Othello Essay Rough Draft Revisions February 2010

Period 1: How would you revise?  Othello is seen as the epitome of all that is good and holy. He is an honest man who fights for the state of Venice.

Period 1: Here’s my revision  The citizens of Venice view Othello not only as an honest man who fights for them, but as the veritable epitome of all that is good and holy.

Period 1: How would you revise?  When Emilia gives the handkerchief to Iago she receives momentary attention, but then she is tossed to the side again by Iago because has no further use for him.  Supporting Quote: “No, faith; she let it drop by negligence, and to the advantage, I being here took ’t up.” - Emilia, 3.3

Period 1: Here’s my revision  Emilia expresses her excitement to Iago over the serendipitous circumstances by which she procured the handkerchief: “No, faith; she let it drop by negligence, and to the advantage, I being here took ’t up” (3.3). When Emilia gives the handkerchief to Iago, he gives her momentary attention, but soon enough tosses her aside when he no longer has use for her.

Period 1: How would you revise?  But, that was not the case, and with such a simple error, Iago’s ingenious plan that took him so much cunning planning and deceiving, all comes down with a few words from Emilia.  Supporting quote: “Iago, even more totally the master of his play, is at last undone by Emilia…willing to die for the sake of the murdered Desdemona’s good name.” (Bloom 442)

Period 1: Here’s my revision  But that was not the case, and with such a simple error, Iago’s cunning plan unravels with a few words from Emilia. As the great literary critic Harold Bloom observes, “Iago, even more totally the master of his play, is at last undone by Emilia…willing to die for the sake of the murdered Desdemona’s good name” (Bloom 442).

Period 1: How would you revise?  He also hates Othello because he thinks that Othello had an affair with his wife.

Period 1: Here’s my revision  He also hates Othello because he thinks that Othello had an affair with his wife: “it is thought abroad that ’twixt my sheets he has done my office” (1.1).

Period 4: How would you revise  There can also be a case that Othello is the major reason that Desdemona died because he was the one who actually put the pillow over her head. But, I don’t agree with this because the only reason he got the idea in his head was because Iago put it there. Iago is very manipulative and can make almost anyone do or think what he wants.

Period 4: Here’s my revision  Some may argue that Othello is the major reason that Desdemona died because he was the one who actually put the pillow over her head, but this line of logic is flawed. The only reason Othello gets the idea in his head is because Iago puts it there. Iago is very manipulative and can make almost anyone do or think what he wants, and indeed he does when he contorts Othello’s mind.

Period 4: How would you revise?  He murdered what he called a “friend”, but was really a tool, because he had no further use of him. “I have rubb’d this young quat almost to the sense…”

Period 4: Here’s my revision  He murders what he called a “friend,” but who was really a pawn in Iago’s game. Indeed, Iago rationalizes the murder of both Roderigo and Cassio, speaking in frank and measured tones about how each “must die”: “I have rubb’d this young quat almost to the sense…” (5.1).

Period 4: How would you revise?  Even though it was his fault, I don’t think his intentions at first were for Othello to kill Desdemona, maybe just for him to hate her and break up with her.

Period 4: Here’s my revision  Though Desdemona’s death is inarguably Iago’s fault, the antagonist does not necessarily have death in mind when he first plots against Othello.  You could then support this with quotes from Iago’s early soliloquies.