| Ideas from the Text |
Reactions/Connections |
| Horatio-“This bodes some strange eruption
to our state.” Act 1 Sc. 2
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Readers learn that the major conflict in Hamlet is causing an unceasing chaos in Denmark, thus establishing the uncertain tone. We can conclude that the characters who live in Denmark will be faced with suspense within their safe home. This is a foreshadowing for all the mysterious and sinister acts that follow after. |
| Act 1 Scene 2
I have charged thee not to haunt about my doors. In honest plainness thou hast heard me say My daughter is not for thee
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The common theme and persuasion is run by revenge, contempt spurred from rejection. Roderigo is seen being rejected from Brabantio as he isn’t worthy enough to marry his daughter. Iago uses Roderigo’s anger and manipulates him into his master plan. A parallel plot has taken place with Iago being rejected from lieutenant position and Roderigo being turned down in love by Barbantio.
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| OPHELIA
“I shall obey, my lord.” Act 2 Sc.1
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One connection I can make between Othello and the Elizabethan era is that witchcraft is a common role in the era. Just like during the Elizabethan era, the people in Venice were equally drawn towards witchcraft and magic in their culture. Barbantio accuses Othello of using potions and spells to gain Desdemona’s love which was highly looked down on as the Witchcraft act of 1563 was already made. So, it was extremely offensive to call Othello’s and Desdemona’s love based on a felony and sinister act. |
| Act 1 Scene 3
I say, put money in thy purse.
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This phrase is repeated in the play by Iago to persuade Roderigo to give him more money. Greed runs through Iago’s blood, his desire for money and power are presented in his schemes from Iago and from Othello’s position. The great chain of being was what Iago was reaching for |
| Act 2 Scene 2
Desdemona is directly in love with him.
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This part begins the rising action as Iago plants the seed in Roderigo’s heart that Desdemona is in love with Cassio. A fight with Cassio is the first scheme that Iago completes and benefits him. Roderigo’s disillusionment of love follows the theme of appearance vrs. realism. Roderigo heard lies from Iago and placed an appearance on Desdemona.
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| Act 2 Scene 2
And when she speaks, is it not an alarm to love?
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As one can see, Iago is abusing Desdemona’s purity in a form of synecdoche. The Wheel of Fortune is represented by Desdemona’s fall as she never did anything wrong, yet has been attacked by the change in fortune. We learn time and time again that she is pure and trustworthy. Iago uses her purity as a way to get Cassio to believe he can convince her to plead on his behalf, which in result triggers Othello to kill Desdemona. Her good fortune comes to an end and although people perceive the Wheel of Fortune as a mystery, we can assume that evil people like Iago, can literally use one's goodness against them.
Money and bribing is a parallel plot to win affection over a person during the Elizabethan era. Just as Cassio pays the musicians to charm Othello, Roderigo pay Iago to give Desdemona gifts from him. And one can draw the comparison of the messenger in these two relationships which are Iago and the messenger to have the same faint. Like the musicians, Iago ends up being cast away as his scheme doesn’t go as planned.
Emilia advises Cassio that the man he has injured in battle is of great status and famous in Cyprus which plays into the importance of hierarchy in Othello. Othello is worried that by having Cassio on his staff that people can only look down on him. Hierarchy places a big part in Othello as we see the characters strive to do anything to climb the social pyramid as we see that it’s created a culture of worry for ones appearance.
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| Act 5 scene 2
Have you prayed tonight, Desdemon?
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Because Othello lived through a time where Christianity played a big part in society, he asks Desdemona if she has prayed in order for her to forgive her sins before dying. This “mercy” can be evidence towards the argument that Othello truly loved Desdemona since he wants her to go to heaven after killing her. |
| Act 5 Scene 2
I will not.
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This simple phrase perfects Emilia’s true self as she plays a part in Feminism literature. She is a realist of how relationships work during that era and how women are subjected to their husbands. She also admits that it’s easier to follow a man than have one’s own thought, so it’s crucial that she disobeys her husband's wishes to go home. Additionally, from what we know of her logic of loyalty, because Iago betrayed her using the handkerchief she stole to kill Desdemona, she finds her own betrayal of her husband equal. Home symbolizes security and safety, somewhere Emilia could hide from society that depends on men, but instead she spills out Iagos secrets.
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In Shakespear’s Hamlet, we follow multiple characters who run on vengeance and a desire for honor to be bestowed upon them through violence. From the beginning, Hamlet desires to fix what is wrong in Denmark, so the play is centered around fixing what is “ruined.” The Great Chain of Being is disturbed because Hamlet’s father has died unlawfully and his mother has unlawfully married Claudius. So justice, vengeance and order is restored when Fortinbras takes the crown and the sinful and unlawful members of the household are killed.
Firstly, the main crisis in Hamlet is that there is an uneasy trouble heading towards Denmark. This needs to be solved and is given an answer to its solution after the Ghost appears and leads Hamlet to, “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder,” (Act 1 Sc.5) As you can see, revenge is what drives the play forward and is the sole motivation for Hamlet. Additionally, revenge for Hamlet not only includes avenging his father, but making Claudius suffer in purgatory for his sinful act. Hamlet avoids killing him in Act 3 Scene 3 because, “A villain kills my father; and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send To heaven.” And because Claudius lives on, the play progresses since the order isn’t restored, the tragedy continues.
Love motivates the characters to act on revenge as well. There are many sources that observe Hamlet’s relationship with his mother as obsessive and abusive as he continues to overprotect her from Claudius. Hamlet ridicules his mother in Act 3 Scene 4 that she is accused of , “Blasting his wholesome brother” then mocks her view in men saying, “Have you eyes?/Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed/ And batten on this moor? Ha, have you eyes?” He utilizes an oxymoron of a fair mountain and a meek peasant to contrast King Hamlet and Claudius. It’s ironic that at the end of the play King Hamlet kills his wife, however justice is served since according to Hamlet, Gertrude and Claudius had defiled the laws of marriage.
Lastly, the importance of honor supports the argument for revenge. Hamlet fights Laertes in order to win back his honor and respect for him and in Laertes' final moment he provides the truth of Hamlet's fate which he does because he honors him as his “foul practice has turned itself,” (Act 5 Scene 2) on Laertes. Through Laertes death, retribution for Hamlet's honor is completed. Laertes mischievous and deceptive behavior is also punished by his own death.
All in all, Hamlet brings the order back to Denmark as Fortinbras takes the crown. Throughout the play, revenge, love and honor are the characters motivation to attempt to continue the Great Chain of Being, however the chain was tarnished by murder, incenst and deceit. And while characters like Laertes and Hamlet try to restore their lives, they continue this vicious cycle of evil which led them to many downfalls. This tragedy ultimately ends with the order restored with the help of revenge running through the blood of Hamlet.
omen during Elizabethan time and others like Emilia resist the roles assigned to them. Othello depicts the parochial society for women
