More stuff about Iago from the early stages of Othello: this discussion ranges from breaking the fourth wall, to what the point of stories is in the first damn place, to a discussion of hard core porn.
Sunday, March 22, 2020
16 comments:
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this question reminds me of what we did last semester when we read a philosophy from erich fromm about authoritarian and humanistic conscience.How humanistic conscience's authority comes from within us and we get to choice what we do and I think the reason why people want to see other people suffer is because they want to see the joy, excitement and thrill and because they are not the ones that are suffering and don't have to worry about it because it is made up or not there problems its someone else's and I think this relates to Iago because he likes to see people suffer and he doesn't have to worry about if because its not his problem for now even though he's the one causing the problems and no one knows it yet.- michelle sosa
ReplyDeleteConnecting your current class to a previous class is some ADVANCED STUFF. Nice job! I agree!
DeleteI believe that audience enjoys going to the movies or theatre to watch people suuffer,because it makes them feel better about themselves, since they are not in that situation. Also because they feel like they can control the situation, since they usually know what is about to happen. I also think it is some sort of escape from real life. Usually, characters have problems way worst then our daily life situations and it can be "easily" solved.
ReplyDeleteBut Iago is not easily solved nor are most horror movies — a bunch of people just die
DeleteLast semester in my psychology class we were talking a lot about psychopaths and their behavior and I just cannot stop thinking about this while listening to these videos about Iago. He is a psychopath because he wears a "mask" that makes him look like a very normal and pleasant person, he is also very confident that all his plans are going to work because he sees himself as a superior being because of the way he gets to have everything he wants. He is manipulative and does not feel any kind of remorse for what he does no matter how bad it is. Although he is the bad guy in the movie I enjoyed his character because I could see how easily the human mind can be controlled and how without difficulty he made Othello have his total trust on him which for me is ironic because Othello is supposed to be the greatest soldier in the play and shouldn't have gotten carried away by rumors.
ReplyDeleteGreat point! Connecting your classes together like this is advanced thinking! Keep it up!
DeleteDoes Shakespeare ever explains why Iago is who he is? Joker in a Dark Knight mentions it's because of his father. I think Iago is so often based on because of his 'open' past.
ReplyDeleteKrzysztof Szczepanik
Joker CLAIMS it is because of his dad but, like Iago, he also CLAIMS other contradictory things — the point of both characters is that their backgrounds are totally hidden, and even if they were not, what on earth could justify or explain the damage they cause?
DeleteYou stated that Desdemona might be in her pre-teens. Is Roderigo in his early twenties or late teens sort of closer age group to Desdemona? I tried researching it but they only gave me Iago's age.
ReplyDeleteThese are fictional characters and the only information we have about them is the what Shakespeare decided they should say out loud — so there isn’t anywhere to go to find out when they were born outside of the play itself and you have every word of that. What we do know is that at that point in history the legal age to get married was like 12. (Romeo and Juliet actually states Juliet’s age as 13 so we can be sure on that one). And of course directors make all kinds of changes when they make a movie or a stage play
DeleteI find it interesting that Iago believes in stereotypes rather than the ideals of humankind others partake in. Iago himself seems to be an archetypal villain without much other content to his personality. The class issue still stands out, Iago might have had to become this person because there was no other way for him to advance in society without amoral trickery. Also, he may lapse into this way of operating because he has no social connections to get him ahead nor any formal learning, both of which Cassio has. Of course Othello may be of a lower class originally too, so why does he favor Cassio initially? I have the folger's edition of the play which notes that "honest" adjective that is so often given of Iago is complimentary and patronizing. So it has multiple ironic meanings, he is called honest which sounds like a compliment but may connote simple-mindedness, and he lies in almost every moment.
ReplyDeleteChloe Friedman
But notice that he is only sort of advancing short term — there is no way for this plan to work and him to say alive in the long run and he has to know that. That is a good point about the word “honest” which can mean “tells the truth” but also “a good plain person”
DeleteTrue, his plans with Roderigo cave in on him very early on. I'm interested in etymologies and different meanings of words, they can be so edifying! -CF
DeleteI agree I am totally obsessed with them!
DeleteOther individuals suffering becomes satisfying to others when they are assured that they have never faced such trauma or maybe never will. You never judge a book by it's cover. Easy manipulation could lead to disasters. - Yohannes
ReplyDeleteThis is one reason why people like fictional stories — they get to see suffering while being completely safe from physical harm in their chairs!
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