Blog Post 11

I think a good question is, what do you think is the drive for Iago's actions? Is it because he's just a cruel person, or perhaps he was once noble and kind-hearted that got screwed over so many times that he changed for the worse (such as having rumors of Emilia cheating on him and him having a static rank). Is Othello's transition from someone that's cool and collected into a monster that murders his wife over lies an illustration of how Iago is feeling internally and the reason why he decided to crash and burn the whole world around him or is there no relation at all? 

Weekly Think Piece

Q: How might an audience today understand the use of the word 'charmer' differently, and how does that impart a new dimension to the origin story?

According to the Oxford English Dictionary the origin of the word charmer relates to the senses of ‘incantation or magic spell’ and ‘to use spells’. The earlier Shakespearean audience would relate a charmer to being a witch/wizard, someone bad that's using magic for their own good; like how Brabantio accuses Othello to be whenever he wins over his daughter or the lady who Othello says made the handkerchief. I think the more modern audience would picture a charmer to be someone with an attractive personality, that has a way with words to persuade someone for any reason. The irony is that Iago is our charmer and he is so good at working people to get what he wants; while the person who is different, the "Moor", is honest, genuine, and a hero. This excerpt is a good example of how villainous Iago is because after he has allowed Othello to express his real feelings, he plants the thought of Cassio with Desdemona, which leads to thousands of possibilities in Othello's head. The word charmer relates how Iago is a manipulator and how Othello uses the handkerchief made by a charmer to test the trust of his wife.

Iago: I am glad of this, for now I shall have reason

         To show the love and duty that I bear you

         With franker spirit. Therefore, as I am bound,

         Receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof.

         Look to your wife, observe her well with Cassio. [Act 3 Scene 3]