Today, rehearsals for the final scene are scheduled to begin. Regrettably, I must inform you that I won’t be able to attend.
I hurriedly got out of bed and ended up throwing my back. Now, I am at home, following the doctor’s orders to rest. But don’t worry! I am still fully capable of giving you instructions about my vision for the final scene. Tommy, please remember that this scene is incredibly important.
In this scene, which is the peak of Shakespeare’s exceptional tragedy, it is crucial to comprehend the concept of a tragedy. This play follows the styles of Greek writing that Shakespeare either used as inspiration or imitated.
The concept of tragedy was introduced by the ancient Greeks around 500 BC. Greece had organized festivals dedicated to drama, and Aristotle, a renowned Greek philosopher, extensively examined and analyzed theater and the arts. Consequently, I find it fitting to utilize Aristotle’s definition of tragedy. According to him, tragedy depicts the downfall of a prominent individual, as they transition from a state of abundance and success to one of misery and despair.
However, the suffering and downfall arise from an inherent flaw or weakness in the character. I am of the opinion that Othello’s flaw is hamartia, some mistake in judgment. Anagnorisis is the crucial message that needs to be communicated to the audience. The audience must comprehend that the protagonist goes from ignorance to awareness, thus fully grasping the root of his suffering.
According to Aristotle’s definition, Othello, as the General of the Venetian army, can be considered a flawed hero. However, by the end of the play, his ignorance leads him from being the esteemed General to becoming a common murderer. Therefore, Othello must come to realize the consequences of his actions, which reinforces the definition of a flawed hero.
The audience must experience hatred and resentment towards Iago as he dehumanized a successful and loving man. It is essential for the audience to empathize with Othello in order to feel catharsis.
In theory, Othello suffers the consequences of his mistake by both killing his wife and being demoted. Tommy, I understand that it might be perplexing, but every line in Shakespeare’s works is interconnected; there is significance behind each one. Tommy, have you managed to grasp the magnificence of Shakespeare’s plays? Othello is an exceptional piece of literature. I would be thrilled to meticulously plan every moment of the final scene, but that would require years.
So, I want you to pay attention to three specific moments sparked by lines in the play. First, when Othello enters the chamber and extinguishes the candles, he utters the words “put out the light.” This line occurs in Act 5, Scene 2.
7) The statement made by Othello, “Put out the light, and then put out the light…,” is quite intriguing.
Shakespeare employs repetitive use of four words in his iambic pentameter, which can be interpreted in multiple ways. Othello’s repetition may signify his insanity or illiteracy, or perhaps it serves as a mental check to ensure he fully comprehends his intention to kill his wife. Additionally, the play explores themes of light and darkness, with Othello and Desdemona representing black and white.
In several crucial scenes, darkness amplifies the tension. One such scene occurs when Iago and Roderigo inform Brabantio about Othello’s intention to wed Desdemona. Iago remains hidden while warning Brabantio, using a racially charged metaphor: “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe…”
On page 300, there is another dark scene where Iago kills Roderigo, as Iago says, “Kill men I’th’ dark…”
Shakespeare’s choice to incorporate contrasts, such as light and dark, in Othello serves multiple purposes. The primary aim is to depict Othello’s emotional state. Othello possesses a complex flaw as he perceives everything in extremes, categorizing individuals as either his best friend or a devil. Light and dark serve as symbols representing Othello’s fluctuating emotions.
When Othello is in a good mood, he is happy and light, making decisions carefully and with great wisdom. On page 132, 1.2.60, Othello demonstrates his wisdom.
Both Brabantio’s and Othello’s soldiers unsheathe their swords, ready to fight. However, Othello intervenes and diffuses the tension by telling them to sheathe their swords as the moisture in the air will cause them to rust.
“- They are instructed by their leader to keep their weapons stored but whenever he is in a foul mood, especially in the dark, he becomes impulsive. For example,
When Cassio is drunk, Othello is led away from his wedding bed and he dismisses Cassio. Othello should enter the room while Desdemona is sleeping. Tommy, in order to convey Shakespeare’s image of how a man can be brought down to dirt, follow these guidelines: limit the use of stage lights and primarily light the opening scene with real candles.
(I want the use of stage lights to be minimal.) The bed should be positioned in the center with twenty candles arranged symmetrically in a semi-circle around it. This set-up will create the impression that the chamber resembles a church, highlighting Othello’s presence as a forbidden and unholy creature. The entire chamber, including the sheets, bed, and pillows, should be white.
The objects in the room symbolize Desdemona, whom Othello describes as the light and wishes to restore her former brightness. Moreover, Desdemona is depicted as white, with her skin being compared to smooth, monumental alabaster. Her purity, innocence, and sacredness are akin to that of a church, which is the image that comes to mind.
Iago has successfully brought Othello to a point where he plans to murder his wife, making him appear even lower in the eyes of the audience. This portrayal of Othello as a beast is reinforced in the subsequent dark scene where Iago kills Roderigo.
In this scene, I want the darkness from the previous scene, along with the dark thoughts and images of death, to be portrayed through Othello. This will make him appear like a beast, highlighting the extent to which a man can be degraded. Othello’s flawed traits, combined with Iago’s deceitful information, lead him to desire his wife’s death. Therefore, in this scene, I aim for Othello’s appearance to reflect his inner turmoil – dark.
Othello comes into the room with a determination to kill, harboring dark thoughts. In this scene, I want everything to represent complete opposites, serving as a reflection of Othello’s state of mind—completely contradictory. When Othello is angry, he is dark, just like the room; and when he is in a good mood, he is light, much like Desdemona. The irony lies in the fact that Othello is about to obliterate Desdemona, the light that encompasses all of his own goodness.
Othello ought to wear black robes, while Desdemona should wear white. This presents a contrast between darkness and light, symbolizing Othello’s emotions. It is important for Othello’s speech to create tension as he walks around the bed, condescendingly addressing Desdemona. The audience anticipates Desdemona’s death during this scene. As Othello delivers his speech, he should go to each candle and extinguish them one by one.
Tommy, please ensure that there are pauses between each douse as it adds tension, emphasizing the slow process. The audience is left uncertain if Othello will actually kill Desdemona due to the deliberately slow speed. The line “put out the light” signifies the extinguishing of the candles, symbolizing the triumph of darkness over light.
In the continuation of Othello’s speech, he should keep dousing the candles, while also kneeling by the bed during the line “Once more”. It would be ideal for the last few lines of his speech to be delivered in very dim conditions, where Othello is barely visible. This aligns with Shakespeare’s intent, emphasizing the concept that Othello is not seen.
Othello’s state of mind is so deteriorated that he is unable to think rationally when he approaches Desdemona. This is evident when he leans over the bed and kisses her after extinguishing the candles. As a result, Othello’s shadow engulfs Desdemona physically. You might be curious about the symbolism behind the candles, Tommy.
The candles symbolize Desdemona’s life, as light represents life. Tommy, please comprehend the significance of the following scene, as I find it to be a powerful image. After Othello kisses Desdemona, she awakens. At this moment, the scene remains dimly lit, as Othello has extinguished half of the candles, creating an unsettling atmosphere.
This atmosphere is completely different from what it was just a few days ago, and it’s important that the audience recognizes this. Tommy, please remember that Othello is a newlywed. If you’ve forgotten, I’m confident the audience hasn’t. To emphasize this point, there is a subtle prop—a rack with a wedding gown hanging on it. This serves as a reminder to the audience of how close the wedding was to the tragic events.
Desdemona still cherishes her gown, which serves as a symbolic reminder of the change in Othello’s feelings towards her caused by Iago. This emphasizes Shakespeare’s point that not only can a man’s downfall be swift, but it can also be a consequence of his own flaws. The gown further intensifies the audience’s resentment towards Iago.
I want the house lights to gradually brighten as Desdemona awakens. The purpose is to depict the strong connection between life and light. As Desdemona wakes, her spirit also comes to life, represented by the stage lights. When Othello confesses his intentions to Desdemona, he pleads for mercy from heaven.
“.. ‘ is Desdemona’s response (5.2.
33). Desdemona is confused because Othello has just revealed his desire to kill her and she can’t understand why her lover wants to do so.
In the previous scene, Othello publicly shouted and beat Desdemona without any known reason. Now, he mentions killing, leaving Desdemona confused. Shakespeare portrays her confusion through language. To emphasize this confusion, Shakespeare breaks his iambic pentameter during the conversation between Desdemona and Othello.
The impact – Othello and Desdemona engage in a conversation, regularly interrupting one another, which is a common occurrence among ordinary individuals. In particular, when they are bewildered and disputing, Desdemona persistently queries Othello by saying “Talk you of killing..”
. ” and is responded to with direct answers “Yes I do”. Do you understand how bewildered Desdemona is? Othello is providing her with clear answers, not ambiguous words. Othello thinks that Desdemona is aware that she is an immoral woman and deserves to be killed.
As Tommy takes on the role of Desdemona, the constant interruptions cause a rise in pace during the interaction with Othello. This leads to an argument between the two characters, increasing tension. The audience perceives Othello’s seriousness while Desdemona struggles to understand it, resulting in her use of short sentences.
The panic that Desdemona feels is evident in her struggle to find both rationality and the words to argue. Despite her efforts to remain composed, Desdemona admits in line 37, “I do not know why I should fear you…”
“She is attempting to argue but unable to succeed. The pentameters are split between Othello and Desdemona. Tommy, I want the sound level to increase in order to create more tension in this scene. The crucial point is that the scene must not lose intensity.”
The undesirable outcome we wish to avoid is a peaceful atmosphere abruptly transforming into Othello’s murder of his wife. I desire for Desdemona to intervene while Othello’s frustration continues to escalate. The play aims to explore the dynamics of human communication. It delves into the manipulation individuals can fall victim to, as well as the potential for misunderstandings arising from human interactions.
E. g. When Othello requests evidence, his skepticism grows and he confronts Iago, threatening him. However, the exchange between Iago and Cassio, specifically regarding Bianca, reignites Othello’s belief in the affair.
Now the interaction between Desdemona and Othello must be seen as believable. It is common for couples to argue, and the audience needs to comprehend that Desdemona is in a state of confusion. She believes her husband is confused and misunderstanding the situation. In contrast, Othello firmly believes he is correct.
Othello is a well-executed tragedy in which the titular character becomes aware of his errors, exclaiming “O fool, fool, fool…”
– In Act 5, Scene 2, line 322, Othello realizes his mistakes and pauses after Cassio’s line “Which worked to his desire” so that the audience can witness his understanding.
I desire a silent stage with powerful, bright lights that illuminate the truth. As the light floods the stage, goodness triumphs over darkness and Othello gains insight into his mistakes. Additionally, the bright lights expose Othello’s true nature as a virtuous man.
Othello has been manipulated, persuaded, and won over by Iago. It is important for the audience to remember that Othello is the hero of the play. Following a pause, we witness a true realization – a tragedy unfolds as the hero acknowledges his mistakes. It is crucial for the audience to feel both pity and terror towards Othello as he experiences the horrifying consequences of his actions. This particular moment must stand in stark contrast to the forthcoming events.
Othello is understandably angry as he has just killed his wife without reason. The audience should feel fear as it adds tension to the scene and wonder what Othello will do now that he realizes his mistakes. Othello is a strong and angry man, one that should be feared, and he should be shouting.
Othello’s fury will be conveyed through his forceful voice, aiming to make the audience’s hearts pound and tremble with the sound of vengeance. Emphasizing Othello’s savagery is crucial, as we have previously witnessed glimpses of this aspect in the play. Tommy, please refer to page number 266, 4 for a specific scene to review.
187. Othello declares, “I will cut her into pieces! If she cuckold me…”
“Do you comprehend Othello’s words? Can you hear the savagery in Othello’s speech? Othello states that he will mince Desdemona into meat, displaying his savagery by expressing his intention to harm the woman he loves. Not only does Othello verbally abuse Desdemona, but he also inflicts physical abuse upon her. In Act 4, Lodovico delivers a letter to Othello.”
In line 6, Othello uses the term “Devil” and physically assaults Desdemona, displaying his extreme anger and lack of self-control. This behavior is inconsistent with his earlier demeanor in the first scene where he was wise and spoke eloquently, commanding others to speak on behalf of Desdemona.
Vouch with me, heaven, I entreat it not to satisfy my hunger…” his speech convinced the Duke and Brabantio to grant him permission to wed Desdemona.
In Act 3, Scene 263 of Othello, it is made clear that Othello’s desire to marry Desdemona is not driven by purely sexual motives. Instead, his love for her and his wish for her happiness are the reasons behind his decision. He wants her to be mentally liberated and fulfilled. However, the transformation in Othello is evident as he becomes unable to articulate his emotions and resorts to physical violence against Desdemona.
Lodovico is also shocked by Othello’s behavior and comments, “this will not be believed in Venice…” Othello transforms into a savage and ultimately murders his wife.
The significance of the savagery lies in its contrast with the subsequent moment: “Soft you a word or two before you go…” This moment showcases the immense power of Othello.
The focal point is to leave a lasting impression on the audience about Othello’s character traits of nobility and power, making him the hero. Although Othello has lost his position, his authoritative voice still captivates the stage. Prior to Othello delivering his line, I’d like two guards to approach him. During Othello’s speech, he should raise his hand, causing the guards to feel a sense of danger and gradually retreat.
Despite the presence of the hand gesture, Othello’s ability to maintain his dignity poses a question: how did Iago successfully manipulate such a resolute individual? Othello adeptly handles the situation, displaying his leadership skills and diffusing tension. As a result, he reverts back to the noble and poetic man we initially admired in earlier scenes. It’s important to acknowledge that this play was written in the 17th century, when the Elizabethan audience held differing attitudes compared to our present-day perspective.
During the Elizabethan era, black foreigners were not commonly seen in London. However, Shakespeare defied societal norms by portraying Othello, a black moor, as the heroic figure and positioned him at the highest level of the social hierarchy. This courageous decision is praiseworthy. In that period, black individuals were often regarded as inferior to their white counterparts, with the belief that they lacked intelligence and nobility. Through Othello, Shakespeare challenges these stereotypes by presenting a black man who is both intelligent and accomplished.
In the play Othello, a black man possesses authority over several white men, displaying wealth and power. Whether this play is discriminatory against the black race is a matter of debate. On one hand, Shakespeare praises the black race for their swift decision-making skills and noble characteristics. Moreover, Shakespeare grants Othello a stunning wife who is desired by numerous white men, yet she chooses him over a wealthy aristocrat.
However, Shakespeare also portrays Othello as being easily influenced by Iago. Whether Shakespeare is implying that black men are gullible remains uncertain. In Elizabethan England, arranged marriages were prevalent, and it is worth noting that Brabantio had previously expressed fondness for Othello, stating “Her father loved me..
. Brabantio appreciated Othello’s stories and enjoyed his company, but he didn’t want Othello as his son. However, Tommy, Othello is a highly influential figure in Venice. Othello possesses power, wealth, and admiration.
Brabantio’s disapproval of Othello as his son can be attributed to Othello’s race, suggesting that both Brabantio and Iago harbor racist sentiments. Iago, the white monster, destroys Othello driven by hidden motives. I personally believe that Iago is the cause of Othello’s foolish actions.
Othello’s race and position cause Iago to feel insecure, prompting him to manipulate Othello. Additionally, Othello and Desdemona’s marriage defies societal norms as they wed without Desdemona’s father’s approval. This inter-racial marriage is highly frowned upon during that era. Shakespeare portrays the unfortunate deterioration of their marriage.
The couple’s rebellious nature should inspire the audience to feel pity towards them as they courageously pursue their love. Our desire for the lovers’ success is contrasted with the sadness we feel as Othello’s heart is shattered. Tommy, it is crucial that you meticulously heed my instructions. I apologize once again for my absence, and I anticipate being able to attend opening night.
Shakespeare’s masterpiece, Othello, is an exceptional play that I want to give proper credit to.
