"Did Michael Cassie, when you wooed my lady,
Know of your love?"
Iago IIIiii 95, 96
I would like to discuss my feelings regarding Iago. I do not like him. To me, he has the characteristics of a teenage girl. He seems to bring on drama. He likes to create drama and be a part of it. People say that teenage girls are drama queens, but he is a drama queen. He starts rumors. He manipulates people to do things that will benefit him. He makes it seem like he is helping them when in reality he is hurting them. He is also super two-faced. He acts completely different among different people. When he talks in his soliloquies, he tells how he really feels. He also reveals his true motivations. This is the only time we can trust him. Even then it is hard for me. I think he is very selfish, especially when he decides he also like Desdemona after Cassio and Roderigo both do. Iago tries to pit people against each other to create more drama. He seems to fabricate exaggerate situations to skew them in a way that he can manipulate people to make a fool of themselves. He is like a girl in that he is always looking for drama and is very two faced.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Othello-Act II (dramatic irony)
"Thus do I ever make my fool my purse,
For I mine own gained knowledge should profane
If I would time expend with such a snipe
But for my sport and profit..."
Iago IIi 363-366
The use of dramatic irony occurs in the soliloquies. Iago has several soliloquies in which he talks directly to the audience. This conveys information to the reader, or viewer, that the rest of the characters do not know. The use of dramatic irony in this play primarily gives us information about Iago. We learn about his inner thoughts and what he really thinks about situations. We learn of his plans that he uses against people. We learn about his personality and selfish nature as he plots people against each other. Iago successfully manipulates people into thinking he has their best interest in mind, and even tries to tell himself that, when in fact he is only looking out for what he wants. When he thinks he is helping Roderigo, he is also helping himself because Cassio won't get the girl and will lose his position. I think the dramatic irony is very effective in giving the audience a glimpse into the inner workings of Iago's mind. He does not act the same when others are around or tell other people his thoughts. We also see how quickly he is able to change emotion. We see that he is successful in putting on a show for other characters so they believe what he is saying.
For I mine own gained knowledge should profane
If I would time expend with such a snipe
But for my sport and profit..."
Iago IIi 363-366
The use of dramatic irony occurs in the soliloquies. Iago has several soliloquies in which he talks directly to the audience. This conveys information to the reader, or viewer, that the rest of the characters do not know. The use of dramatic irony in this play primarily gives us information about Iago. We learn about his inner thoughts and what he really thinks about situations. We learn of his plans that he uses against people. We learn about his personality and selfish nature as he plots people against each other. Iago successfully manipulates people into thinking he has their best interest in mind, and even tries to tell himself that, when in fact he is only looking out for what he wants. When he thinks he is helping Roderigo, he is also helping himself because Cassio won't get the girl and will lose his position. I think the dramatic irony is very effective in giving the audience a glimpse into the inner workings of Iago's mind. He does not act the same when others are around or tell other people his thoughts. We also see how quickly he is able to change emotion. We see that he is successful in putting on a show for other characters so they believe what he is saying.
Othello-Act I (in medias res)
"Tush, never tell me! I take it much unkinly
That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse
As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this."
Roderigo Ii 1-5
The play begins in the middle of the action. From this point, background information is given in parts. Starting in medias res makes it more appealing to the reader to hear background information. Rather than just simply stating what is going on and what happened previously, the reader must use deduction from the action and dialogue from here to familiarize with the plot. Starting in the middle of the action also proves to be effective because the action and arguing start right away. Iago and Roderigo have several similar conversations. From the beginning, the reader is able to notice that Iago and Roderigo do not always see eye to eye. I think the reason for starting in the middle was that the action can now stem from this. Rather than focusing on past events, the reader focuses on the hear and now without reading too much into what led to the current situation. A story has to start somewhere and it is nearly impossible to start at the very beginning of a story and be able to present it in a reasonable amount of time.
That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse
As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this."
Roderigo Ii 1-5
The play begins in the middle of the action. From this point, background information is given in parts. Starting in medias res makes it more appealing to the reader to hear background information. Rather than just simply stating what is going on and what happened previously, the reader must use deduction from the action and dialogue from here to familiarize with the plot. Starting in the middle of the action also proves to be effective because the action and arguing start right away. Iago and Roderigo have several similar conversations. From the beginning, the reader is able to notice that Iago and Roderigo do not always see eye to eye. I think the reason for starting in the middle was that the action can now stem from this. Rather than focusing on past events, the reader focuses on the hear and now without reading too much into what led to the current situation. A story has to start somewhere and it is nearly impossible to start at the very beginning of a story and be able to present it in a reasonable amount of time.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Popular Mechanics- Raymond Carver (divorce)
"Let go of him, he said.-Get away, get away! she cried."
Originally, I read the story literally thinking that they were literally fighting over their child. Then I began to think of the baby as symbolizing general posessions the husband and wife fought over. With the divorce, they are forced to decide who gets what. I was thinking of all the petty fights they had over what each one gets. I think the baby could also symbolize control. Towards the end of the story, I felt like a feeling, or sense of control, could be what they were fighting over. Each one obviously wants to control what happens after the divorce. The baby seemed more of a background character to me. I do not think the fight was literally with the baby, but rather the fight symbolizes their disconcern for the child. The two adults act like children without regard for the effects of their actions on the child. They seem not to care about what happens to the baby as long as he or she wins the fight. This makes it seem like neither of them deserve to have the baby because they are not concerned with the baby's safety. This is like the bible story about the women fighting over the baby. One will not let them split the baby in half because she loves it too much. That is how they know who the real mother is.
Originally, I read the story literally thinking that they were literally fighting over their child. Then I began to think of the baby as symbolizing general posessions the husband and wife fought over. With the divorce, they are forced to decide who gets what. I was thinking of all the petty fights they had over what each one gets. I think the baby could also symbolize control. Towards the end of the story, I felt like a feeling, or sense of control, could be what they were fighting over. Each one obviously wants to control what happens after the divorce. The baby seemed more of a background character to me. I do not think the fight was literally with the baby, but rather the fight symbolizes their disconcern for the child. The two adults act like children without regard for the effects of their actions on the child. They seem not to care about what happens to the baby as long as he or she wins the fight. This makes it seem like neither of them deserve to have the baby because they are not concerned with the baby's safety. This is like the bible story about the women fighting over the baby. One will not let them split the baby in half because she loves it too much. That is how they know who the real mother is.
You're Ugly Too- Lorrie Moore (insecurity)
"Professor Hendricks has said critical things about Fawn Hall, the Catholic religion, and the whole state of Illinois. It is unbelievable." PAGE 355
Throughout the story, the speaker's insecurity is evident. She is constantly thinking about the negatives of her physical appearance. She also consistently remembers the comments her students have said about her. Another insecurity is her interaction with men. She does not know what to say. She tries different things to try to get Earl's approval. She lies to him about her previous boyfriends. She tries to make jokes, but they are not funny, only awkward. When she talks, she doesn't know what to talk about. She ends up rambling on about herself. In her head, she compares situations to literature and history which closes her off from reality. She tries to make these connections so she has some guidance in how to react, but the situations are not really the same. She does not keep an open mind in all situations because she thinks she knows how things will end. I think a major part of this story is about Zoe's social awkwardness. I found myself questioning if she is just scared to fall in love because it seemed like whenever she was close to falling in love, she ruined it. I think she is afraid of getting hurt so she won't let herself open up to a man.
Throughout the story, the speaker's insecurity is evident. She is constantly thinking about the negatives of her physical appearance. She also consistently remembers the comments her students have said about her. Another insecurity is her interaction with men. She does not know what to say. She tries different things to try to get Earl's approval. She lies to him about her previous boyfriends. She tries to make jokes, but they are not funny, only awkward. When she talks, she doesn't know what to talk about. She ends up rambling on about herself. In her head, she compares situations to literature and history which closes her off from reality. She tries to make these connections so she has some guidance in how to react, but the situations are not really the same. She does not keep an open mind in all situations because she thinks she knows how things will end. I think a major part of this story is about Zoe's social awkwardness. I found myself questioning if she is just scared to fall in love because it seemed like whenever she was close to falling in love, she ruined it. I think she is afraid of getting hurt so she won't let herself open up to a man.
The Lottery- Shirley Jackson #1
"Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box, they still remembered to use stones." PAGE 271
This quote was the first explicit mention of what the lottery was. The negativity of it had been revealed earlier as Mrs. Hutchinson complained and whined about being chosen. The lottery determines who will be stoned to death. I assume this stoning was some kind of sacrificial tradition. The title led me to believe that "the lottery" was a good thing. Usually when someone thinks of a lotter they want to win. They want their name to be drawn. I interpreted the title of the lottery to mean that someone would win money or a major prize. The fact that everyone was present- men, women, and kids-also led me to believe that the lottery was an exciting time. Irrelevant to the question, but I also noticed that this story must have taken place before the views of men and women were equalized because Mr. Summers did not want Mrs. Dunbar to be able to draw for her injured husband. I also noticed that people were alright with the idea of sacrificing people. Even when the kids knew it was not them, they were not sad that it was one of their parents. They were happy that it was not them as if it was part of the game.
This quote was the first explicit mention of what the lottery was. The negativity of it had been revealed earlier as Mrs. Hutchinson complained and whined about being chosen. The lottery determines who will be stoned to death. I assume this stoning was some kind of sacrificial tradition. The title led me to believe that "the lottery" was a good thing. Usually when someone thinks of a lotter they want to win. They want their name to be drawn. I interpreted the title of the lottery to mean that someone would win money or a major prize. The fact that everyone was present- men, women, and kids-also led me to believe that the lottery was an exciting time. Irrelevant to the question, but I also noticed that this story must have taken place before the views of men and women were equalized because Mr. Summers did not want Mrs. Dunbar to be able to draw for her injured husband. I also noticed that people were alright with the idea of sacrificing people. Even when the kids knew it was not them, they were not sad that it was one of their parents. They were happy that it was not them as if it was part of the game.
The Drunkard- Frank O'Connor (irony)
"My brave little man!" she said with her eyes shining. "It was God did it you were there. You were his guardian angel." PAGE 351
This quote provides an example of the irony used in this short story. The young boy was drunk so he should have been scolded. Originally, he was reprimanded, but then his mother began praising him. Although he was drunk, he was able to prevent his father from drinking anything. This is also ironic because the father was the one who was supposed to get drunk and the son was going to watch out for him. The opposite happened. There is also irony in their leaving the bar. The son kept asking the father to leave so he would not drink anything. They finally left when the son was drunk. I think this was ironic because the father would not let him leave when he asked. It took him risking his own safety to get his father to leave without drinking.
This quote provides an example of the irony used in this short story. The young boy was drunk so he should have been scolded. Originally, he was reprimanded, but then his mother began praising him. Although he was drunk, he was able to prevent his father from drinking anything. This is also ironic because the father was the one who was supposed to get drunk and the son was going to watch out for him. The opposite happened. There is also irony in their leaving the bar. The son kept asking the father to leave so he would not drink anything. They finally left when the son was drunk. I think this was ironic because the father would not let him leave when he asked. It took him risking his own safety to get his father to leave without drinking.
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