Prompt+1

Using //Othello//, select a character to whom this statement applies, and write an essay in which you consider the following: (1) What the character’s illusion is and how it differs from reality as presented in the play. (2) How the destruction or perpetuation of the illusion develops a theme of the play. Do not merely retell the story.**
 * “In many plays a character has a misconception of himself or his world. Destroying or perpetuating this illusion contributes to a central theme of the play.”

Period 2


 * Misconception-** a mistaken thought, idea, or notion.
 * Central theme-** a unifying or dominant idea.

=Central Themes=

 IAGO: Do it not with poison. Strangle her in her bed (IV. i. 226). OTHELLO: [striking her] Devil! (IV. i. 268) || Desdemona is helping Cassio regain favor with Othello || OTHELLO: This fellow's of exceeding honesty, and knows all qualities, with a learned spirit, of human dealings (III. iii. 299-301).
 * Othello**: When blind passion overtakes reason, tragedy can ultimately result
 * Roderigo**: Things are often not what they seem
 * **Character ** || **Illusion ** || **Perpetuation of Illusion ** || **Reality ** ||
 * Othello || Relationship between Desdemona and Cassio is immoral || OTHELLO: (referring to handkerchief) To lose't or give't away were such perdition as nothing else could match (III. iv. 76-79).
 * ^  || Iago is trustworthy and honest || IAGO: Though it be fit that Cassio have his place, for sure, he fills it up with great ability, yet, if you please to hold him off awhile, you shall by that perceive him and his means (III. iii. 287-290).
 * ^  || Iago is trustworthy and honest || IAGO: Though it be fit that Cassio have his place, for sure, he fills it up with great ability, yet, if you please to hold him off awhile, you shall by that perceive him and his means (III. iii. 287-290).
 * ^  || <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Iago is trustworthy and honest || <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">IAGO: Though it be fit that Cassio have his place, for sure, he fills it up with great ability, yet, if you please to hold him off awhile, you shall by that perceive him and his means (III. iii. 287-290).

<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">IAGO: I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin, and let him find it…the Moor already changes with my poison: dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poisons (III. iii. 369-374). || <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Iago behaves in a manipulative and deceitful manner in an attempt to gain military rank and power ||


 * **<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Character ** || **<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Illusion ** || **<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Perpetuation of Illusion ** || **<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Reality ** ||
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Roderigo || <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Roderigo can win the affection of Desdemona with wealth || <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">BRABANTIO: The worser welcome. I have charged thee not to haunt about my doors…my daughter is not for thee (I.i. 106-109).

<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">RODERIGO: What should I do? I confess it is my shame to be so found, but it is not in my virtue to amend it (I. iii. 359-360). || <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Desdemona is married to and in love with Othello || <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">IAGO: Thou art sure of it. Go, make money…Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against him (I. iii. 406-410). <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">IAGO: Thus do I ever make my fool my purse (I. iii. 426). <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">IAGO: And what's he, then that says I play the villain… (II. iii. 356). || <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Iago behaves in a manipulative and deceitful manner in an attempt to gain military rank and power ||
 * ^  || <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Iago is trustworthy and honest || <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">RODERIGO: Wilt thou be fast to my hopes if I depend on the issue? (I. iii. 405-406).
 * ^  || <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Iago is trustworthy and honest || <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">RODERIGO: Wilt thou be fast to my hopes if I depend on the issue? (I. iii. 405-406).

Period 4

Desdemona -
1. Illusion: Othello is not angry with her, he's angry about war Examples - "Pray you, let Cassio e receieved again" (iii.iv.102) "Something, sure, of state, either from Venice, or some unhatched practice made demostrable here in Cyprus to him, hath puddled his clear spirit" (iii.iv.161-164) 2. Themes: **Bad things happen to good people** Examples: (III. iii. 320-331) Othello complains of a headache, and Desdemona does her best to soothe him. While treating him, she unfortunately drops the handkerchief and walks away. Emilia happens to remember that Iago wants the handkerchief, and gives it to him. Examples: (III. iii. 1-28) Desdemona reassures Cassio that she will do her best to reason with Othello about the job. lines 45-82 Desdemona pleads with Othello to talk to Cassio, but it all ends in an argument. Desdemona pushes it too far.
 * Things aren't always as they seem.**

Period 4 "In sleep I heard him say Sweet Desdemona, let us be wary, let us hide our loves." III. iii. 475-476. "Or to be naked with her friend in bed an hour or more, not meaning any harm?" IV. i. 5-6. (hankerchief) "Why then, tis hers, my lord, and being hers, she may, i think, bestow it on any man." IV. i. 15-16.
 * Othello's Allusion**: That Desdemona loves Cassio and not him.

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