Week 4: Othello (Oliver Parker 1995)



Othello poster & movie trailer link



Othello, a Moor, is a highly revered Venetian general, who secretly marries the daughter of a senator. Jealous that he has not been promoted to Othello’s personal lieutenant, Iago ambitiously begins a malicious revenge crusade against Othello: manipulating his jealousy and planting a seed of doubt against his new wife Desdemona, and Cassio: painting him to be secretly courting Othello’s wife. Driven to madness, Othello is manipulated into a course of destruction.

This movie was very dark, and had a chilling ending. Iago is the essence of evil, is violent and has no feeling for others, and his fearless demeanour has everyone around him convinced of his well meaning, likability and honesty. I felt like I was a part of his wicked scheming through his direct dialogue to the camera, as if I was the only person who knew of his real character and dangerous plot. I felt uncomfortable with my forced involvement with him. This movie was brilliantly done, and I really empathised with Othello’s demise.

Racism:

The marriage between a black man and a white woman is certainly frowned upon: even though Othello is a respected and trusted military leader, it is suggested that the only way Desdemona could possibly love him was through some sort of trickery or magic.
Brabanzio, Dedsdemona’s father ‘O thou foul thief, where hast thou stowed my daughter? Damned as thou art, thou hast enchanted her’.

Iago's racism is evident through his references to Othello’s skin colour; ‘an old black ram is tupping your white ewe’, however I believe that jealousy and ambition are Iago’s primary motivations for his malicious plans against not only Othello, but also Cassio.

Ambition:

Cassio is as much involved in Iago’s plot as Othello. Iago plays with innocent Cassio, and uses him to get to Othello. With Cassio demoted, Iago believes he should be the next in line to take up position as lieutenant, which is what he is so angry about to start with; ‘Preferment goes by letter and affection, and not by old gradation, where each second stood heir to the first’.
Iago’s manipulation of Othello’s jealousy leads to the attempted murder of Cassio, and the murder of Desdemona. Othello admits to his murder, and his involvement in Cassio’s attempted murder, leaving Iago in the position to be raised to General. I believe that his ambition for greatness and his desire for power and control is the real reason that Iago wove such a net of lies and manipulated everyone around him. He used the people around him as a means to an end.

Jealousy:

·         Othello: murders Desdemona out of pointless jealousy (Fitzsimmons & McCallum, 2009).

·         Iago: we never really know what Iago wants out of his manipulation and deceit. He may be jealous of Othello’s power. He is jealous of Cassio’s promotion, believing that he is the better experience soldier and has recommendation from three ‘great ones’ of the city.

·         Bianca: jealously accuses Cassio of giving her a second hand gift meant for another lover.

Love:
I did not doubt the real love between Othello and Desdemona. Their mutual love is evident right till the end, as Desdemona dies caressing Othello’s face, and Othello’s last words capture his own admission that he is ‘One Who Loved Not Wisely, But Too Well.’
I think the message here is that love takes many forms, and is shared between many cultures and colours. Love is colour blind.

Discussion Question: Iago says: 'I am not what I am'. What is the significance of this comment?

Throughout the dialogue in the first scene, Iago reveals much about his true character. He states that there is nothing wrong with men who service their masters not for love and duty, but only to serve their own self interest. They pay well, and can be used for self promotion. He is admitting that this is exactly what he is doing, that he has no love for Othello, but that it is necessary to appear to as he waits for an opportunity to further his own self-interests. ‘In following him, I follow only myself.’

His official rank is that of Othello’s Ensign, the carrier of the distinguishing flag of his military unit. Although Iago hates Othello, ‘as I hate hell pains’, he still must show ‘a flag and sign of love, to preserve my present life’: he must do his duty and pretend to love his master and keep his position. Iago is very good at presenting himself as likable, honest and trustworthy. Othello claims him to be ‘a man he is of honesty and trust’, and Iago is consistently described and referred to by many as honest Iago. He is a charming liar and uses the trust others have in him to his advantage through manipulation. I believe that Iago, by stating that he is not what he is, is significant because he is admitting to his dangerous psychopathic character through covering up his true self through lies and manipulation.