Othello Act Two

so·lil·o·quy

  [suh-lil-uh-kwee]  

noun, plural so·lil·o·quies.

1.

an utterance or discourse by a person who is talking to himself or herself or is disregardful of oroblivious to any hearers present (often used as a device in drama to disclose a character's innermostthoughts): Hamlet's soliloquy begins with “To be or not to be.”

2.

the act of talking while or as if alone.

1. Choose one of Iago's soliloquies (end 2.1 or end 2.3) and thoroughly analyze it.

As you analyze think about the following questions:

1. What is Iago saying?

2. Figurative language?

3. How is his rhetoric? His tone?

4. What is he revealing? Revealing about himself?

IAGO-2.1

I think Cassio really does love her, and it’s perfectly likely that she loves him too. I can’t stand the Moor, but I have to admit that he’s a reliable, loving, and good-natured man. He’d probably be a good husband to Desdemona. I love her too, not simply out of lust, but also to feed my revenge. I have a feeling the Moor slept with my wife. That thought keeps gnawing at me, eating me up inside. I won’t be satisfied until I get even with him, wife for wife. If I can’t do that, I can at least make the Moor so jealous that he can’t think straight. If that piece of Venetian trash Roderigo can do what I need to carry out my plan, I’ll have power over Cassio. I’ll say bad things about him to the Moor. I have a feeling Cassio seduced my wife as well. I’ll make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me, even though the joke will be on him the whole time. I’ve got a good plan, though I haven’t worked out the details yet. You can never see the end of an evil plan until the moment comes.

In this soliloquy Iago begins to reveal his innermost thoughts. He speaks of his hatred for the Moor, and how he plans to enact revenge upon him. He goes about justifying his actions though. He says that he cannot stand the Moor,and he feels as if he slept with is wife. He wants to make the man suffer because he has  a suspicion. Yet, he has no evidence, so where does he get his motive? He seeks revenge. It is something he needs. He also contradicts himself by speaking of his dislike of Othello, and then talking about how admirable he is, and the positive qualities he has. His real identity is coming out as a thief and a rat. A true villain. He is lying to everybody, deceiving them. He is playing everybody as pawns in his game, using them to his greater advantage.  He is revealing his true inner nature, and intentions. He is playing on the old law and eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, when he says a wife for a wife. His tone and demeanor are angry, and he is consumed with vengeance.


2. In Act Two Iago launches his plan to destroy Othello. What is his motive? Jealousy? Racism? Is he opportunistic? A sociopath? All of the above? None of the above? Use textual support.

His motive is revenge and anger. He is outraged at the thought of Othello sleeping with his wife. Then he is infuriated because he is a slave, and he feels that he has been robbed. Robbed of his dignity, and robbed of second in command. A title that he feels he deserved. He just feels cheated. This drives his quest for revenge. He  is a sociopath. When he talks to himself, he reveals his true intentions. To be able to carry this plan out, you would have to be a sociopath. He hides all of his inner emotions. He doesn't let anybody see his true thoughts or feelings.

3. Choose another character that reminds you of Iago. Explain.

Iago from Aladdin is similar to Iago. So is Jafar from Aladdin. Jafar plays as consultant to the Sultan, just as Iago plays consultant to Othello. They are both manipulative, and influence the other so that they can achieve what they want. They also manipulate Aladdin. Nobody would ever expect them to be deceiving, yet in both stories the audience knows different.

4. Create two discussion questions from Act 2 that you would like to discuss with the class.

Now what do you think of Iago?

Do you sympathize with Othello, or do you still resent him for marrying Desdemona?