Humanities & Classics 1002
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Renaissance Forum
Humanities & Classics 1002 |
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Every time I read or watch Shakespeare's plays "Romeo & Juliet" or "Othello" I always hope things will be different and they won't die like they do every time. Shakespeare is the master of Tradgedy. Poor Othello. He is the victim of a Machiavellian bastard. Iago is out to get something for himself. I'm not even sure what, I've never figured that much out. Machiavelli believes that one should generally strive to follow the moral highroad and be a good person except when the moral highroad collides with you personal interests. Iago is one of his finest students. I wonder if anyone could actually be that evil. People are literally a game to him (remember the chess pieces? How appropriate) and it doesn't matter if they live or die. What makes him so disturbingly evil is my suspicion that he toyed with these people's lives just for the sake of manipulative toying. We all have our hobbies, but really.
Othello on the other hand is too trusting and relatively unselfish. I feel that he is a bit of a pushover when it comes to peer pressure. Perhaps the reason he belives Iago is "honest" is race related. If Venice was anything like the United States only a few decades ago, Othello was probably the victim of stereo types and I'm sure he knew it. So, in order to do what was "right" Venice style perhaps he felt he needed the consultation and advice of a "common" Venetian like Iago. Othello was worried that people were already talking behind his back and Iago's suggestion that His wife was acting covertly further indentured Othello to Iago for advice and help sorting things out. Unfortunately, Iago was out to get him. Why did Othello doubt Desdemona so quickly? When they were first married, Othello seemed to respect Desdemona more than most of the other men respected their respective wives/hookers. Why does he change? I believe it is because of an age old plague on our society, Patriarchy. Even though she is his wife, Iago is a Man and that makes him naturally more trustable. Her word against his. So, if poor Othello would have relied more on his own beliefs and payed less attention to the social "norms" of Venice, the two of them might have lived together in post marital bliss. It's Iago's fault, that jackass.
In regards to your question about Renaissance ideals:
Ideals are Ideals. Just because they exist doesn't mean that people actually attain them. For example, the super models. For many (many) these women represent the "ideal" woman. However, a microscopic section of the population can attain this ideal without serious biological side effects. You know what I'm saying. In the Renaissance men were seen as equal (according to their literature) and each capable of achieving everything. It was their responsibility. But much like our own constitution which states that all men are equal and free to persue happiness, it only applied to the Aristocracy which of course were white men. That's it. Even though Othello excells in warfare (a skill held in the highest respect) and speech, and perhaps even literature, he is still a Black man.
And how about Pico?
I feel that Pico is a supreme optimist. He is a feel good writer. Some people are just like that. I wonder if he felt so close to God all of the time. Personally, optimism for me comes and goes depending on the day and the cycle of the moon. I think many are like me, Even Othello, perhaps. His anguished exclamation "O vain boast! Who can control his fate? Tis not so now." sounds to me like a person who has had a very bad day and is sick of it all. He is succumbing to pessimism. I think I would have too if I were Othello. Poor guy, he killed his wife for nothing.
Excellent Play!