Othello #6

     There were two characters in tonight's reading that really stood out to me, so they each deserve some acknowledgement!

     First of all, Roderigo, formally considered the comic relief, caught the audience in gripping suspense as he was the first one to see through the lies and manipulation of Iago. Roderigo approaches Iago and shortly after calls him out, "I do not find that thou deal'st justly with me" (4.ii.173). The other characters, whom are considered to be of higher social standing and capability, are blind to the manipulation of Iago. However, the portrayed idiot of the play is able to recognize the dishonesty of the antagonist! During this moment, the reader is cheering for Roderigo to succeed and expose Iago. However, shortly after, Iago is able to prey on Roderigo's lower intelligence and coerce him into aiding with the murder of Cassio. The play becomes tragic when it is Iago that supplies the death blow, killing Roderigo: "O murderous slave! O villain! IAGO STABS RODERIGO" (5.i.63). The reader is not only saddened by the death of Roderigo, but also feels that with his death perishes the possibility of exposing Iago for the devil that he is. 

     Also Emilia, Desdemona's lady-in-waiting, is due acknowledgement for one of her monologues. If only Mr. George had assigned this for tomorrow night's reading, it would have been a perfect "throwback Thursday" because her monologue parallels many aspects of Shylock's well known 'Hath not a Jew eyes' speech in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. Desdemona and Emilia begin debating whether staying faithful to your husband is worth the value of the entire world. Desdemona relentlessly refuses to believe she would ever cheat on Othello: "Beshrew me, if I would ever do such a wrong for the whole world" (4.iii.80-1). Emilia is then set on persuading her that under particular circumstances it would be the logical choice:

"What is that they do

When they change us for others? Is it sport?

I think it is. And doth affection breed it?

I think it doth. Is't frailty that thus errs?

It is so too. And have not we affections, 

Desires for the sport, and frailty, as men have?

Then let them use us well. Else let them know 

The ills we do their ills instruct us so" (4.iii.99-105).

In Shylock's speech, he draws attention to the fact that men of all religions share the basic functions of life, and therefore should not be treated with discrimination. In Emilia's monologue, she depicts how men and women share the basic "affections,/ Desires for the sport, and frailty." By announcing and illuminating the similarities, Emilia is explaining to Desdemona that if it is acceptable for men to be cruel and cheat on their wives, then the same should be expected in return. Both Shylock and Emilia highlight at the end of their monologues that as pupils they will learn from and, one day, outdo their teachers. Shakespeare gives both Desdemona and Shylock, characters of the weaker sex and religion respectively, powerful and progressive speeches that provide qualifications for equality and its assurance of ultimate achievement.