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Othello
Writing Assignment (80 Points) Due: Wednesday, May 7, 2008 Directions: In your best style, please respond to
the following questions. Please read
each carefully before beginning. Do your best to keep each of your responses
to one double-spaced page. 1.
Morality plays are a type of drama in
which the hero (in this case, Othello) is met by characters who represent
various moral attributes. These
characters try to prompt the hero to choose a godly life or one of evil. In a
list rather than a paragraph, identify which characters are primarily
symbolic and which moral attribute(s) each represents. Make
entries on your list something like this:
Character: Jim Roth is symbolic of the Dark Side of the Force FThen, in a paragraph, explain why Othello chooses
the Dark Side. 2. Defend the notion that Iago is an outcast or misfit
and that this leads him to strike out.
Refer your reader to specific events and dialog in the play that would
serve as an examples. 3. Culture exerts control in part by placing certain
behavioral expectations on its members and by defining the expectations its
members should hold for other members of that culture. Pick at least two characters that defy or
ignore the cultural expectations of the time and place in which the play was
set and briefly justify each your choices.
Please refer to particular parts of the play for your support. 4.
Scenario: The good news is that you are the
greatest attorney of your time; the bad news is your time happens to be in
Venice just after Othello’s suicide.
Added to this bad news is that you are in service to the Venetian
Ruling Council. The city is already roiling over what has transpired on
Cyprus, so the Duke and his council do not want Iago’s trial and expected execution
to further incite the public. To
forestall this, the Venetian Ruling Council assigns you to be Iago’s defense
attorney, instructing you to give Iago the best defense possible. You have no option but to agree. FIn a paragraph or two, share with us your opening statement
to the jury. Begin your statement with the words, Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, today
stands before you Iago . . . . |
