Much Ado LB1

8/29                                          Much Ado About Nothing               Act 1 scene1
Summary: In this scene we are introduced to many characters: Leonato, Don Pedro (Prince of Aragon), Benedick, Beatrice, Claudio, and Leonatos niece, Hero. Benedick and Beatrice seem to be flirtatious with each other by being mean to each other, with insults and such, but Claudio gets Benedick to admit he kind of likes her after. For Claudio, he tells Leonato that he may be in love with Hero, Leonatos niece. Leonato is housing his friend Don Pedro, and Benedick, and Caudio for a month. 
Quote: " A dear happiness to women. They would else been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank god and my cold blood I am of your humor for that. I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow that a man swear he loves me."
Significance of Quote: This is a very brave thing for a woman to say, especially in this time. This quote gives insight to what kind of a person Beatrice is: strong, and whole-hearted. She is saying how much she doesn't  want a husband to be bestowed upon her, and that she wants passion, like all men do. 
Reflection: Within this scene we can already tell this play isnt like Othello at all; this is a comedy, with true friendship and funny lines. With the strong characters like Claudio and Beatrice, it makes this play great. What Beatrice says about men and how she mocks Benedick, it shows how brave she is, or how she doesn't care what he will do. Because for this time period, making fun of a man straight to his face proboably resulted in a smack to the face. I really like Beatrice's character.
Question: Was Shakespeare a feminist because of all his strong-women type of roles? 

litblog 5

8/27                                                          Othello                                                           Act V s2

Summary: Othello kills Desdemona, and Emilia walks in on him doing so. Emilia also reveals that Iago told her to steal the handkerchief, exposing Iago and his plan. She then die because of it. Cassio assures Othello that he and Desdemona weren’t having an affair, which makes Othello feel guilty so he stabs himself and dies atop of his wife.

Quote: “ I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this, killing myself, to die upon a kiss.”

Significance of quote: These are Othello's last words before he falls and dies next to Desdemona, he says how he kissed her on the bed and sadly killed her on the bed, and he feels he should end it all with a kiss again.

Reflection: Since this was the last scene in Othello we now know how many deaths Iago is responsible for: Othello’s, Desdemona’s, Emilia’s, and Roderigo’s. He is truly a horrible person, witty and smart, yet horrible. He blinded Othello with anger and jealousy, which resulted in deaths. Cassio should feel lucky that he is still alive, because there were time where Othello wanted to take his life too. When Othello was angry, he was unstoppable, until the moment Desdemona took her last breath. Iago had no good bone in him, for he killed innocent people who just wanted to love. He is the definition of villain.

Question of the day: Why is Iago such a horrible person? Did he grow up in a bad family or just holds anger up in him for no reason?

litblog 4

8/26                            Othello                                   Act IV s3 and Act V s1

Summary: In act 4 scene 3 Emilia and Desdemona are talking about adultery and their marriages, also Emilia makes a statement by saying how women want the same things men want: intimacy. In the begining of act 5, Cassio, and Roderigo are both injured by none other than Iago. However it was in the dark, so the “villain” could have been anybody.

Quote: “ Good night, good night. Heaven me such uses send, not to pick from bad, but by bad mend”

Significance of Quote: This is Desdemona praying, and saying how she doesn't “mend” bad with bad, but tries to fix it all around; in which her case, she  failed to fix it , even though she had done nothing wrong. She knows that since her husband is accusing her of adultery, he will come to kill her that night, so now she prays for a good arrival in heaven.

Reflection: Everything is coming to a climax: Othello and Desdemona, Cassio and Iago, and mainly the whole story. Iago actually murdered somebody who trusted him, who only wanted to love a beautiful girl, instead he got murdered. Cassio is like a dog toy, being pulled as the blame, back and forth, and now almost being ripped to shreds by Iago. Finally, innocent Desdemona is about to come to the ending of her life because of Iago's poisonous words. Above all, Othello is about to kill the love of his life because of Iago's tricks, and horrid words.  Iago is finally getting what he wanted.

Question: If Roderigo had lived, how would he affect Iago’s plans?

litblog 3

8/22                                                             Othello                                                          Act 4, S1

Summary: In this scene Othello is talking to Iago about how much he wants to kill both Desdimona and Cassio, which is just what Iago wants. Othello is blinded by jealousy and anger, that when Cassio was talking about his "whore", Othello thought he was talking of his wife. Also, when Desdimona was talking to Lodovico about Cassio, just hearing the name infuriates Othello, he strikes his wife!

Quote: "'Faith, that was not so well. Yet would I knew That stroke would prove the worst!"

Significance of Quote: Iago is talking to Lodivico after Othello's outburst with Desdimona. Blinded by the doing of Iago's poison, Othello is now someone he is not, which is only benefiting Iago. This is kind of a mirror to modern day alcoholics, like when a man or woman is taken by alcohol, they will do things their sober self's wouldn't have done. However, that benefits nobody. 

Reflection: Othello is blinded by anger, like I have said. On the outside, Iago is worried for his friend, but on the inside he must be jumping for joy. His plan is working out perfectly! Othello's ego is making him more angry than most people would be. The anger is making him unstoppable, like most people think they are when under the influence. He thinks his actions and words are acceptable because of his anger, but nobody knows he is angry, so he is just making a fool of himself. Again, referring back to people under the influence, they don't even think about their actions being bad or dangerous, but everybody else does. Lodavico thinks Othello is a rude, angry, wife-beater because of the poison Iago set in Othello's mind.

Question of the day: What would Desdemonas father do if he found out about the new husband hitting his wife (daughter)?

Litblog 2

8/20                                                                Othello                                                                Act III S3

Summary: In scene three Iago's plan is set in motion. All of his pieces are coming together like a puzzle. He is manipulating Othello to make it seem as though Cassio and Desdimona are having an affair, and that Iago is Othello's only "honest friend". Meanwhile, Iago's "advise" he gave to Cassio to talk to Desdimona about getting his job back is working out fabulously for Iago, because Desdimona is trying hard to get Othello to give Cassio his job back, and Cassio has to talk to Desdimona in private making it seem they are sneaking around for other reasons. Shakespeare should have name the play "Iago", for he is really the mastermind of the play!

Quotation: Iago, "I dare be sworn, I think that he is honest." 

Significance of Quote: In this quote said by Iago, he is planting more seeds into Othello's head only by saying "I think". This quote sends Othello on a confusing rampage with himself, not knowing if his friend and wife are being honest with him at all. This quote also shows how smart and evil Iago is! Not many people can manipulate so much with actually doing so little.

Reflection: This scene is really already tragic, for you already know that Othello wont believe his wife, even if she told him the truth. Also, his "friend" Iago is lying to so many people that should be important in his life; as an example, his wife, Emilia. He tells her to steal the handkerchief, and she does so not knowing how much damage it is going to cause. How many life's will be lost (even though I don't even know that yet, but it is Shakespeare so Im assuming somebody dies). If Emilia knew what her husband was plannign she surely wouldnt have stolen it. The moral of this is that you should know why your doing something before doing it. Question everything.
Question of the day: How can Othello not have the slightest clue that Iago is making it all up?

ACT II S 1-2

8/19                                                                          Othello                                                                             Act II Scenes 1-2

Summary: Cassio is being put down a lot, first he tries to win his post and friendship back with Othello by sending a band to play for him, in which Othello sends away without a care. Then Iago tells Cassio that he can give him time to speak with  Desdemona alone, which Iago will soon use to his full will with his plan.

Quote: “ I’ sooth so humbled that he hath left part of his grief with me to suffer with him. Good love, call him back.” said by Desdemona, pg. 59

Significance of Quote: This is important because by Desdemona asking so much about Cassio, and begging Othello to talk to him, it makes Othello think she is asking because she loves him so.

Reflection: Poor Cassio thinks that Othello hates him for what he did at the party, but in reality he hates him because of what Iago is saying about him. Othello and Desdemona are also being played like game pieces; Othello is giving in to Iagos hideous words, and Desdemona is doing exactly what Iago knew she would, which is trying to help her dear friend Cassio.  Little do they know how planned their lives are at the moment. In scene two, where Othello bestows Iago with letters to send to important people, it shows that Othello unfortunately trusts the snake. All of Iago's plan is falling into place.

Discussion question: Do any of the “game pieces” feel as if they are being played?