3rd Essay Revision-->
From the beginning of Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello, Iago appears to be deceitful, conniving, and jealous. During the first half of the play, Iago lays out his intentions, to the audience about what he has planned for Roderigo, Michael Cassio, and Othello. Iago is partly successful, in that he drives Othello to murder Desdemona, however, he ultimately suffers and is thwarted by his wife, Emilia. Throughout the first half of the play, it becomes apparent that Rodrigo, Cassio, and Othello are intertwined. Iago’s manipulation of one character has a direct effect on the other. His intentions are malicious and ultimately seek to remove anyone who stands in his path to fame.
Early on in the play, Iago manipulates Roderigo. Roderigo is suffering from a broken heart: He loves Desdemona, however, Desdemona has eloped and married Othello. In Act I, Scene iii, Iago sees that Roderigo is depressed and even ashamed to be in love with Desdemona. Iago’s solution is to “Put money in thy purse; follow thou the wars; defeat thy favor with a usurp’d beard. I say put money in thy purse” (1.3 339-341). Iago believes that Rodrigo can buy Desdemona’s love by showering her with gifts and thus insists that Roderigo should give him the money to do so. However, Iago is embezzling Roderigo. He promises to buy Desdemona gifts with this money however, he keeps it for himself. Iago knows that Roderigo is naïve and is able to easily manipulate him and enhance his own wealth.
Iago is somewhat spiteful of Cassio. Cassio was promoted over Iago to the rank of lieutenant, and since the promotion, Iago has been trying to gain that rank. In order to do so Iago uses Cassio’s good looks and low tolerance for alcohol against him. In Act II Iago gets Cassio drunk despite his resistance to drinking more. As a result, Cassio gets drunk and fights and stabs Montano, the governor of Cyprus. Othello hears of this and demotes Cassio for his foolish and immature behavior. Iago advises Cassio to seek Desdemona’s advice, telling him that if anyone can persuade Othello, it is his wife. In Act III, Scene iii, Iago points out to Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are talking to each other. Iago suggests and informs Othello that Cassio has slept with Desdemona. As a result, Othello is infuriated and orders that Cassio, one of his best soldiers be murdered. In regards to Cassio, it is Iago’s jealousy and hunger for power that fuels his desire to take down Cassio. He is envious of Cassio’s good looks as well as his rank. Iago believes that he is a better soldier than him, and in turn deserving of that rank. If Iago were to be a lieutenant, he would be closer to Othello as well as have more influence over key military decisions. His rise in rank would satisfy his desires for attention, and would allow him to further his plans of tarnishing Othello’s image.
Othello and Iago have a very personal relationship. Othello sees Iago as a great soldier and a trusted advisor. Iago does not feel the same way. He serves Othello “not for love and duty/ But seeming so for my peculiar end” (1.1 59-60). Iago is jealous of Othello, and envious of his marriage to Desdemona. Iago is also upset by the fact that he was not promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Iago sees his opportunity to exact revenge on Othello while in Cyprus. After Cassio has been demoted from his rank as lieutenant, as a result of his drunken fight with Montano, he convinces Othello that Cassio has been sleeping with Desdemona. At first, Othello does not believe him, and demands evidence. Iago continue to tell Othello of Desdemona’s adultery and drives Othello into a state of rage, which ultimately leads to him murdering his wife. Iago intentionally lies to Othello in order to tarnish Othello’s image. He is seeking power and glory, both of which Othello has. In fueling Othello’s uncertainty, Iago achieves his goal of tarnishing Othello’s image
In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago manipulates several characters in order to further his ambition of power. He begins by extorting a nobleman, Roderigo, so as to be wealthy, a necessity for maintaining power. He then proceeds to eliminate his competition: Othello and Cassio. He ruins Cassio’s image by getting him drunk and having him demoted from his rank as lieutenant. When Cassio is talking to Desdemona, Iago begins to weaken Othello’s spirit by telling him that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him with Cassio. Othello is infuriated and orders that Cassio be killed. While Iago causes commotion, he is ultimately unsuccessful. His wife, Emilia, thwarts him and his punishment is left to one of the men he tried to punish: Cassio.
3rd Essay Response-->
From the beginning of Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello, Iago appears to be deceitful, conniving, and jealous. During the first half of the play, Iago lays out his intentions, to the audience about what he has planned for Rodrigo, Michael Cassio, and Othello. Iago is partly successful, in that he drives Othello to murder Desdemona, however, he ultimately suffers and is thwarted by his wife, Emilia. Throughout the first half of the play, it becomes apparent that Rodrigo, Cassio, and Othello are intertwined. Iago’s manipulation of one character has a direct effect on the other. His intentions are malicious and seek to cause social unrest among the protagonists.
Early on in the play, Iago manipulates Rodrigo. Rodrigo is suffering from a broken heart: He loves Desdemona, however, Desdemona has eloped and married Othello. In Act I, Scene iii, Iago sees that Rodrigo is depressed and even ashamed to be in love with Desdemona. Iago’s solution is to “Put money in thy purse; follow thou the wars; defeat thy favor with a usurp’d beard. I say put money in thy purse” (1.3 339-341). Iago believes that Rodrigo can buy Desdemona’s love by showering with her with gifts and thus insists that Rodrigo should give him the money to do so. However, Iago intends to embezzle Rodrigo as opposed to using the money for gifts. He knows that Rodrigo is naïve and is able to easily manipulate him and enhance his own wealth.
Othello and Iago have a very personal relationship. Othello sees Iago as a great soldier and a trusted advisor. Iago does not feel the same way. He serves Othello “not for love and duty/ But seeming so for my peculiar end” (1.1 59-60). Iago is jealous of Othello, and envious of his marriage to Desdemona. Iago is also upset by the fact that he was not promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Iago sees his opportunity to exact revenge on Othello while in Cyprus. After Cassio has been demoted from his rank as lieutenant, Iago convinces Othello that Cassio has been sleeping with Desdemona. At first, Othello does not believe him, and demands evidence. Iago continue to tell Othello of Desdemona’s false lust and drives Othello into a state of rage, which ultimately leads to him murdering his wife. Iago intentionally lies to Othello in order to tarnish Othello’s image. Iago is seeking power and glory, both of which Othello has.
Iago is somewhat spiteful of Cassio. Cassio was promoted over Iago to the rank of lieutenant, and since the promotion, Iago has been trying to gain that rank. In order to do so Iago uses Cassio’s good lucks and low tolerance for alcohol against him. In Act II Iago gets Cassio drunk despite his resistance to drinking more. As a result, Cassio gets too drunk and fights Montano, a nobleman of Cyprus. Othello hears of this news and demotes Cassio for his foolish and immature behavior. As a result, Cassio seeks Desdemona’s advice, hoping that she will talk to Othello about having him reinstated. In Act III, Scene iii, Iago continues to tarnish Cassio’s image, by informing Othello that Cassio has slept with Desdemona. In regards to Cassio, it is Iago’s jealousy and hunger for power that fuels his desire to take down Cassio. He is envious of Cassio’s good looks as well as his rank. Iago believes that he is a better soldier than him, and in turn deserving of that rank. If Iago were to be a lieutenant, he would not only remain close to Othello but he would have more influence over key military decisions, satisfying his desire for control.
In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago manipulates several characters in order to further his ambition of power. He begins by extorting a commoner, Rodrigo, so as to be wealthy, a necessity for maintaining power. He then proceeds to eliminate his competition: Othello and Cassio. He ruins Cassio’s image by getting him drunk and having him demoted from his rank as lieutenant. When Cassio is talking to Desdemona, Iago begins to weaken Othello’s spirit by telling him that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him with Cassio. Othello is infuriated and orders that Cassio be killed. While Iago causes commotion, he is ultimately unsuccessful. His wife, Emilia, thwarts him and his punishment is left to one of the men he tried to punish: Cassio.
2nd Essay Revision--> The dictionary defines a hero as “ A man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities” (Dictionary.com). This does not adequately describe a hero. A hero is more than a definition. Heroes are people who are brave and compassionate. They are humble in their actions, knowing that whatever act they take up, it is the right thing to do. Above all, a hero is tenacious. He or is she does not accept defeat as an option; rather heroes look for solutions and fight to the bitter end. In literature, a hero is the term given to the lead male character. This title belongs to Odysseus in The Odyssey. Odysseus is labeled a hero due to his actions during the Trojan War; however, his character is continuously tested throughout the epic. During each of these tests, Odysseus manages to work his way out of trouble and ultimately returns to Ithaka. Despite his many obstacles, Odysseus is brave and tenacious and thus, can be considered a hero.
Odysseus shows his bravery when he is trapped in Polyphemus’s cave. Odysseus and his men arrive at the island of the Cyclops and proceed to explore the island. They are eventually trapped in Polyphemus’s cave and he losses several of men. Despite these obstacles, Odysseus remains calm and devises a plan to get his men out of the cave. Odysseus takes a smoldering wooden spear and stabs Polyphemus in the eye. The next day, he and his men attach themselves to the underside of a sheep and escape the cave. Despite the loss of his men, Odysseus was able to overcome his hardships. Many wanderers would’ve failed to create a plan of escape, and instead would have attacked the Polyphemus, only to be eaten and never return home. It took great courage to not only be patient to but to create such an elaborate plan. Additionally, Odysseus showed even greater courage by taking the initiative to stab the monster, and risk his life by blending in with the sheep in order to escape.
Odysseus’s tenacity is tested when he encounters Charybdis for a second time. Odysseus and his men arrive at Thrinacia, the home of Helios. His men eat Helios’s cattle, even though Odysseus tells them not to. Upon their departure, Zeus unleashes a terrible storm and Odysseus’s men are swallowed by the Charybdis. Odysseus “Inexorably hung on” (XII, 437) and is flung out to sea where he swam for ten days until he reaches Kalypso’s island. Alkinoös, leader of the Phaikians, tells Odysseus that he believes that he will “not lose his homecoming nor be driven back from it again” (XIII, 5-6). Had Odysseus lost all hope of returning to Ithaka, he would not have survived this episode. He has suffered many perils and had lost all of his men, yet Odysseus still strives to return to Ithaka. He is driven by his love for his wife Penelope, as well as his yearning to return to his rightful place as king of Ithaka. Many men would not have survived the incident that Odysseus had with Charybdis. They would have died due to lack of strength, but more likely due to lack of persistence. Odysseus does not give up despite his situation [nearly being killed for 10 years as he ventured home from Troy]. Instead he stays positive and overcomes every obstacle in his path.
Odysseus’s tenacity and bravery are characteristics that set him apart from ordinary men, and make him a hero. His bravery in the cave of Polyphemus is what allowed him to escape and continue his journey home. He does not give up on his journey when he encountered the dreaded Charybdis for a second time. Instead, he persists and escapes to Calypso’s island so as to continue his voyage to Ithaka. Odysseus reaches Ithaka and takes back his home from the suitors. He would not have been able to do this without the character traits of bravery and tenacity. Ultimately Odysseus proves his heroism. He evades death, and the ill will of the gods and, despite taking ten years, Odysseus reaches his goal.
2nd Essay Response--> The dictionary defines a hero as “ A man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities” (Dictionary.com). This does not describe a hero. A hero is more than a definition. Heroes are people who are brave and compassionate. They are humbled by their actions, knowing that whatever act they take up, it is the right thing to do. Above all, a hero is tenacious. He or is she does not accept defeat as an option; rather heroes look for solutions and fight to the bitter end. In literature, a hero is the term given to the lead male character. This title belongs to Odysseus in The Odyssey. Odysseus is labeled a hero due to his actions during the Peloponnesian War; however, his heroism is continuously tested throughout the epic. During each of these tests, Odysseus manages to work his way out of trouble and ultimately returns to Ithaka. Despite his many obstacles, Odysseus is brave and tenacious and thus, can be considered a hero. Odysseus shows his bravery when he is trapped in Polyphemus’s cave. Odysseus and his men arrive at the island of the Cyclops and proceed to explore the island. They are eventually trapped in Polyphemus’s cave and he losses several of men. Despite these obstacles, Odysseus remains calm and devises a plan to get his men out of the cave. Odysseus takes a smoldering wooden spear and stabs Polyphemus in the eye. The next day, he attaches himself to the underside of a sheep and he and his companions escape the cave. Despite the loss of his men, Odysseus was able to overcome his hardships. Many wonderers would’ve failed to create a plan of escape, and instead would have attacked the Polyphemus, only to be eaten and never return home. It took great courage to not only be patient to but to create such an elaborate plan. Additionally, Odysseus showed even greater courage by taking the initiative to stab the monster, and risk his life by blending in with the sheep in order to escape. Odysseus’s tenacity is tested when he encounters Charybdis for a second time. Upon arriving at Thrinacia, where his men eat Helios’s cattle, despite being told not to. Upon their departure, Zeus unleashes a terrible storm and Odysseus’s men are swallowed by the Charybdis. Odysseus “Inexorably hung on” (XII, 437) and is flung out to sea where he swam for ten days until he reached Kalypso’s island. Alkinoös, leader of the Phaikians, tells Odysseus that he believes that he will “not lose his homecoming nor be driven back from it again” (XIII, 5-6). Had Odysseus lost all hope of returning to Ithaka, he would not have survived this episode. He has suffered many perils and had lost all of his men, yet Odysseus still strives to return to Ithaka. He is driven by his love for his wife Penelope, as well as his yearning to return to his rightful place as king of Ithaka. Many men would not have survived an incident that Odysseus had with Charybdis. They would have died due to lack of strength, but more likely due to lack of persistence. Odysseus did not give up despite his situation [nearly being killed for 10 years as he ventured home from Troy]. Instead he stayed positive and conquered every obstacle in his path. Odysseus’s display of tenacity and bravery are characteristics that set him apart from ordinary men, and make him a hero. His bravery in the cave of Polyphemus is what allowed him to escape and continue his journey home. He did not give up on his journey when he encountered the dreaded Charybdis for a second time. Instead, he persisted and escaped to Calypso’s island so as to continue his voyage to Ithaka. Odysseus reaches Ithaka and takes back his home from the suitors. He would not have been able to do this without the character traits of bravery and tenacity. Ultimately he [Odysseus] proves his heroism. He evaded death, and the ill will of the gods and despite taking ten years, Odysseus reached his goal.
First Essay Response--> During the first half of Homer’s The Odyssey, Homer focuses on several codes of conduct that are prevalent in Greek Society. Two of the more prevalent codes in this portion of the epic are the Greek codes of Chivalry and Hospitality.
During the first half of Homer’s The Odyssey, Homer focuses on several codes of conduct that are prevalent in Greek Society. Two of the more prevalent codes in this portion of the epic are Loyalty and Hospitality.
The code of Loyalty in is one of the most important codes in Greek society. It is expected that the people of a specific kingdom are loyal to their ruler in times of peace and war. They are expected to respect their king’s property and above all, his decisions. Throughout the first few books of The Odyssey the suitors of Ithaka violate this code. While Odysseus, their king, has not returned from Troy, the suitors see fit that one of them should marry Penelope, Odysseus’s wife. In addition to courting his wife, the suitors come into Odysseus’s house and proceed to eat his meat, and drink his wine. “ The haughty suitors came in and all of them straightaway took their places…and the serving maids brought them bread heaped up in baskets and the young men filled their mixing bowls with wine” (I, 144-149). The suitors show no respect for their king. They come into Odysseus’s home and make themselves comfortable, as if they were the rulers of Ithaka. They ever go as far as to assign themselves their own seats, deliberately violating the loyalty code. The suitors are in a sense, committing treason. They are attempting to marry his wife, they have “seized control” of his home, and have taken advantage of his resources. Eventually, the treasonous suitors suffer for their actions, as Odysseus takes back his home and murders them.
It was expected that a guest would adhere to certain rules that made up the code of Hospitality. Upon entering a stranger’s home, the guest must wait to be admitted to the home. Once he is been properly fed, the guest is obligated to disclose some basic information about himself: What his name is, where he is from, what is the purpose of his journey. Upon his departure, it is customary that the master of the house sends the guest off with a gift. In the first half of the Odyssey, Odysseus demonstrates how to uphold the code of Hospitality. He arrives at the home of Alkinoös, king of the Phaiakians and upon feasting, he introduces himself as “Odysseus, son of Laertes…I am at home in sunny Ithaka” (IX, 19-21). Even before his introduction, Alkinoös’s wife, Arete, makes up a bed for Odysseus and allows him to stay in their palace, further extending their hospitality. Odysseus goes beyond the code by providing the Phaiakians with some “entertainment” by telling them the various stories of his travels. Being that he has upheld his part of the code, Alkinoös commands his men to sail Odysseus back to Ithaka, and sends him off with many gifts.
The codes of Loyalty and Hospitality are prevalent in the first half of the Odyssey. Homer creates a dichotomy between the suitors and Odysseus of how to properly follow the codes of society. The Suitors are disloyal, as they take advantage of Odysseus’s resources and attempt to court his wife. On the other hand, Odysseus upholds the code of Hospitality. He waits to be welcomed and in turn tells the Phaiakians about himself and his journeys. Today, we continue to uphold certain societal codes. Although we do not have a king as our rulers, it is forbidden to overthrow the government, and the White House is heavily guarded not only to protect the President, but also to ensure a degree of privacy for him and his family. While it is uncommon to expect wandering guests in one’s home, there are still rules of hospitality. Children are taught to say “please and thank you” when visiting a friend’s house. It is common courtesy as well policy in many hotels to respect hotel property. Just as in the times of Ancient Greece, the codes of Loyalty and Hospitality continue to be among the most important societal codes
The code of chivalry in Greek society can still be seen in today’s society. In ancient Greece, if a man wanted a women’s hand in marriage, there were several steps he had to take. First, he had to court the lady of interest. Should he succeed, the man then had to pay a dowry to the family of the bride. This dowry would consist of gold, and other gifts from the house of the groom. Throughout the first few books of The Odyssey there is a violation of this code, evidenced by the relationship between the suitors and Penelope, Odysseus’s wife. While Odysseus has still not returned from Troy, the suitors see fit that one of them should marry Penelope. Rather then courting her, instead they make themselves comfortable in Odysseus’s home and try to coerce her into marrying one of them. To begin with, none of the suitors made an offer to Penelope’s father for her hand in marriage, in essence, neglecting to offer a dowry for her hand in marriage. On an even larger scale, these men are courting the wife of their king. It is disrespectful to court a married woman, let alone the wife of one’s leader. Additionally, as mentioned above, the suitors fail to court Penelope. Additionally, they didn’t give her family any type of dowry. In the second half of the book, the suitors will pay for their disloyalty and their lack of chivalry, as Odysseus murders them upon his return home.
One of the most important codes in ancient Greek society is the code of Hospitality. Upon entering a stranger’s home, the guest must wait to be admitted to the home. Once he has been properly fed, the guest is obligated to disclose some basic information about himself: What his name is, where he is from, what is the purpose of his journey. Upon his departure, it is customary that the master of the house sends the guest off with a gift. In the first half of the Odyssey, Odysseus demonstrates how to uphold the code of Hospitality. He arrives at the home of Alkinoös, king of the Phaiakians and upon feasting, he introduces himself as “Odysseus, son of Laertes…I am at home in sunny Ithaka” (IX, 19-21). Even before his introduction, Alkinoös’s wife, Arete, makes up a bed for Odysseus and allows him to stay in their palace, further extending their hospitality.
Unlike Odysseus, the suitors violate the code of Hospitality. Seeing that Odysseus has not returned from his wanderings, they enter his home without permission from Penelope nor Telemachos. Upon entering Odysseus’s home, they begin to eat all of his food, drink his wine without permission from Odysseus. The suitors show no respect for his [Odysseus’s] home nor his possessions.“ The haughty suitors came in and all of them straightaway took their places…and the serving maids brought them bread heaped up in baskets and the young men filled their mixing bowls with wine” (I, 144-149). The suitors had assumed specific chairs and expected to be served, in a home that was not theirs, by maids whom they did not own, and ate food and drank wine that was not theirs to drink. This is a deliberate violation of their allegiance to the king but above all shows blatant disregard for the code of Hospitality.
From the beginning of Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello, Iago appears to be deceitful, conniving, and jealous. During the first half of the play, Iago lays out his intentions, to the audience about what he has planned for Roderigo, Michael Cassio, and Othello. Iago is partly successful, in that he drives Othello to murder Desdemona, however, he ultimately suffers and is thwarted by his wife, Emilia. Throughout the first half of the play, it becomes apparent that Rodrigo, Cassio, and Othello are intertwined. Iago’s manipulation of one character has a direct effect on the other. His intentions are malicious and ultimately seek to remove anyone who stands in his path to fame.
Early on in the play, Iago manipulates Roderigo. Roderigo is suffering from a broken heart: He loves Desdemona, however, Desdemona has eloped and married Othello. In Act I, Scene iii, Iago sees that Roderigo is depressed and even ashamed to be in love with Desdemona. Iago’s solution is to “Put money in thy purse; follow thou the wars; defeat thy favor with a usurp’d beard. I say put money in thy purse” (1.3 339-341). Iago believes that Rodrigo can buy Desdemona’s love by showering her with gifts and thus insists that Roderigo should give him the money to do so. However, Iago is embezzling Roderigo. He promises to buy Desdemona gifts with this money however, he keeps it for himself. Iago knows that Roderigo is naïve and is able to easily manipulate him and enhance his own wealth.
Iago is somewhat spiteful of Cassio. Cassio was promoted over Iago to the rank of lieutenant, and since the promotion, Iago has been trying to gain that rank. In order to do so Iago uses Cassio’s good looks and low tolerance for alcohol against him. In Act II Iago gets Cassio drunk despite his resistance to drinking more. As a result, Cassio gets drunk and fights and stabs Montano, the governor of Cyprus. Othello hears of this and demotes Cassio for his foolish and immature behavior. Iago advises Cassio to seek Desdemona’s advice, telling him that if anyone can persuade Othello, it is his wife. In Act III, Scene iii, Iago points out to Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are talking to each other. Iago suggests and informs Othello that Cassio has slept with Desdemona. As a result, Othello is infuriated and orders that Cassio, one of his best soldiers be murdered. In regards to Cassio, it is Iago’s jealousy and hunger for power that fuels his desire to take down Cassio. He is envious of Cassio’s good looks as well as his rank. Iago believes that he is a better soldier than him, and in turn deserving of that rank. If Iago were to be a lieutenant, he would be closer to Othello as well as have more influence over key military decisions. His rise in rank would satisfy his desires for attention, and would allow him to further his plans of tarnishing Othello’s image.
Othello and Iago have a very personal relationship. Othello sees Iago as a great soldier and a trusted advisor. Iago does not feel the same way. He serves Othello “not for love and duty/ But seeming so for my peculiar end” (1.1 59-60). Iago is jealous of Othello, and envious of his marriage to Desdemona. Iago is also upset by the fact that he was not promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Iago sees his opportunity to exact revenge on Othello while in Cyprus. After Cassio has been demoted from his rank as lieutenant, as a result of his drunken fight with Montano, he convinces Othello that Cassio has been sleeping with Desdemona. At first, Othello does not believe him, and demands evidence. Iago continue to tell Othello of Desdemona’s adultery and drives Othello into a state of rage, which ultimately leads to him murdering his wife. Iago intentionally lies to Othello in order to tarnish Othello’s image. He is seeking power and glory, both of which Othello has. In fueling Othello’s uncertainty, Iago achieves his goal of tarnishing Othello’s image
In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago manipulates several characters in order to further his ambition of power. He begins by extorting a nobleman, Roderigo, so as to be wealthy, a necessity for maintaining power. He then proceeds to eliminate his competition: Othello and Cassio. He ruins Cassio’s image by getting him drunk and having him demoted from his rank as lieutenant. When Cassio is talking to Desdemona, Iago begins to weaken Othello’s spirit by telling him that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him with Cassio. Othello is infuriated and orders that Cassio be killed. While Iago causes commotion, he is ultimately unsuccessful. His wife, Emilia, thwarts him and his punishment is left to one of the men he tried to punish: Cassio.
3rd Essay Response-->
From the beginning of Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello, Iago appears to be deceitful, conniving, and jealous. During the first half of the play, Iago lays out his intentions, to the audience about what he has planned for Rodrigo, Michael Cassio, and Othello. Iago is partly successful, in that he drives Othello to murder Desdemona, however, he ultimately suffers and is thwarted by his wife, Emilia. Throughout the first half of the play, it becomes apparent that Rodrigo, Cassio, and Othello are intertwined. Iago’s manipulation of one character has a direct effect on the other. His intentions are malicious and seek to cause social unrest among the protagonists.
Early on in the play, Iago manipulates Rodrigo. Rodrigo is suffering from a broken heart: He loves Desdemona, however, Desdemona has eloped and married Othello. In Act I, Scene iii, Iago sees that Rodrigo is depressed and even ashamed to be in love with Desdemona. Iago’s solution is to “Put money in thy purse; follow thou the wars; defeat thy favor with a usurp’d beard. I say put money in thy purse” (1.3 339-341). Iago believes that Rodrigo can buy Desdemona’s love by showering with her with gifts and thus insists that Rodrigo should give him the money to do so. However, Iago intends to embezzle Rodrigo as opposed to using the money for gifts. He knows that Rodrigo is naïve and is able to easily manipulate him and enhance his own wealth.
Othello and Iago have a very personal relationship. Othello sees Iago as a great soldier and a trusted advisor. Iago does not feel the same way. He serves Othello “not for love and duty/ But seeming so for my peculiar end” (1.1 59-60). Iago is jealous of Othello, and envious of his marriage to Desdemona. Iago is also upset by the fact that he was not promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Iago sees his opportunity to exact revenge on Othello while in Cyprus. After Cassio has been demoted from his rank as lieutenant, Iago convinces Othello that Cassio has been sleeping with Desdemona. At first, Othello does not believe him, and demands evidence. Iago continue to tell Othello of Desdemona’s false lust and drives Othello into a state of rage, which ultimately leads to him murdering his wife. Iago intentionally lies to Othello in order to tarnish Othello’s image. Iago is seeking power and glory, both of which Othello has.
Iago is somewhat spiteful of Cassio. Cassio was promoted over Iago to the rank of lieutenant, and since the promotion, Iago has been trying to gain that rank. In order to do so Iago uses Cassio’s good lucks and low tolerance for alcohol against him. In Act II Iago gets Cassio drunk despite his resistance to drinking more. As a result, Cassio gets too drunk and fights Montano, a nobleman of Cyprus. Othello hears of this news and demotes Cassio for his foolish and immature behavior. As a result, Cassio seeks Desdemona’s advice, hoping that she will talk to Othello about having him reinstated. In Act III, Scene iii, Iago continues to tarnish Cassio’s image, by informing Othello that Cassio has slept with Desdemona. In regards to Cassio, it is Iago’s jealousy and hunger for power that fuels his desire to take down Cassio. He is envious of Cassio’s good looks as well as his rank. Iago believes that he is a better soldier than him, and in turn deserving of that rank. If Iago were to be a lieutenant, he would not only remain close to Othello but he would have more influence over key military decisions, satisfying his desire for control.
In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago manipulates several characters in order to further his ambition of power. He begins by extorting a commoner, Rodrigo, so as to be wealthy, a necessity for maintaining power. He then proceeds to eliminate his competition: Othello and Cassio. He ruins Cassio’s image by getting him drunk and having him demoted from his rank as lieutenant. When Cassio is talking to Desdemona, Iago begins to weaken Othello’s spirit by telling him that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him with Cassio. Othello is infuriated and orders that Cassio be killed. While Iago causes commotion, he is ultimately unsuccessful. His wife, Emilia, thwarts him and his punishment is left to one of the men he tried to punish: Cassio.
2nd Essay Revision-->
The dictionary defines a hero as “ A man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities” (Dictionary.com). This does not adequately describe a hero. A hero is more than a definition. Heroes are people who are brave and compassionate. They are humble in their actions, knowing that whatever act they take up, it is the right thing to do. Above all, a hero is tenacious. He or is she does not accept defeat as an option; rather heroes look for solutions and fight to the bitter end. In literature, a hero is the term given to the lead male character. This title belongs to Odysseus in The Odyssey. Odysseus is labeled a hero due to his actions during the Trojan War; however, his character is continuously tested throughout the epic. During each of these tests, Odysseus manages to work his way out of trouble and ultimately returns to Ithaka. Despite his many obstacles, Odysseus is brave and tenacious and thus, can be considered a hero.
Odysseus shows his bravery when he is trapped in Polyphemus’s cave. Odysseus and his men arrive at the island of the Cyclops and proceed to explore the island. They are eventually trapped in Polyphemus’s cave and he losses several of men. Despite these obstacles, Odysseus remains calm and devises a plan to get his men out of the cave. Odysseus takes a smoldering wooden spear and stabs Polyphemus in the eye. The next day, he and his men attach themselves to the underside of a sheep and escape the cave. Despite the loss of his men, Odysseus was able to overcome his hardships. Many wanderers would’ve failed to create a plan of escape, and instead would have attacked the Polyphemus, only to be eaten and never return home. It took great courage to not only be patient to but to create such an elaborate plan. Additionally, Odysseus showed even greater courage by taking the initiative to stab the monster, and risk his life by blending in with the sheep in order to escape.
Odysseus’s tenacity is tested when he encounters Charybdis for a second time. Odysseus and his men arrive at Thrinacia, the home of Helios. His men eat Helios’s cattle, even though Odysseus tells them not to. Upon their departure, Zeus unleashes a terrible storm and Odysseus’s men are swallowed by the Charybdis. Odysseus “Inexorably hung on” (XII, 437) and is flung out to sea where he swam for ten days until he reaches Kalypso’s island. Alkinoös, leader of the Phaikians, tells Odysseus that he believes that he will “not lose his homecoming nor be driven back from it again” (XIII, 5-6). Had Odysseus lost all hope of returning to Ithaka, he would not have survived this episode. He has suffered many perils and had lost all of his men, yet Odysseus still strives to return to Ithaka. He is driven by his love for his wife Penelope, as well as his yearning to return to his rightful place as king of Ithaka. Many men would not have survived the incident that Odysseus had with Charybdis. They would have died due to lack of strength, but more likely due to lack of persistence. Odysseus does not give up despite his situation [nearly being killed for 10 years as he ventured home from Troy]. Instead he stays positive and overcomes every obstacle in his path.
Odysseus’s tenacity and bravery are characteristics that set him apart from ordinary men, and make him a hero. His bravery in the cave of Polyphemus is what allowed him to escape and continue his journey home. He does not give up on his journey when he encountered the dreaded Charybdis for a second time. Instead, he persists and escapes to Calypso’s island so as to continue his voyage to Ithaka. Odysseus reaches Ithaka and takes back his home from the suitors. He would not have been able to do this without the character traits of bravery and tenacity. Ultimately Odysseus proves his heroism. He evades death, and the ill will of the gods and, despite taking ten years, Odysseus reaches his goal.
2nd Essay Response-->
The dictionary defines a hero as “ A man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities” (Dictionary.com). This does not describe a hero. A hero is more than a definition. Heroes are people who are brave and compassionate. They are humbled by their actions, knowing that whatever act they take up, it is the right thing to do. Above all, a hero is tenacious. He or is she does not accept defeat as an option; rather heroes look for solutions and fight to the bitter end. In literature, a hero is the term given to the lead male character. This title belongs to Odysseus in The Odyssey. Odysseus is labeled a hero due to his actions during the Peloponnesian War; however, his heroism is continuously tested throughout the epic. During each of these tests, Odysseus manages to work his way out of trouble and ultimately returns to Ithaka. Despite his many obstacles, Odysseus is brave and tenacious and thus, can be considered a hero.
Odysseus shows his bravery when he is trapped in Polyphemus’s cave. Odysseus and his men arrive at the island of the Cyclops and proceed to explore the island. They are eventually trapped in Polyphemus’s cave and he losses several of men. Despite these obstacles, Odysseus remains calm and devises a plan to get his men out of the cave. Odysseus takes a smoldering wooden spear and stabs Polyphemus in the eye. The next day, he attaches himself to the underside of a sheep and he and his companions escape the cave. Despite the loss of his men, Odysseus was able to overcome his hardships. Many wonderers would’ve failed to create a plan of escape, and instead would have attacked the Polyphemus, only to be eaten and never return home. It took great courage to not only be patient to but to create such an elaborate plan. Additionally, Odysseus showed even greater courage by taking the initiative to stab the monster, and risk his life by blending in with the sheep in order to escape.
Odysseus’s tenacity is tested when he encounters Charybdis for a second time. Upon arriving at Thrinacia, where his men eat Helios’s cattle, despite being told not to. Upon their departure, Zeus unleashes a terrible storm and Odysseus’s men are swallowed by the Charybdis. Odysseus “Inexorably hung on” (XII, 437) and is flung out to sea where he swam for ten days until he reached Kalypso’s island. Alkinoös, leader of the Phaikians, tells Odysseus that he believes that he will “not lose his homecoming nor be driven back from it again” (XIII, 5-6). Had Odysseus lost all hope of returning to Ithaka, he would not have survived this episode. He has suffered many perils and had lost all of his men, yet Odysseus still strives to return to Ithaka. He is driven by his love for his wife Penelope, as well as his yearning to return to his rightful place as king of Ithaka. Many men would not have survived an incident that Odysseus had with Charybdis. They would have died due to lack of strength, but more likely due to lack of persistence. Odysseus did not give up despite his situation [nearly being killed for 10 years as he ventured home from Troy]. Instead he stayed positive and conquered every obstacle in his path.
Odysseus’s display of tenacity and bravery are characteristics that set him apart from ordinary men, and make him a hero. His bravery in the cave of Polyphemus is what allowed him to escape and continue his journey home. He did not give up on his journey when he encountered the dreaded Charybdis for a second time. Instead, he persisted and escaped to Calypso’s island so as to continue his voyage to Ithaka. Odysseus reaches Ithaka and takes back his home from the suitors. He would not have been able to do this without the character traits of bravery and tenacity. Ultimately he [Odysseus] proves his heroism. He evaded death, and the ill will of the gods and despite taking ten years, Odysseus reached his goal.
First Essay Response--> During the first half of Homer’s The Odyssey, Homer focuses on several codes of conduct that are prevalent in Greek Society. Two of the more prevalent codes in this portion of the epic are the Greek codes of Chivalry and Hospitality.
During the first half of Homer’s The Odyssey, Homer focuses on several codes of conduct that are prevalent in Greek Society. Two of the more prevalent codes in this portion of the epic are Loyalty and Hospitality.
The code of Loyalty in is one of the most important codes in Greek society. It is expected that the people of a specific kingdom are loyal to their ruler in times of peace and war. They are expected to respect their king’s property and above all, his decisions. Throughout the first few books of The Odyssey the suitors of Ithaka violate this code. While Odysseus, their king, has not returned from Troy, the suitors see fit that one of them should marry Penelope, Odysseus’s wife. In addition to courting his wife, the suitors come into Odysseus’s house and proceed to eat his meat, and drink his wine. “ The haughty suitors came in and all of them straightaway took their places…and the serving maids brought them bread heaped up in baskets and the young men filled their mixing bowls with wine” (I, 144-149). The suitors show no respect for their king. They come into Odysseus’s home and make themselves comfortable, as if they were the rulers of Ithaka. They ever go as far as to assign themselves their own seats, deliberately violating the loyalty code. The suitors are in a sense, committing treason. They are attempting to marry his wife, they have “seized control” of his home, and have taken advantage of his resources. Eventually, the treasonous suitors suffer for their actions, as Odysseus takes back his home and murders them.
It was expected that a guest would adhere to certain rules that made up the code of Hospitality. Upon entering a stranger’s home, the guest must wait to be admitted to the home. Once he is been properly fed, the guest is obligated to disclose some basic information about himself: What his name is, where he is from, what is the purpose of his journey. Upon his departure, it is customary that the master of the house sends the guest off with a gift. In the first half of the Odyssey, Odysseus demonstrates how to uphold the code of Hospitality. He arrives at the home of Alkinoös, king of the Phaiakians and upon feasting, he introduces himself as “Odysseus, son of Laertes…I am at home in sunny Ithaka” (IX, 19-21). Even before his introduction, Alkinoös’s wife, Arete, makes up a bed for Odysseus and allows him to stay in their palace, further extending their hospitality. Odysseus goes beyond the code by providing the Phaiakians with some “entertainment” by telling them the various stories of his travels. Being that he has upheld his part of the code, Alkinoös commands his men to sail Odysseus back to Ithaka, and sends him off with many gifts.
The codes of Loyalty and Hospitality are prevalent in the first half of the Odyssey. Homer creates a dichotomy between the suitors and Odysseus of how to properly follow the codes of society. The Suitors are disloyal, as they take advantage of Odysseus’s resources and attempt to court his wife. On the other hand, Odysseus upholds the code of Hospitality. He waits to be welcomed and in turn tells the Phaiakians about himself and his journeys. Today, we continue to uphold certain societal codes. Although we do not have a king as our rulers, it is forbidden to overthrow the government, and the White House is heavily guarded not only to protect the President, but also to ensure a degree of privacy for him and his family. While it is uncommon to expect wandering guests in one’s home, there are still rules of hospitality. Children are taught to say “please and thank you” when visiting a friend’s house. It is common courtesy as well policy in many hotels to respect hotel property. Just as in the times of Ancient Greece, the codes of Loyalty and Hospitality continue to be among the most important societal codes
The code of chivalry in Greek society can still be seen in today’s society. In ancient Greece, if a man wanted a women’s hand in marriage, there were several steps he had to take. First, he had to court the lady of interest. Should he succeed, the man then had to pay a dowry to the family of the bride. This dowry would consist of gold, and other gifts from the house of the groom. Throughout the first few books of The Odyssey there is a violation of this code, evidenced by the relationship between the suitors and Penelope, Odysseus’s wife. While Odysseus has still not returned from Troy, the suitors see fit that one of them should marry Penelope. Rather then courting her, instead they make themselves comfortable in Odysseus’s home and try to coerce her into marrying one of them. To begin with, none of the suitors made an offer to Penelope’s father for her hand in marriage, in essence, neglecting to offer a dowry for her hand in marriage. On an even larger scale, these men are courting the wife of their king. It is disrespectful to court a married woman, let alone the wife of one’s leader. Additionally, as mentioned above, the suitors fail to court Penelope. Additionally, they didn’t give her family any type of dowry. In the second half of the book, the suitors will pay for their disloyalty and their lack of chivalry, as Odysseus murders them upon his return home.
One of the most important codes in ancient Greek society is the code of Hospitality. Upon entering a stranger’s home, the guest must wait to be admitted to the home. Once he has been properly fed, the guest is obligated to disclose some basic information about himself: What his name is, where he is from, what is the purpose of his journey. Upon his departure, it is customary that the master of the house sends the guest off with a gift. In the first half of the Odyssey, Odysseus demonstrates how to uphold the code of Hospitality. He arrives at the home of Alkinoös, king of the Phaiakians and upon feasting, he introduces himself as “Odysseus, son of Laertes…I am at home in sunny Ithaka” (IX, 19-21). Even before his introduction, Alkinoös’s wife, Arete, makes up a bed for Odysseus and allows him to stay in their palace, further extending their hospitality.
Unlike Odysseus, the suitors violate the code of Hospitality. Seeing that Odysseus has not returned from his wanderings, they enter his home without permission from Penelope nor Telemachos. Upon entering Odysseus’s home, they begin to eat all of his food, drink his wine without permission from Odysseus. The suitors show no respect for his [Odysseus’s] home nor his possessions.“ The haughty suitors came in and all of them straightaway took their places…and the serving maids brought them bread heaped up in baskets and the young men filled their mixing bowls with wine” (I, 144-149). The suitors had assumed specific chairs and expected to be served, in a home that was not theirs, by maids whom they did not own, and ate food and drank wine that was not theirs to drink. This is a deliberate violation of their allegiance to the king but above all shows blatant disregard for the code of Hospitality.