On the other hand, as a 21st century audience, we have really warm feelings towards Othello at the moment. We can understand why he wants to share his love to the world as any newly-wed man would want to. We like the calm confidence he has. He should be confident and he makes sure he mentions to Iago about what “I have done the Signory.” If Othello wanted to marry the lady he truly loves, I personally feel he was brave and fair to do it.
Half away through the scene, a group of men with Cassio enter carrying torches asking for Othello immediately as the general requires his “haste-post-haste appearance. Even on the instant.” Othello has only been on stage for a few moments and he’s already needed. This makes him seem very important. We see nothing wrong with this as a 21st century audience but an earlier century audience could see it as being strange how a black man could be so high up, above white people. Of course, we don’t think like this at all nowadays apart from a few exceptions.
Othello leaves but is joined by Brabantio, Roderigo and other officers.
Iago shows his ‘friendship’ to Othello by warning him- “It is Brabantio: General, be advised, He comes to bad intent.”
This is proved when “Down with him thief,” is shouted by Brabantio.
Othello, as we saw earlier keeps his calm and shows no signs of weakness. We feel very happy for Othello that he’s being able to keep his composure. Although earlier audiences may think he’s just being foolish and patronizing towards Brabantio by acting so calm. Othello just replied with “Keep up your bright swords for the dew will rust them.” This shows Othello will not fight. It makes him seem noble and I think he handles the situation very well. The 16th Century audience might start to realize that their stereotypes of a ‘black deceiving man’ might not be correct. Their earlier feelings might change slightly and they might feel some respect towards Othello.
Brabantio starts to accuse Othello of all sorts and uses racist comments. (No one has yet called him by his proper name, Othello yet.) Brabantio accuses Othello of stealing his daughter-“O thou foul thief!” and of using witchcraft in order to make Desdemona like him-“Thou hast enchanted her,” and later on he says “Thou has practiced on her with foul charms, abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals.” More comments regarding the colour of his skin are also used: “Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom.”
Yet, Othello still stays really composed and you can imagine him speaking really calmly whilst Brabantio is going hysterical.
I think Shakespeare has used hyperbole whilst Brabantio’s speaking to Othello. It’s very over the top, but it just could be prejudice. Brabantio is immediately assuming that because he’s black, no one, especially his daughter, could have fallen for him. Who would? A 16th Century audience would be on Brabantio’s side at this point. They would totally understand where he’s coming from. They’ll be putting themselves in his position and imagining the humiliation of if their daughter married a black man. We, as a 21st century audience just feel really sorry for Othello. All he wanted to do was marry the love of his life. Just because he’s black he’s getting all the grief. We are on his side as he is not letting the situation get out of hand and being really mature about the whole thing.
During the next scene, Brabantio goes to see the Duke and try to sort everything out as he suspects Othello of ‘witchcraft’ against his daughter.
After Othello gets his point across, The Duke decides that Othello hasn’t done anything wrong and that he can’t have used witchcraft.
Listening to Othello speak, even though everything must be getting on his nerves by now, he holds everything in and speaks so calmly. This could be bad, though, as when you bottle things up like he’s doing; you always have to let it out at some point.
In Act 1 Scene 3, we find out that Othello has to leave to fight for Cyprus against the Turkish – ‘A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus.’
When Othello actually enters, with Brabantio, Iago, Roderigo and officers, we see that Brabantio is still fuming about the marriage. He exclaims ‘My daughter! O, my daughter…She is abused, stolen from me, and corrupted.’
Othello admits almost instantaneously that he has married her – ‘It is most true; I have married her.’
Desdemona is sent for and proves her love for Othello and it shows Brabantio that Othello has not done anything to force Desdemona to love him. The 16th Century audience will be starting to believe Othello now, because they could have agreed that Othello had been using ‘charms’ and ‘witchcraft’ but hearing Desdemona speak will have changed their views.
Othello shows his trust and friendship with Iago as he asks him to come to Cyprus and look after Desdemona ‘Honest Iago, My Desdemona must I leave to thee.’ This is ironic, as Othello chooses to use the word honest, when this is the last thing Iago is.
When Othello arrives, triumphant with his victory, he takes no hesitation in emphasizing his love for Desdemona again – ‘It gives me wonder great as my content to see you here before me. O, my soul’s joy!’ They share a kiss in front of everyone in the room. A 21st century audience will feel as though Othello is being really loving and romantic and that there’s nothing wrong with showing his love to his wife. A 16th century audience would probably be split two ways. Half would think that Othello is obviously just a loving, noble man and it doesn’t matter that he’s black. The other half, however, would think that Othello needs to stop being so outward with his love for Desdemona as he is black and is a ‘deceiver.’
Throughout the rest of act two, we can still see the trust Othello has in Iago. He says ‘Iago is most honest.’ We feel so sorry for Othello that it is such a “one-sided” friendship.
Near the end of Act 2, we see Iago talking to Cassio. Iago is acting like a friendly, helpful, honest man and yet he has cunning schemes. He persuades Cassio to go and talk to Desdemona and Cassio is sucked in straight away – ‘You advise me well.’
What is going to happen if Cassio goes and talks to Desdemona? Will it cause any problems for Othello?
As a 21st Century audience, we feel sorry for Othello because he’s found a woman who his loves, cares for and is happy with. Now, his “so-called friend” is planning schemes which could cause cracks in their relationship. A 16th Century audience could also be feeling sorry for Othello, because I think by now, they understand that he is a well respected, loving man who has done nothing wrong.
In Act 3, Scene 3, Desdemona becomes a bit suspicious about Cassio – ‘For if he be not one that truly loves you, that errs in ignorance, and not in cunning, I have no judgment in an honest face, I prithee call him back.’ Whilst talking to Othello about it, Othello says ‘I will deny thee nothing’ on two occasions. These can be interpreted in different ways. He could have said them in a loving way, or he could be getting slightly frustrated.
Whilst Desdemona is leaving, Othello calls after ‘But I do love thee! And when I love thee not, Chaos is come again.’ This just sounds so loving and romantic. It’s as though his world will not be complete and he will not be happy at all if they didn’t have their love for each other. It also makes him seem a bit insecure and as though he is depending on Desdemona to keep his life together. It’s strange seeing such a strong and important person showing so much insecurity.
A 16th century audience could think that it is embarrassing and pathetic to see a man break down and show signs of weakness. However, a 21st century might just think he’s being romantic and showing how much love he has for Desdemona and how much she means to him.
Later on in the scene, Iago takes advantage of the way Othello trusts him. We now start to see how devious Iago really is. He tries to get Othello jealous and worried about Cassio and Desdemona’s relationship by saying ‘I speak not yet of proof. Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio.’ Although Othello wouldn’t think Desdemona would do anything with Cassio, because he trusts Iago, he will probably start to believe that it could possibly be true.
Iago starts being very clever by saying ‘She did deceive her father, marrying you.’ This is just so sneaky as Iago is using past experiences to mess with Othello’s mind. Iago is basically saying that if she can lie to her father, she can just as easily lie to you. The bad thing is, that Othello gets sucked into the black hole of Iago’s lies by replying with ‘And so she did.’
Iago acts like a friend by pretending he is genuinely concerned that Othello is upset – I see this hath a little dashed your spirits.’
I think both the 21st Century audience and the 16th century audience would feel really sorry for Othello at this point. No one deserves to be treated like that and lied to. It is so unfair, especially as Othello has done absolutely nothing wrong.
After Iago leaves, Othello seems very confused about his relationship with Desdemona and says to himself, ‘Why did I marry?’ Is he regretting his bond with Desdemona?
We now start to see a different side to Othello. He is looking at everything really negatively (probably because he has so much love for Desdemona). He uses words such as ‘Loathe,’ ‘I am abused,’ ‘O, Curse of marriage!’ Although he is seriously doubting Desdemona’s honesty, and believing Iago (which is ironic because it should be the other way round), he tries not to believe it – ‘I’ll not believe’t.’
I think, the two audiences will still feel really sorry for Othello. He’s being messed around with and is confused because of Iago. However, I also think the audience’s (especially the 16th century) will feel a tiny bit angry towards Othello for not trusting his new wife. It’s also very annoying for us, because we can easily see how Iago is lying and yet Othello believes he is being totally honest.
When Othello talks to Iago later on in the scene we can see that he completely believes what Iago is saying. Othello says that he ‘had been happy if the general camp, Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet body, so I had nothing known.’ He just wants things back the way they were before he “knew what his wife was doing.”
This next line just makes the audiences realize how low he is actually feeling, but it also shows how much he cares for Desdemona and how much she meant to him. It’s as though Othello can’t imagine ever being happy without Desdemona as he says ‘Farewell the tranquil mind! Farewell content!’
Later on, though, Othello starts to look at the situation more thoughtfully. He asks for some evidence from Iago – ‘Give me a living reason she’s disloyal’
Unfortunately for Othello, Iago already has his plan worked out. He says that Cassio was talking in his sleep and Iago ‘heard him say: Sweet Desdemona let us be wary, let us hide our loves.’ Othello is disgusted by everything that Iago tells him and is very angry by now. Iago senses that Othello is on the verge of breaking down and decides to “play his next card.” He tells Othello that he saw ‘Cassio wipe his beard’ with the handkerchief that Othello gave Desdemona. He recognizes the description and says ‘twas my first gift.’
The 21st Century audience and the earlier audience will be feeling a lot of sympathy towards Othello. We can’t even imagine how hard it must be for him. However, it’s also very annoying because we know it’s all lies and yet Othello is trusting Iago, even though he’s a lying, deceiving character.
However, this all changes when Othello’s character takes a dramatic turn. He obviously get extremely angry and shays he wants Cassio dead – ‘Within these three days let me hear thee say that Cassio’s not alive.’
The audiences see a totally different side to Othello. He seems angry, frustrated and he seems to have totally lost it. It is totally negativity we see in him.
At the beginning of Act 4, Othello is lied to, again, by Iago. Othello is told that Cassio has lied ‘with her, on her, what you will.’ It is all too much for Othello and he ends up falling to the floor.
Although the audiences feel sympathy towards Othello for being lied to in such a way, we are also angry with him for not believing his wife. He has had no proper proof ever and yet he believes his “best friend” over his beloved wife. It is so frustrating for us to see Othello acting in this way.
In Act 4, Scene 2, Othello speaks to Desdemona about his doubts about her honesty. Desdemona is shocked about his outburst and replies with ‘To whom, my Lord? With whom? How am I false?’ Othello has no trust and doesn’t listen to her – ‘Ah, Desdemon! Away, away, away!’
This is really annoying for both audiences to hear because he has no trust or faith in her, although she has done absolutely nothing wrong.
Act 5, scene 2 is the last scene in the play and it is very emotional and dramatic. Othello seems very confused and is planning on killing the ‘Sweet Desdemona.’
I think that the audiences will be shocked that Othello’s planning on killing Desdemona, even though earlier on in the play, he talked about how she was so important to him and he can’t imagine not loving her.
Desdemona tries her hardest to explain that she has done nothing to offend him – ‘I never did offend you in my life; never loved Cassio.’
Othello believes nothing she says though, and smothers her until she dies. He believes he is doing the right thing as he truly thinks she has committed adultery (which was considered really bad in Shakespearian times.)
When Emilia comes in, she takes no time in telling him ‘foul murder done.’
Othello still believes that everything Iago said was true and still thinks he is ‘honest, honest Iago.’ However, a few minutes later, he realizes Iago was a fake and fraud and takes no hesitation in wounding him.
Othello explains to all how his was led falsely into believing Desdemona was cheating on him and how he killed her so she could keep her honour – ‘Why, anything: An honorable murderer, if you will: For naught I did in hate, but all in honour’ He will always have his honour as well. He stabs himself and dies next to his dead wife, Desdemona.
I think the 21st Century Audience will understand how he was mislead and tricked into believing a pack of lies. They might even be able to understand why he killed Desdemona and then himself. The 16th Century audience will probably have no understanding or sympathy towards Othello after everything that he did.
Both audiences throughout will have had different perspectives of what was happening and different feelings towards Othello’s character. This is understandable as morals and thoughts on certain things were different 500 years ago to how it is now. The play brought out lots of emotions in the audience and there were many similarities as well in how the audiences will have felt. It was well written and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed studying Othello!
