This line let me know just what I said. Because of this relaxed environment, I don’t need to have my sword drawn and I can have a relaxed posture. The way I said this line was in a serious tone, but with a little relaxation because he doesn’t need to worry about anyone in the scene trying to kill him.

2.            I think that the performance did go as I expected because we practiced the play like 10 times so we knew what to do. One thing that was not expected was one of our group members not at school but that didn’t really throw us off because that person’s part was small. I am proud of Jenny’s part. In my opinion, she was the best actor out of all of us. Arshelle’s part was also good because of how she read it and also her movements (pacing back and forth, etc).

3.            Acting out the play obviously made me understand what was going on in the part of the play we had. Also seeing how the characters might act like and also what they might look or stand like. One thing that I learned from this is a deeper understanding of how Shakespeare writes. I think that if I were to read another book or play by him I would be able to understand it better because of these classes.