Blog Post #11 - Othello

Storytelling in Othello:
Why does Othello tell Desdemona this origin story about the handkerchief?
When Othello explains to Desdemona's father how he got her to love him, he says it was through storytelling. Through his storytelling Desdemona fell in love with him and Othello liked the attention. Aside from how weird it seems that Othello likes Desdemona for her pity for him, it shows that storytelling in this play plays a huge role in relationships. Iago also uses storytelling to build relationships with other characters and get them to trust him. When Othello tells the story of the handkerchief (I think the story is fake by the way), he uses it to play into what he knows Desdemona already falls for. He uses the fact that she feels pity for some stories to guilt her into feeling bad. Othello even uses key words for pathos in his little description of the cloth. He explains that it was basically meant to be made for his family and that giving it away would cause grief and many problems. He even says a sibyl (a woman who is an oracle that speaks prophecies of God) made it, implying that this woman knew it was meant to be. Othello uses this to guilt Desdemona into seeing the importance of the handkerchief and that ruining it is awful and a sin.

Question for Acts 4&5:
From the beginning of the play, Iago tells the audience his plans and how exactly they will fall into place. In act one scene three he explains that he emphasizes the importance of willpower to make things happen. Is Iago's success due to his willpower or is it his status and power that really help him reach his goals? How does Iago's power/status begin to crumble at the end of the novel (RIP)?