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 soliloquy, Iago can be talking to a matter of two different audiences. He could actually be talking directly to the audience, since it is a play. Shakespeare could’ve made it almost like where Iago knows he is in play, and is able to actually have some sort of contact with the audience, but then again that is a new play concept and might not have been around during that time. A more reasonable person(s) he could’ve been talking to is himself. Iago is very deceitful and could have just been devising the whole plan aloud. Othello was still present in the room (although he was in hiding) so he could have been whispering to himself. He was smart enough not to  let Othello hear. Therefore, I’ll stick with my response that his audience was himself as well as the readers of the book.

Journal #2 

Cassio is an obvious character of importance in Shakepeare's Othello, considering the fact that Iago uses him as the scapegoat. In Act 2, Scene 3, Cassio realizes that he was fired by Othello (after being drunk)  and goes to Iago in hope that he will help him get to the Moor to get his job back. Cassio observes Iago being supportive of him getting his job back. Iago is telling him that wine isn't bad for him but is in fact good for him and that he just went a little overboard. Iago also tells him  that he's not a drunk and Othello knows that. Cassio eats up everything that Iago says and believes that the Moor will be forgiving to him, but he didn’t realize that he had just fell into Iago’s trap. Iago told him that he must go to Desdemona since she is a woman and has an open heart, and he does just as he was told .He knows that his reputation (or at least the one that Othello knows) is ruined, but he also knows that Othello is crazy about Desdemona and that he’d listen to her over him. I believe this scene proves that Cassio is gullible, because through out the whole booked he was fooled.

Journal #3 

Cassio has been in love with Bianca for two years and counting, or so we thought? Cassio had a journal under his bed that absolutely no one knew about until Desdemona found it one day while in his room looking for him. In it, she read words that she’d never thought she would. “The Moor is questioned by her, being my heart. Are’t he belongings of Desdemona, or shall my heart want him to be mine?” (translation: My heart questions my feelings for the Moor. I know he’s Desdemona’s man, but I think I want him to be mine.) Desdemona was stunned at what she saw, but at the same time she wasn’t too surprised. Now she understood why he loved Othello so much and why he was such a kiss up but she didn’t tell because she knew what would happen to a man who was gay at this time.She didn’t see Cassio as a threat to her, so she kept her little secret to herself.

Journal #4 

In my previous journal, I said that Cassio was homosexual but the only person who knew was Desdemona. I will be portraying him as slightly feminine and crying when Bianca leave him because she suspects him cheating. Also I will portray him as gullible, because in journal 1 stated that I believed he was gullible since Iago was against him the whole time. I will do this by laughing and seeming to take Iago as a joke when he jokingly asks me about what I do with Bianca, although Othello believe I’m talking about his Desdemona. As for my costume, I plan to take a beard and mustache to my face. In case you didn’t realize,I’m a female. I want it to be clear that I’m playing a male and for some reason it’s just the way I picture Cassio. I think I will do a pretty good job portraying Cassio, but overall I think my group will do well too. Bianca’s prop is really a sight to see! (she has money coming out of all of her clothing.) Also, i think Cassio (My) reaction to Bianca leaving him will be slightly amusing to the class. I’m pretty sure that my group will nail it!

Journal #5

Cassio: How now my sweet Bianca! How now? How now?

I wasn’t sure as to how Cassio was feeling when he said this line and although he isn’t too much stated in this quote, the emotion behind it is what matters. When accuses Bianca accuses him of cheating (indirectly) then this quote follows  it. He was in a state of confusion when she accused him of it. His state of confusion seems like it should’ve negatively effected Iago’s plan but it didn’t. Othello didn’t notice the confusion because of his anger, but if he would’ve I believe it would’ve made him realize even sooner that he was being deceived. 

Since I was playing Cassio, I acted as if I was in a confused state as I thought it should be portrayed. My group’s performance overall went exactly how it was planned. My group had difficulties working together and getting everyone to cooperate, but I’m proud because at the end EVERYONE cooperated and got their lines down packed as well as brought in the props or costumes needed. If I could re-do my scene I would delete all of my laughter on stage. I get slightly awkward when in front of an audience so I think I should’ve just practiced more in front of people. As for my group members, I believe they did a wonderful job and I would not change anything about their performances.

After performing the play, I felt like I had just got out of the book. I had a first person understanding of the book rather than just reading it in third person. I understood the characters actions, emotions, and motives much more than I did. We (my group) spend plenty of time analyzing each part of our scene and with the help of Ms. Pahomov and Aaron, I believe we captured the exact image of each character (well at least the exact image we wanted to portray.) Overall, I just feel that I got a first hand understanding of the book because I truly felt like  I was apart of the book for that short period of time.

I was intently hunched over my laptop at a table of four. Like the 20-odd other students in the room with me, I was hoping to finish my work before the period ended. The brightness of my screen was turned way down to conserve battery; programming with Alice eats up charge like no other software. We were given a difficult project to work on - which I was close to finishing. I ran my code... it worked! The hint the teacher had given helped perfectly. 

This class, computer science engineering, was not something I thought I would like. However, high school is a time to explore my options and all the fun things out there.  

Right now, I want to try new things and enjoy school, and electives fulfill both wishes. Unfortunately, the Philadelphia School District can not pay for people to teach these classes based on proposed budget cuts. This also translates to no language classes, no clubs, sports, counselors, nurses. Classes will be expanded while teachers are laid off.  Learning does not just take place in core classes; this proposed future is not an acceptable form of education. 

Instead of shutting down extracurriculars, the state and other decision makers should prioritize education. No matter what else is going on, education should not bear the brunt of it. Instead, trying to manage funds more delicately and procuring money to close the gap through other means would be much more acceptable. 

Donesha Lee

Journals English

Journal #1:

IAGO

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

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 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.

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 trace

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

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.

Well, within this paragraph is mostly addressing the audience, as well, as himself. He gives the audience the preview of his plan to began. Where he discusses that he will"have wife for wife". He feels as though the Moor stole his wife. He says he loves Desdemona only for her ability to help carry out his plan. she is like his favorite game piece.He wants revenge on Othello so much that he says it's eating him up inside. He says that he will not be happy until his plan is carried out. He also discusses his plan using Roderigo and Cassio. Although, he is mostly using Cassio. He said he doesn't have all the details but, he has a good plan overall. His plan will be happening blindsiding the people he is using, but putting his plan in motion directly in front of him.Also, at the beginning of the paragraph he discusses and admits that Cassio is actually a great guy, however he still needs him becuase he is in the “loop”.Meaning he is close to Othello. So, saying that we find that Iago has intentions to pursue his plans using Iago.

 Journal #2:

Act 4.SC.1

Lodivico walks in just in time to find the pimp slap of his cousin Desdemona, by her husband General Othello.He sees the tension of the room increase. The tension sees to rise due to Desdemona as well, as himself talking about Cassio in front of Othello.He doesn't know why Othello would be so upset to know they need to go back to Venice. He ask questions about the whereabouts Cassio to have Desdemona answering them, rather than Othello. Soon Othello goes on a little temper tantrum and ends with Othello hitting Desdemona. He ask othello of why he has hurt Desdemona, but is pretty much answered with an exit of Desdemona.Othello answer him by telling him he will follow threw with the orders of the letter.Then he exits. Leaving,Lodivico to wonder why the self-controlled guy he once knew to become filled with rage.Knowing of Othello being upset he begins to question. Seeing the story threw Lodivico’s perspective it is as though your on the outside looking in, and when that happens it becomes easier to see who is doing what.

Journal #3:

Emilia was always a brave hearted women. Her mother named her Emilia Rose to represent the strong woman she wanted from her daughter. She was born into a family that was not very wealthy. Due, to the way things were, her parents put her into an arranged marriage. Knowing of this she decided she would go along with it , But she had to meet him first.She was not presented with a prince charming, but a man she had to grow to care for.She wasn't in love with him, but she respected him. Since he was close to the army. Iago helped her get a job being a maid for Desdemona.Although, she had a money,place to stay, and a husband. She never had what she really wanted, which was a child she could call her own, for her husband was always to busy with "duties".So every time it rained she would picture all the souls of the children she could never have.

Journal #4:

• What specific actions, movements, and tone of voice are you bringing to your character during your performance?

-I bring caring and the movement of touching my cross at the exact movement she refers to the “heavens”.However, when my husband enters I get a little feisty.

• 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!) 

-handkerchief

-cross tights 

-cross necklace if I can find it

- 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?

-I memorized my lines, so that should help.We all get use the handkerchief.

Journal #5:

“My wayward husband hath a hundred times woo’d me to steal it, what he will do with it, Heaven knows,not I.I nothing, but to please his fantasy.”

“Do you not chide,I have a thing for you.What will you give me for the same handkerchief?”

-Emilia

These quotes was important due, to Emilia showing two different sides toward her husband. In the first one she is alone and talking to herself.She says that Iago begged her to steal it, although she doesn't know why. Also, that he only wants to “cater” to him.She goes from caring about Desdemona to wanting to please her husband.Then when he comes in her whole mood changes, she sees the person she married, and a whole different perspective than what she wants.I delivered both lines to show her change in character.My group performance  was good and went as expected. We all had props, I’m proud of memorizing my lines. It is hard to memorize Shakespeare!I wouldn’t have changed anything.I now know more about the play, and I found out a different  ending than what I thought.

Journal #1

I do beseech you,

Though I perchance am vicious in my guess,

As, I confess, it is my nature’s plague

To spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy

Shapes faults that are not, that your wisdom,

From one that so imperfectly conceits,

Would take no notice, nor build yourself a trouble

Out of his scattering and unsure observance.

It were not for your quiet nor your good,

Nor for my manhood, honesty, and wisdom

To let you know my thoughts.

In this quote, Iago is saying that it seems that Iago is indirectly telling Othello not to listen to him.

“I do beseech you,

Though I perchance am vicious in my guess,”

Though this is just apart of his plan, by telling Othello not to listen to him, this is going to subconsciously going to make Othello want to listen to him more. With Othello weakness, believing that most men are wise, especially Iago, this just makes more vulnerable in Othello's beliefs and confidence. This goes back to the plan that Iago has in stored by Iago maintaining his "innocence" and "trust" whatever Iago says such as:

Nor for my manhood, honesty, and wisdom

To let you know my thoughts.

Othello will support it and stand behind it 100%. Through this paragraph, Iago continues to test how far he can push Othello to believe him and how long he will continue to believe in his lies. This is paragraph, this makes Iago smarter, more cleaver, and even more powerful than Othello because it shows how much control he is able to maintain on him throughout the story. 

Journal #2

In Act 5 Scene 2, Emilia discovers that Iago set up everyone in the play. After her lady, Desdemona is killed but Othello, she realizes that she was unknowing, apart of Iago's plan.

As for her first hand observation, Emilia is seen as a woman who caters to her lady and seems to be a loyal servant to Desdemona. She is a considerate wife to Iago and doesn't show a sign of dishonesty nor dishonor towards Iago. She seems to be just an ordinary servant and loyal wife. 

Through second observation, Iago deceives everyone in the story by taking advantage of his known honesty and the trust they put in him. Iago deceived his wife by putting her in on the plot without her unknowingly helping her husband, to get Desdemona murdered. It began with the handkerchief, when she gave it to Iago, in order to set Desdemona up as if she was cheating on Othello, which made her look like a bad guy. Giving the impression that Iago that set up his wife.

As the story goes on, we begin to understand that Emilia's intention weren't as we suspected. They were the totally opposite. All Emilia was as loyal as she can be and she had a lot of love towards Desdemona, in a way that she didn't mind working for her and Desdemona treated her like a person and not so much a servant, which she loved about her. But in the particularly sense we see that she went against her husband, when she had the chance to stand by him, she instead remained loyal to her lady and sacrificed dieing by her side. In many ways her character is a lot like Desdemona's.

Journal #3

When Othello was growing up, he was the type of person that didn't have very much and wasn't acknowledged for his well beings because he grew up in the slave type environment. Though he may not have had the silver spoon lifestyle, Othello managed to maintain a leader like mind-set. This came from seeing how the men lived their lives. Meaning, since he grew up a slave environment, he learned how to become a leader from the male slave owner, sense men were known for being slave owners, unlike women. He saw how much power and control men were able to have over people and he admired this. He saw them as honest, true and dominant amongst the people. This is where, honest, true and dominant, which motivated him into becoming the general of the army and he can now dominate over those who once dominated him. 

Journal #4           

In my performance for Othello, the kind of tone of voice that I'm going to bring to my performance is going to be an intense voice because my scene is a scene where Othello has to kill Desdemona. One of the most important actions I have to do is strangle Desdemona. In this scene I have to have self- control and I have to bring intensity to the table. 

I'm not bringing a prop and/ or no specific costume.

One of the things that should make my scene stand out is the fact that I have a killing scene and this isn't just a quick stab or gun shot, but I have to strangle somebody and when you kill somebody with you bare hands, this is something that takes a lot of will power and a lot a strength (in reality). I was told that in order for my scene to stand out I had to maintain a

serious face, gesture and actions. With these tips, I think I can do okay with my part.

Journal #5

Yet I shall not shed her blood, nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow, and smooth as monumental alabaster. Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men. Put out the light, and then put out the light.

This quote held a very valuable moment in the whole story because this is the scene where Othello is having a really deep debate with himself about wheatear or not he should kill Desdemona or not. This line separates the difference between Desdemona’s life and how the rest of the story will end. Through the decision of Othello choosing to kill Desdemona he, subconsciously, killed everyone else around him and involved in the lie that Iago told and Othello chose to believe. Throughout the whole play and story, this line was the most and important and was the key to everything. This sense proved that Iago had won and gained power over everyone.

During this line I thought that I delivered it the way Othello would have, with much uncertainty but understanding that this is the way it must end.

Over all I think that my group did a really good job, given the fact that we had such a powerful scene, which meant that we had to really give it our all and that we had to show that we can do our part the way it was meant to be portrayed. I think we delivered the best we could and I am proud of what we did, though I do think that if this part was memorized it would have been an even better piece of work because since this was such an intense sense, intensity can be really seen and deliver through eye contact, which would have really gave the audience something amazing. But even though that wasn’t portrayed, our tone of voice was set even on each scene that needed a specific voice and I thought that we did a pretty good job on the strangulation scene.

After doing this, it made me understand that Othello was tied between two decisions and two separate words, his wife against a man he put so much trust into. I understand that this wasn’t just a choice that could have been made up in seconds, but a choice that took time to understand and a very difficult decision. It made me see that Othello loved Desdemona as much as she loved him and him doing this made him have a constant battle with himself and his inner self. I’m glad I got to play the ending of Othello as Othello because thins made me get a clear and deep understanding of love and war that people will do to break others apart from each other and themselves. 

#1

"Here, stand behind this bulk, straight will he come.

Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home.

Quick, quick! Fear nothing. I’ll be at thy elbow.

It makes us, or it mars us. Think on that,

And fix most firm thy resolution."

~Iago

In this part by Iago he seems to speak in a load tone. He speaks to Rodrigo about Desdemona. He does not speak in this way because he is angry. He dose this to make his point. He says "Quick, quick!" He was tell Rodrigo to move quickly. He is not angry his just wants to make points. Iago does this many times in this book. When Iago dose get mad in this book he dose not yell, he keeps calm and says mean things. Nothing more, he will yell to make a point but never when being mad or upset. He also tends to yell when things don't go his way.

Emila Act 4 Sc 2 pg: 199-203

- Though out the whole book Othello, Emilia she has been caught in the middle of other peoples problems. Expect the time she gave Desdemona's handkerchief to Iago. But other that she is always around when Desdemona and Othello are having some kind of argument. She is just standing there while they go back and forth. 

-She finds out in the end why Iago wanted a belonging of Desdemona so bad. He wanted to frame her and Cassio, to make it seem as if they are in some find of romantic relationship. She knew what he needed but did not know what for. She just later found out what her deed, had been for.

Emilia Act 3 Sc 1 pg:113-114

• You can also tell from this scene that Emila is a tad bit of a kiss up. I know that it is her job with Desdemona, and partly Othello, but she does the same to Iago and Cassio. Yes, Iago is her husband but she does everything he wants, without question. Emilia just handed over Desdemona’s handkerchief, and she had no idea what it was for. I some way I think she knew what was going on, but she just did what everyone told her to do, until the end of 
  the book.

Iago was born into a high up family, his father was a general, and provided his family’s every need. Iago and his sister grew up having all the best toys and had the best holidays. When Iago got older he knew that he wanted to provide like his father did with his family, that’s is when he decided he wanted to become a general like his father. He told his father we wanted no more thing handed to him, that he would no earn for him self. He made good money do whatever he could. Until he meet a women named Emilia, she had big blue eye’s that put the sea to shame. He knew he would marry this women have a family and provide for them. He asked her to marry him and she did. She told him he was to become a general after they where married. She told him the next person in line after his father dies is a man named Othello. Iago had got so upset he swore his revenge on Othello.

#4

In my scene I play Iago with one other person who plays Othello. There is not much going on in the scene. This is the scene where Iago puts his plan into action by tell Othello the whereabouts of his wife’s handkerchief. So the most we can do is put a lot movement in it. As much as we can with out over doing it. Like hand motions and walkabouts. Things of that sort.

For Peter who plays Othello, he will turn his hoodie into a cloak. He will be stand as he starts off. I who plays Iago, on the other hand will be siting with a cup in my hand, seeming not to give a care in the world. 

I am not sure that our scene will stand out the most but we will try. Put the thing we will try is to put a lot of drama in the scene, faces and things like that.

#5         

“He is dead by your tis done by your request, but let her live”

Iago

-This is that line that makes Iago seem as if he care what happens to Desdemona. The way I said this was with much concern. As if I really cared what happens to her, or let alone any one it this play. I am tried to play this character as self absorbed as I can, because that is what he is.

- I think that my groups performance turned out pretty well. The other person in my group was Peter Ricker and is not really an outspoken person, so I was unsure how he would deliver his lines. Of course you practicing is always different than how it actually turns out. But I think it came out fairly well.

-To me it really did not change my understanding at all. When reading the book Othello I pretty much understood it, and if I did not get it the class discussion helped me understand. They thing that my scene did help me do was look at the book differently. I saw Othello as a slow book that at some active scene, but the class presenting a scene made me look at them differently. Any part in Othello can be put in to something really dramatized when you add actions. 

Journal #1

Act 3 Scene 3

Good my lord, pardon me,

Iago should bow down his head as to ask for something from Othello. This could not be interpreted as talking to the audience, because the dialogue is designed to address Othello.

Though I am bound to every act of duty

I am not bound to that all slaves are free to.

Iago should start speaking with a high defensive voice as a gesture of defending his thoughts so that he may speak further.

Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and false,

Iago should raise his eyebrows and put up his hands in a questioning gesture to indicate to Othello, that he is asking a question.

As where’s that palace whereinto foul things

Sometimes intrude not? Who has that breast so pure

Wherein uncleanly apprehensions

Iago should point his finger at Othello so as to indicate that he is trying to make a point to Othello because Iago is trying to tell Othello something important.

Keep leets and law-days and in sessions sit

With meditations lawful?

This one should be directed to the audience where Iago should turn to the audience, face them and speak.

Journal #2

Roderigo is in love with Desdemona and will do anything to get her. he lusts after Desdemona and goes to sell his land to follow her. He ends up killing Cassio in a jealous rage when he thinks that Desdemona is cheating on Othello with Cassio. 

Rodrigo hears a lot from Iago, such as a lot of lies from Iago. He gets the idea to kill Cassio from Iago.

Rodrigos motivations are pretty clear. He is blindly in love with Desdemona and will do anything to get her and he ends up wounding Cassio in a jealous rage and gets killed at the hands of Iago after he wounded Cassio. 

Journal #3

Iago grew up in a lower middle class family. As a kid, he quickly figured out that he could use mental tricks to get his way. He did alright in school, he had a few friends who essentially followed him. He used lying and played mental tricks on other kids to get them to stop picking on him. When he got older, he joined the military as a soldier. He fought in many battles. He used his brain and tricks to slowly go up the chain of command to get to where he was at the beginning of Othello.

Journal #4

When I speak about Bianca, I should lower my voice when saying her name so as not to alert Othello that I am saying something different. It should be calm and not overanxious like I am expecting something.

I cannot really decide on a prop that Iago would have. I mean something like a knife or a weapon would make no sense. I'm guessing a cane might work. However I am not quite sure on this one. I cannot think of a prop that he would need. However for his costume I am thinking maybe a nice jacket would do because he is in the military.

I think that one thing that will make it stand out will be Bianca's monologue. If it is presented right will be entertaining.

Journal #5

“Now I will question Cassio of Bianca. It is a creature that dotes on Cassio.”

This quote is essentially describing part of Iago’s plan.

What this quote is, is that Iago has this plan to drive Othello nuts and he is going to use Bianca as a pawn to help make Cassio look more and more like he is the one whom Desdemona is cheating with. This line is important because Iago is explaining his plan and if he did not use this line to communicate with the audience, then we would not have a good idea of what is happening.

My groups performance did fine. I mean, it wasn’t a Tony award winning performance but it did well and it got the story through to the audience and everyone understood what was going on. I think that I was mostly proud of Reggie’s performance because he seemed to be the one person that was the most in character. I liked how Bianca’s monologue was done.

I have to say that doing the performance did not really change my understanding of it. I don’t actually get how acting it out would change my understanding of it. I understood the play of Othello and the meanings behind it. One of the meanings of them is sometimes if you talk things out openly you can solve so many problems. Any way, acting out the play did not really change my views on Othello. 

Journal 1

April 23

IAGO (Act 5, Scene 1) Page 254

(Moves to side to show other characters on stage aren’t the focus.)

I have rubbed this young quat almost to the sense,

(He would look at Othello and speak, but Othello can’t hear him.)

And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio

(Phrased as a question, he may say this TO audience.)

Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,

Every way makes my gain. 

(All of these lines are sad for Iago. He says this to himself, but it is sad because he knows Roderigo has caught on to his mischief.)

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.

(Said to audience so they know that whatever happens, Othello must die.)

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

Besides my notes, I noticed in this scene/soliloquy that Iago has a lot going on. He is so involved in his secrets that he confused himself. Iago needs to talk to himself through this scene but still addressing the audience so they understand his plan to make sure Othello dies, that he wants Roderigo to live, how he will get Othello to finally snap and kill Cassio for the lies he has been told about him. Iago may be confused if he wants Roderigo to live or not. Roderigo knows that Iago stole gifts from him that were meant for Desdemona. But he can’t let that happen. 

Nowhere in the scene did I see Iago question or speak up to a God. He is so invested in his own ego and power that he has no space to think of someone else watching his every move.

Iago knows that whatever happens, something will work in his favor, because all all, he is the mighty puppet master.

Journal 2

Secondary Character: Cassio

April 24

Appears in Act 2, Scene 3; When Iago gets Cassio drunk, Cassio gets into a fight with Roderigo and Montano, and then Othello sees him drunk and fires Cassio from his job as lieutenant.

Appears in Act 3 with Desdemona when he begs her to convince the Moor to give back his job.

Then, in the scene where Iago hides Othello so that he can talk to Cassio about Bianca, though, Othello believes Cassio is laughing about Desdemona. Cassio speaks of how he is only her customer, and she has fallen in love with him, while describing hsi relationship with Bianca.. This makes Othello angry because he believes Cassio is calling Desdemona a prostitute.

Cassio is extremely vulnerable throughout the play. Iago makes him the main character of his evil plan to break apart Desdemona and Othello, and gets Othello so angry with Cassio that he wants dead.

First hand, Cassio observes very little. He isn’t given the chance to be around because Iago tells lies and makes everyone hate him. Iago tells Cassio to get drunk, tells him to talk to Desdemona to get his job back.

Cassio is a very innocent character. He only wants his job; and in Cyprus he has Bianca. Bianca was his prostitute who fell in love with him. Cassio’s judgement was impaired by Iago and then loss full control over his life.

Emilia

April 25

Emilia is a middle aged woman, maybe around 35 though. She married Iago at a young age , because of her parents’ pressure for her finding a spouse. She is low maintenance and has really stopped loving Iago. She sees first hand how cruel and conniving he has become, and she has known him a very long time.

Throughout the play, Emilia realizes the difference in how Iago treats her, and knows she can’t cross him. She sees the anger in his eyes and guards herself and Desdemona for as long as she can. When she learns that Iago’s plans worked and Othello killed her, she finally reveals the truth She has never been afraid of Iago, only weary for the lives that would have been harmed. Taking care of Desdemona was Emilia’s way of saying how sorry she was for whatever her future was, because nothing Iago planned could turn out good for anyone but himself.

Journal 4

Prepare for Presentation 

April 29

For this performance and part, I need to express much emotion. I have to move around a little, because in my interpretation of this last scene as Emilia is that she is quite frightened by the fact that Othello killed Desdemona, then she is also with Iago in this scene. Emilia knows about all the lies her husband has told to manipulate people throughout the play.

Emilia is also dying at the end of this scene, so I have to get myself on the ground a certain way. I am stabbed by Iago, and I fall as I say my last line. Then Othello lays next to me, and stabs himself once he knows he killed the woman he loved when she was innocent of everything. 

My prop which is also my costume is quite simple. I made myself an apron that I’m wearing with a nice shirt. Emilia doesn’t have any obvious or even hidding hints about anything she may have on her.

I think that my scene will stand out because it is the final scene with a lot of plot endings. Both Othello and Emilia die, leaving Iago on stage all alone. In the play, he was carried off and said to have been tortured for everything he did. But he isn’t in this shortened script.

As a group we decided on how my part will have to die on stage as well as Othello afterwards.

Journal 5

Analyze Character’s Lines

April 30

“Moor, she was chaste. She loved thee, cruel Moor. So come my soul to bliss as I speak true. Speaking as I think, I die, I die.”

These are Emilia’s last lines when she dies. This is important to the play because,  Emilia was a minor role, but her presence even in 3 scenes, were extremely important. Emilia was told to watch for Desdemona, then her action was one of the reasons that got her killed. Emilia knew all the lies that Iago had told Othello about Desdemona’s life.

I think I delivered this line with less emotion than I could have. It was hard for me to feel the pain that Emilia’s character needed.

My group scene members worked hard while practicing. I think that it would have been even better if we had memorized more lines but that was very hard. There was also not many movements we could find to make the scene more visually interesting, besides dying and just laying on the ground. During the speaking parts, my character was letting Othello know that he had killed the woman he loved, and that Iago had been lying to him since before they came to Cyprus.

Doing the performances didn’t really help me understand the play any better. I know how to read Shakespeare’s writing, but when seeing it performed, I can’t focus on what he was really trying to convey through the words. Seeing the words on paper, stationary, I can focus on exactly everything that was hidden, but important in the play.  

Haneef Nelson 

5/1/13

Prep Journal #1

(looks to the crowd)’be rubbed this young pimple until he’s ready to pop, (pause and looks away) And now he’s angry. (looks to crowd) Whether he kills Cassio, (little pause) or Cassio kills him, (little pause) or they kill each other, (little pause) 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. (hmm, looks to the crowd) I can’t let that happen. (looks away from the crowd) If Cassio survives(pause),he’s so handsome and well-spoken that he makes me look ugly. (looks to crowd) 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. (puts finger on his chin and rubs it as if he is thinking)

Prep Journal #2

In Act 5 scene 2 the secondary character I chose to closely observe is Emilia, so this is “Emilia, The Story”. During the scenes that Emilia are in, first hand observes she Desdemona slowly dying and her husband, Iago lying and getting caught in a lie in front of Othello in order to keep his plot going. During the same act Emilia second handedly observes Desdemona and Othello speaking about death before and right after Othello kills his wife. We understand Emilia’s motivations better when we concentrate only on their scenes because we see how they're thinking specifically and we focus in on it, instead of reading and analyzing and searching for all the other characters wants and needs.

Prep Journal #3

Iago grew up in a one parent house, with just his abusive father. His father never had a steady house or hold hold, as in the way he ran his house. He always had a new girl friend, and lived this life style around the young Iago. Whenever Iago would mention his mother, his father would sit him down and tell him she was just another strumpet and hit him. Iago grew up with out learning how to respect women, but one thing his father did teach him was how to praise the king. He taught him to conform and not obstruct authority, but the young Iago didn't like to conform. Which is why as he aged  didn't change, he was still the same trouble maker, which is why you find him in the situation he's in now.

Prep Journal #4

My scene is the one between Emilia and Iago when she gives him Desdemona's handkerchief. A specific movement or action I have to do during our scene is wave my arms around to sell what I'm saying, and make grins as well as touch my chin as if I'm hinting things to leave Emilia on edge. It leads into the scene because she's out of the "loop" and with me hinting at things, it makes her want to know what I'm talking about, which is a part of the script. A prop I'm going to bring is a cape, because back then I'm assuming nobles wore capes. Also, I think with the way I thought of my character, Iago’s cape will go perfectly because of how I will dramatize what he's saying. I think how each of my members took on their characters personality is going to make our presentation stand out.

Journal #5

"...I will in Cassio's lodging loose this napkin, and let him find it. Trifles light as air are to the jealous confirmations strong as proofs of holy writ: ..." Scene 4 Act Scene 2

In this scene Iago is explaining how he's going to go about his plan to ruin Desdemona's name and make Othello broken hearted.  This is important to the play because this single action of him putting Desdemona's handkerchief in Cassio's room made Othello think she was cheating which is the plot of the play. In my groups scene in Shakespeare's Othello, I delivered my lines in a sneaky and plotting tone but, also in an excited way because he was happy to destroy Desdemona’s name and ruin everyones happiness but also didn't want any one to find out his plan. Yes my groups performance went exactly how we planned and practiced. The consistency during practice made it easy when doing the final performance. I am also very proud of my group and I performance. We all spoke clearly, used the stage directions, and added emotion to what we were saying. I wouldn't change anything about our performance, I'm proud of our performance. Acting out Shakespeare didn't change my understanding of anything because we didn't do anything but reread it and act it out. I got all the analysis parts from reading the book the first time as a class.