Othello Comments (ABSENT)

This is what you told me to do because I was ABSENT on Tuesday, December 7, 2010.

On Blake's Blog:
I commented:
"I had no idea that the first edition of the Bible in Greek was printed there! I learned a lot of new things just by reading this."

On Katie's Blog:
"I find it interesting that Cyprus was made up of 80% Greek and 20% Turks when Shakespere seems to only focus on the Turks population... I also whould like to know what the term American means, because there was no true America until a century later..."

On Haley's Blog:
"I now understand why Othello was called "The Moor" because Moor means dark, and he has dark skin."

On Trevor's Blog:
"Wow! I would have never thought that the 16th century was when people stopped believing that Demon's caused Epilepsy. I also think it is silly that they thought it was a contagious disease.
P.S. I like the rubber ducky background :)"

Character Analysis

Desdemona-
Desdemona is a wise, confident young lady. She is graceful, sweet, and intelligent. She also knows when to say her opinions and when to hold her tongue. She is very obedient and loyal. She is the kind of woman that every little girl dreams of becoming and looks up to. She is very loving and honest as well. She should be a princess.

Othello Act 4 Scene 3

3 techniques from the play and their effect(s).

1.)
TECHNIQUE: The author switches between different dialogues.
EFFECT: This switching creates the sense of being able to know what is happening at a certain time and to know that these two conversations are taking place at the same time.
2.)
TECHNIQUE: The author uses forshadowing.
EFFECT: The reader gets the sense that Desdemona may die or there will be an attempt to kill her. It creates an erie mood and a suspicious tone.
3.)
TECHNQUE: The author uses metaphors.
EFFECT: It helps the reader to understand the meaning and underlying meanings to the words. It also helps to set the mood.

Othello Act 4 Scene 1 Key Passage Analysis

The passage that I decided to analyze was:
"OTHELLO:
She is protectress of her honor too.
May she give that?
IAGO:
Her honor is an essence that's not seen;
They have it very oft that have it not.
But, for the handkerchief -
OTHELLO:
By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it.
Thou said'st - Oh, it comes o'er my memory
As doth the raven o'er the infectious house,
Boding to all - he had my handkerchief.
IAGO:
Ay, what of that?
OTHELLO:
That's not so good now" (Othello 4.1 14-24).

Analysis:

Here, Othello is talking with Iago. Othello is saying that with the handerkerchief, Desdemona gave away her honor and loyalty to him. Othello is using a metaphor for the fact that he feels horrible and angry and like the fact that Iago brought it up is like the last straw. Othello is also saying that he wishes he could forget it. I think that this will prove to be important later on, because it show's how Othello is changing both emotionally and mentally. He is starting to let his jealousy get the best of him.

Jaleesa

Jaleesa, I know you are creeping on my blog! ;) lol
You can go ahead and look at what I have done. I think you will find everything in order. I hope that reading my blog helps you! :) and Feel Better Soon!!!!!! :)

Othello Memorization

"Her father loved me, oft invited me, still questioned me the story of my life from year to year - the battles, sieges, fortunes that I have passed. I ran it through, even from my boyish days to th' very moment that he bade me tell it, wherein I spoke of most disastrous chances, of hairbreadth scapes i'th'imminent deadly breach, of being taken by the insolent foe and sold to slavery, of my redemtion thence, and 'portance in my travels history, of antres vast and deserts idle, rough quarries, rocks, and hills whose heads touch heaven, it was my hint to speak - such was the process - and of the cannibals that each other eat, the Anthropophagi, and the men whose heads do grow beneath their shoulders. These things to hear would Desdemona seriously incline: but still the house affairs would draw her thence, which, ever as she could would haste dispatch, she'd come again with greedy ear and devour up my discourse, which I, observing, took once a pliant hour and found good means to draw from her a prayer of earnest heart"

Othello Act 3 Scene 4 Casting Call!!!!!

Calling all actors! I am Michelle Vollmuller. I am casting for the Shakesperian play: Othello, The Moor of Venice.
Roles Needing to be Cast:
Emilia-
"Come on, come on. You are pictures out of doors,
Bells in your parlors, wildcats in your kitchens,
Saints in your injuries, devils being offended,
Players in your huswifery, and huswives in your beds" (Othello 2.1 111-114).
"I am glad I have found this napkin.
This was her first remembrance of the /moor.
My wayward husband hath a hundred times
Wooed me to steal it, but she so loves the token -
For he conjured her she should ever keep it -
That she reserves it evermore about her
To kiss and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out,
And give't Iago. What he will do with it
Heaven knows, not I;
I nothing but to please his fantasy" (Othello 3.3 306-315).

I think that Isabella Fogliazza should play Emilia. Emilia will do anything to please her husband. She has a desperate look to her eyes. Isabella looks like the picture of what I believe Emilia would look like.

Othello Act 3 Scene 4 Casting Call!!!!

Calling all actors! I am Michelle Vollmuller. I am casting for the Shakesperian play: Othello, The Moor of Venice.
Roles Needing to be Cast:
Iago-
"Were I the Moor I would not be Iago.
In following him, I follow but myself -
Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,
But seeming so for my peculiar end.
For when my outward action doth demonstrate
The native act and figure of my heart
In compliment extern, 'tis not long after
But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
For daws to peck at. I am not what I am" (Othello 1.1 59-67).
"Thou art sure of me. Go, make money. I have
told thee often, and I retell thee again and again, I hate
the Moor. My cause is hearted; thine hath no less rea-
son. Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against him.
If thou canst cuckold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure,
me a sport" (Othello 1.3 366-371).

I think that Raoul Bova should play Iago. To me, he looks like a man who is decieving and selfish. He is also italian, just like Iago.

Othello Act 3 Scene 4 Casting Call!!!

Calling all actors! I am Michelle Vollmuller. I am casting for the Shakesperian play: Othello, The Moor of Venice.
Roles Needing to be Cast:
Desdemona -
"But that I love the gentle Desdemona,
I would not my unhoused free condition
Put into circumscription and confine
For the sea's worth" (Othello 1.2 25-28).
"My noble father,
I do perceive here a divided duty.
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,
And so much duty as my mother showed
To you, preferring you before her father,
So much I challenge that I may profess
Due to the Moor my lord" (Othello 1.3 182-191).

I think that Monica Bellucci should play Desdemona. Desdemona is supposed to be italian and very beautiful. Monica Bellucci is italian. I think that she fits the description of Desdemona.

Othello Act 3 Scene 4 Casting Call!!!!

Calling all actors! I am Michelle Vollmuller. I am casting for the Shakesperian play: Othello, The Moor of Venice.
Roles Needing to be Cast:
Othello -
"Now, by heaven,
My blood begins my safer guides to rule,
And passion, having my best judgement collied,
Essays to lead the way. Zounds, if I stir,
Or do but lift this arm, the best of you
Shall sink in my rebuke" (Othello 2.3 198-203).
"Most potent, grave, and reverend signors,
My very noble and approved good masters:
That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter,
It is most true; true, I have married her.
The very head and front of my offending
Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech,
And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace;
For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith,
Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used
Their dearest action in the tented field;
And little of this great world can I speak
More than pertains to feats of broils and battle,
And therefore little shall I grace my cause
In speaking for myself" (Othello 1.3 78-91).

I think that Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje should play Othello. To me, he looks like an Othello. The actor knows Italian, as well as English. He looks like a warrior and a man who has worked hard.

Othello Act 2 Scene 1

Iago, his wife, and Desdemona get to Cyprus safely. Cassio greets them and tells them that the Turks have blown off course. Othello arrives and greets his wife. Othello tells them that the Turks have drowned. Iago is plotting his revenge as everyone exchanges greetings and such. Iago explains to Roderigo that Cassio loves Desdemona and she him. He says that Roderigo must anger Cassio in order for them to start the rumors. Roderigo agrees. Iago finds himself falling for Desdemona as well.

I think that Iago is just using Roderigo and that in the end, Iago will hurt Othello, Cassio, Roderigo, himself, and Desdemona. I do not think that this plan will end well.

Othello Act 1 Scene 3

Brabantio takes Othello to the Duke. Othello tells the Duke, Brabantio, and the other Senators how he wooed Desdemona. Desdemona comes and confirms Othello's story. Othello and Desdemona recieve Brabantio's blessing. Othello recieves orders from the Duke to go to Cyprus. Othello and Desdemona make arrangements for Desdemona to go with Iago and have Iago's wife take care of him. Roderigo speaks to Iago of drowning himself because he loves Desdemona, but he cannot have her. Then Roderigo and Iago make a plan to get revenge on Othello by making him believe that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio.

I think that this play keeps adding new layers and twists to the plot. It is very intriguing. I am excited to keep reading and find out if Roderigo and Iago's plan works.

Othello Act 1 Scene 2

Othello is talking to Iago about why Iago wasn't promoted. Iago is trying to boast/impress/make himself seem better than the other man. Iago sees torches coming and tells Othello that he needs to hide. Othello says no. It turns out to be one of Othello's officers. The officer tells Othello that he needs to come with him because he has been summoned by the Duke. They see more torches. This time it turns out to be Brabantio and Roderigo. Brabantio has Othello arrested, but the officer says that Brabantio can't do that. Brabantio explains the situation and takes Othello away.

I thought this was intriguing. I also thought that this would be somewhat of how the book/play ends. Apparently, I was wrong. So now, I will have to read the whole book/play to find out how it ends. I will just have to figure out a new guess for how the book/play ends.

Othello Act 1 Scene 1

Iago did not get promoted to officer by "the Moor". He is telling Roderigo about this. Then Roderigo and Iago go to Brabantio's house and wake him. They tell Brabantio that his daughter has run off with "the Moor". Roderigo wanted to marry Brabantio's daughter. Now, both Roderigo and Iago have reasons to be angry with "the Moor". Brabantio finds out that his daughter really has run off and gotten married to "the Moor". He is very infuriated and worried. He, his servants, his men, and Roderigo go off to find them.

I thought this was very interesting that Iago and Roderigo know eachother and both dislike "the Moor". I also find it interesting that Brabantio doesn't know that his daughter has run off and gotten married. This is making for an interesting book.

My Body Paragraph

    Wilson uses comparing and contrasting to convey the theme that a person will do whatever it takes to fulfill their dreams, even if it means cheating their own family. “I aint talking about all that, woman. I aint talking about selling my soul. I’m talking about trading that piece of wood for some land. Get something under your feet. Land the only thing God aint making no more of. You can always get another piano” (50). Boy Willie is basically saying that the piano is worthless. It has no meaning and no value. He does not seem to realize how much it means to Berniece. All he cares about is fulfilling his dream, to get land. He is telling Berniece to let him have it because he cannot see the value. He also tells her that she can always get another piano. By saying that the piano is made of wood and she can always get another, he contradicts himself. He says that no more land is being made, but wood is from land. By saying that she can get another piano, he is indirectly stating that he can always get a different piece of land. He really should think before he speaks.

Conclusion

In The Piano Lesson, the piano symbolizes history. In the history, people fight over the piano to achieve their dreams. In the present, people are fighting over the piano for the same reason. This conveys the theme that people will do whatever it takes to get what they want, even if it means cheating their own family. We put the piano and the different things it represents. We put Sutter’s ghost to represent the history of the family and the piano. Berniece and Boy Willie represent the family and the fact that the history lives through them. They are willing to do anything to achieve their dreams. We also put a saw, a rope, a gun, and the board with wheels. These symbolize hard work, achieving your dreams, and the struggle between family differences. People are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their dreams. Sometimes, they go too far.

Intro for The Piano Lesson essay

    In the book, The Piano Lesson, August Wilson portrays the theme that a person will do whatever it takes to fulfill their dreams, even if it means cheating their own family. The piano, in The Piano Lesson, symbolizes history. In the family’s history, people fight over the piano in order to achieve their dreams. In the present, people are fighting over the piano for the same reason. This conveys the theme that people will do whatever it takes to fulfill their dreams, even if it means cheating their family. Boy Willie is willing to take the piano, even though his sister, Berniece, doesn’t want him to. They both own half of it. Boy Willie wants to take the piano and sell it to buy land. That’s his dream. Berniece’s dream is to see Maretha grow up and play the piano. They both want the piano, and they are arguing over it. Both of them want it to fulfill a dream.

The Piano Lesson

THE END!

The Piano Lesson Act 2 Scene 5

I like that we finally learn why the Yellow Dog is called the Yellow Dog. I have been wondering that throughout the book. Boy Willie is still very intent on getting that piano. He also has very elaborate stories, and he likes to fight with Berniece. He never leaves her alone. Deep down they must really love eachother, otherwise they probably would have had one fight and that would have been it. I like that Boy Willie really has an interest in the piano's history and the people behind it and that he wants to celebrate all of that. He really takes pride in where he comes from. Although, why does he want to sell it if he thinks it has such meaning? I find it interesting that while they are trying to move the piano, Winning Boy comes in and says that he doesn't want it to be moved. It seems like everyone, but Boy Willie, wants it to stay. I also find it curiousser that Sutter's ghost is felt this time, rather than seen. There is finally a bit of comedy to this book. While Avery is trying to bless the house, Boy Willie seems to be going mad by imitating Avery and such.
I love the ending. We finally find out why the piano is so important. It keeps evil away. It helps in troubled times. It is a symbol of hope, strength, courage, love, and hard work. It tells the story of their lives and pasts. It also helps in the midst of utter despair.