A major theme in this story is loyalty. Do you think Iago is loyal to anyone, if so who and why, and if not, why not? Do you think Desdemona has betrayed her father’s loyalty by marrying Othello? Compare the characters in Othello to characters in a previous reading we have had in this class relating to the theme of loyalty.
I do not think Iago is loyal to anyone because in the beginning he goes with Roderigo to tell Brabanito that his daughter is missing. Later in Act I, Scene 2, he pretends to be Othello's friend and tells him that Brabanito is looking for him. However, when Othello goes into the house Iago almost tells Cassio that Othello is married to Desdemona but Othello comes out before he gets the chance. I believe that Iago has a plan of his own and is just using those around him to get where he wants to be. I do not think Desdemona betrayed her father's loyalty by marrying Othello because every person has a right to choose whom they love. Desdemona lets her father know that she owes everything to him and will always love him when she says, "To you I am bound for life and education;/My life and education both do learn me/How to respect you; you are the lord of duty;/I am hitherto your daughter; but here's my husband" (335). I would compare Iago with Abner from "Barn Burning" because both characters are loyal to no one. Neither care about other people and are only out to get what they want. Just as Abner despised people of the upper class, it seems Iago does as well.
I think that Lago is the type of person that will do whatever it takes to get what they want and become the successful type of person that they want to be. I don't think that Lago is loyal to anyone in particular except maybe to himself. He always seems to say and "be" the type of person that he thinks the people around him want him to be. As far as Desdemona is concerned I would be believe either argument. I could see how someone would say that she was disloyal to her father because Othello is not the type of person that her father wanted her to marry, and she did so behind his back. I think that getting married without telling her father is the most disloyal thing that she did. Then, on the other hand, she was loyal to her father in the way that she stood up to her father declaring her love for Othello. Like she said, she did the same thing that her mother was told to do when her parents got married. She had to stand up and announce that she was in love with a man that her father did not necessarily approve of. In this case, her father had no reason to get mad at her. In an unusual way, Lago and Carlos are alike. They both tried to stay loyal to themselves. Although Lago did not try to stay loyal to who he was; he did try to stay loyal to what HE wanted and what HE wanted to achieve. Carlos, on the other hand, tried to stay loyal to himself and who he was. Although he ended up changing he constantly had an inner struggle with who he was and staying true to that. It is too early to tell if the same will happen with Lago. Also, I think that Desdemona and Sarty are alike. They both had to stand up to their father. Again, this is not an exact likeness but there are similarities. Desdemona had to stand up face to face with her father, but was not ashamed of who her father was. She respected her father. Sarty, on the other hand, never had to face to face stand up to his father, but was tempted a multiple of times. Sarty, I think, also respected his father's strength, but did not respect what he was doing and ultimately was loyal to the law and what was right.
3 comments:
A major theme in this story is loyalty. Do you think Iago is loyal to anyone, if so who and why, and if not, why not? Do you think Desdemona has betrayed her father’s loyalty by marrying Othello? Compare the characters in Othello to characters in a previous reading we have had in this class relating to the theme of loyalty.
I do not think Iago is loyal to anyone because in the beginning he goes with Roderigo to tell Brabanito that his daughter is missing. Later in Act I, Scene 2, he pretends to be Othello's friend and tells him that Brabanito is looking for him. However, when Othello goes into the house Iago almost tells Cassio that Othello is married to Desdemona but Othello comes out before he gets the chance. I believe that Iago has a plan of his own and is just using those around him to get where he wants to be.
I do not think Desdemona betrayed her father's loyalty by marrying Othello because every person has a right to choose whom they love. Desdemona lets her father know that she owes everything to him and will always love him when she says, "To you I am bound for life and education;/My life and education both do learn me/How to respect you; you are the lord of duty;/I am hitherto your daughter; but here's my husband" (335).
I would compare Iago with Abner from "Barn Burning" because both characters are loyal to no one. Neither care about other people and are only out to get what they want. Just as Abner despised people of the upper class, it seems Iago does as well.
I think that Lago is the type of person that will do whatever it takes to get what they want and become the successful type of person that they want to be. I don't think that Lago is loyal to anyone in particular except maybe to himself. He always seems to say and "be" the type of person that he thinks the people around him want him to be. As far as Desdemona is concerned I would be believe either argument. I could see how someone would say that she was disloyal to her father because Othello is not the type of person that her father wanted her to marry, and she did so behind his back. I think that getting married without telling her father is the most disloyal thing that she did. Then, on the other hand, she was loyal to her father in the way that she stood up to her father declaring her love for Othello. Like she said, she did the same thing that her mother was told to do when her parents got married. She had to stand up and announce that she was in love with a man that her father did not necessarily approve of. In this case, her father had no reason to get mad at her.
In an unusual way, Lago and Carlos are alike. They both tried to stay loyal to themselves. Although Lago did not try to stay loyal to who he was; he did try to stay loyal to what HE wanted and what HE wanted to achieve. Carlos, on the other hand, tried to stay loyal to himself and who he was. Although he ended up changing he constantly had an inner struggle with who he was and staying true to that. It is too early to tell if the same will happen with Lago.
Also, I think that Desdemona and Sarty are alike. They both had to stand up to their father. Again, this is not an exact likeness but there are similarities. Desdemona had to stand up face to face with her father, but was not ashamed of who her father was. She respected her father. Sarty, on the other hand, never had to face to face stand up to his father, but was tempted a multiple of times. Sarty, I think, also respected his father's strength, but did not respect what he was doing and ultimately was loyal to the law and what was right.
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