Homework: Weeks 4/5

Homework: Weeks 4/5

Second body and conclusion

The introduction and first paragraph have been reworded.

A hero, as defined by the Oxford dictionary, is a "person, typically a man, who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities." In Othello there are no characters which have successfully completely filled this criteria and have therefore rightly deserved the title of 'hero.' Othello, in his public life could be seen as a hero, based on his military prowess, though he is the opposite in his private life. Emelia, however, does show the characteristics of a hero in her private life but not in her public appearance. Emelia's actions in the last scene of the play would put her closer to the title of 'hero' than any other character in Othello, it is her actions in the first part of the play, however, that tarnishes Emelias image. Being the wife of the villain, Iago, gives the assumption she too is evil, Emelia is also accused of being a cuckold in Iago first soliloquy, and then steals her mistress', Desdemona's, handkerchief. The significant events in the beginning of the play that position the reader to see Emelia as evil far outweigh the risk she took in the final scene.

Emelia is portrayed in Othello as an evil yet unimportant character, her actions in the first four acts are either unimportant or malicious. The stealing of Desdemona's handkerchief was one of the key points in the play that was the only reason Iago's plan worked, it was also done as an evil act by Emelia. Desdemona and Emelia had a very close relationship, Desdemona treated Emelia with respect and Emelia trusted Desdemona. When Emelia stole Desdemona's handkerchief and then continued to deny that she did so, the trust was broken. Emelia intentionally caused trauma to Desdemona, this is something that a hero would definitely not do, therefore Emelia is not a hero.

In the final scene of Othello the only evidence that Emelia is a hero is seen. During this scene, she risks her life to let everyone know that Othello murdered Desdemona, she then sacrifices her self to tell the people that Iago made her steal the handkerchief and he is the actual one behind it all. In no doubt is this a brave and noble thing to do, two characteristics of a hero, but it does not outweigh her actions in the first four scenes. Emelia's actions in this scene could also be dismissed a guilt and a heavy conscience.

Emelia's actions throughout the play, both good and bad, are not significant enough to be considered actions of a hero or a of a villian, but that of a normal human being. Emelia made both wrong and noble decisions, and it is for the wrong decisions that she can not be considered a Hero.

"Emelia is the real hero of Othello".

Write an introductory paragraph which presents your thesis and at least two main points in support of this, as well as one of the body paragraphs.

In Othello there are no characters which have rightly deserved the title of 'hero.' Even though Emelia was the most heroic of all characters she was in no way a hero. In the first part of the play Emelia is presented as the wife of the villain, Iago, and therefore is seen as a villain also. She cements this view of her being a villian by stealing Desdemonas handkerchief, she then confirms it a second time by not telling Desdemona that she stole the handkerchief after she saw how upset it made her. The only time that Emelia seems like she is a Hero is in the last scene, she stands up to Othello and reports Desdemonas murder, although this can just been seen as guilt, of being the root of all these problems.

Desdemona and Emelia's relationship should have been one of mutual respect and trust, but Emelia betrays this trust and subsequently causes Desdemonas death. By stealing Desdemonas handkerchief, which she knew she loved very much, she could not have meant anything good out of it and therefore had not good intentions. A hero can not be a person who intentionally causes trauma to another person close to them, therefore in no way is Emelia a hero.

Homework week 2/3

Reputation in Othello

Based on what we have read so far, discuss the importance/significance of reputation in relation to the following characters:

Desdemona
Cassio
Iago

Aim for the development of solid, analytical paragraphs. Ensure that your main points are substantiated by relevant, pertinent evidence and that you take the time to synthesise the evidence.

Reputation seems to be of vital importance in Othello, in particular to Iago and Cassio. In the time Othello was based in public appearance and reputation was obviously held highly. Desdemona is one of the only people in the play that seems not to see the significance of reputation. Cassio is seen as a very respectable and overall liked character, it is this good reputation that could be the reason for his high view of public appearance, because of his fear to loose his. After he has succumb to alcohol, something he was very reluctant to do, and humiliated himself in front of not only his officer, Othello, but also the public. It is seen in in Act 2 Scene 3 Cassio's dispair after his outburst, "Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation!" (2.3.242-243)

Iago knows the importance of reputation in a different way, by using it to his advantage and to manipulate Othello. Iago has a renowned reputation for being a very honest, trustworthy man and this is what Othello bases their friendship on, "I know, Iago, Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter." (2.3.228-229) When Iago recounts the story of how Cassio started the violence Othello takes Iago's side of the story as the truth because of his reputation.

Desdemona, however, does not realise the significance of reputation and not only ruins hers, by getting married to moor, but also does not realise Othello's professional reputation. Being the daughter of Brabantio, a senator, Desdemona is expected to marry a successful white man. Instead, she marries Othello, a moor. By doing so she ruins her reputation of being pure and innocent.

Wednesday, October 6th Task

Is Iago justified in reporting Desdemona's marriage to Othello to her father? Consider his motives, Brabantio's response and the cultural assumptions about race in the play. Write a paragraph response, clearly identifying your thesis in the topic sentence.

Iago is justified in telling Brabantio about Othello and Desdemona's marriage, as he had a right to know about his only daughters recent marriage. However, it is Iago's motives that causes his actions to become selfish and unjustified. Iago's intentions for telling Brabantio were not out of kindness, they were out of his desire to get rid of Othello. Brabantio's angry response would be typical of a person in the time period in which Othello was written, where the cultural assumption is that Moors are a lesser person than white people. All of these factors would lead to Othello being hated by his father-in-law and would achieve Iago's hopes of being promoted. Iago is therefore not justified in telling Brabantio about Desdemona and Othello's marriage because not only were his intentions sinister, he was also aware of how Brabantio would respond to the news of a Moor stealing his daughter away from him.

I am.. Anna Akhmatova

You should now be in a position to understand something of the forces that shaped Anna Akhmatova's life and work. Choose a poem written by her before the revolution and explain (writing in role as Anna) how this poem was born out your own life experiences and the social and cultural world you lived in. Try to give a real insight into the connections between her life and work. Publish on your blog by 4.00 pm Tuesday 20th July.

In the Evening

Outside, the music is steeped

In such ineffable sadness.

The ice-packed oysters on the dish

Have the sharp, fresh tang of the sea.

He said to me: "I really am

A true friend!" -- and he touched my dress.

How unlike a caress it was,

The touch of those hands.

This is how cats or birds are stroked,

How you gaze at a shapely equestrienne...

His calm eyes have nothing but laughter in them,

Under pale lashes of gold.

And the sorrowing violins, behind

a veil of smoke, intone--

"Thank the stars---For the first time,

You and your beloved are alone."

When Nikolay and I were first wed, he was desperate for me, he tried to end his life when I told him I didn't want to be together, I grew to love Nikolay as he loved me. Soon after we were married it almost seemed as if our marriage was suffocating him, his love for me diminished and he started to have affairs with other women. His love for me turned into that someone would have for their pet, I was now at best, a friend. Nikolay's infidelity led me to have my own affairs, with people like me, poets and artists, that helped my creativity flourish instead of hindering it.

Consider what you have learnt about Ibo Culture so far.

What attributes were valued by the males of Umofia?

Males of the Umofia tribe valued and respected other men who displayed attributes such as; physical strength, males were expected to be strong. Hard work was also valued, when males worked hard they were able to earn wealth (measured in yams) which increased the number of wives they had as they were able to support them, and finally dominance which occurred once a male had acquired all of these attributes.

How important were proverbs in this culture?

Articulation was admired in Umofia, and knowing proverbs was admired. In the tribe were physical brutality was valued so highly. The knowledge of proverbs is a stark contrast.

Explain how marriage and family life function.

A man in Umofia can have many wives, as many as he can support. He lives in his own hut, while his wives and children live in another hut. The male is very much the center of the family, it's his daughters duty to serve him.

What is the attitude to women in regard to religious belief?

Women in Ibo society have little rights, being the inferior gender to males. However in religous belief the most dominant women are the priestesses. The priestesses are used as bodies to deliver the message of God to the people.

How does sharecropping work?

Sharecropping is the process of borrowing the yam seeds from wealthier people and the yams are harvested to return some of the harvest to the person who leant the yam.

Has Ibo culture been represented positively, negatively or both?

Up to the fifth chapter in the book both the negative and positive sides to Ibo culture have been represented. Allowing for a full view of what Ibo Culture is actually made of and making it more realistic.

M.I.A.

Tani Abbott has been missing for quite a while. End of 2008 and most of 2009. Where has she been? No one knows.

Some speculate she skipped town and now lives in New Zealand, Others say that she eloped in Las Vegas, Some even say that she got drastic plastic surgury and now is unrecognisable.
Well, we have found her, un-married, and she looks the same.
And now. She is back.