"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.

Readers may easily be misguided to believe that Emelia is the real hero of Shakespeare’s tragedy, Othello, when only considering her last actions in the play. The truth is that Emelia cannot be the real hero as she purposefully created opportunities for the antagonist, her husband, Iago, for her own benefit and she did not prevent the unfortunate events which she foresaw. To claim that she is the ultimate hero of the play is to ignore all complexities surrounding her character and the consequences of her initial actions.

Although, Emelia died trying to justify Desdemona’s innocence, in essence, it was herself who allowed this chaos to occur. She provided the ‘ocular’ proof for Othello as she stole the handkerchief from Desdemona’s chamber. She gave it to her husband, not questioning the reason why he desired it and what use he would have with Desdemona’s treasured possession. In Act 3 Scene 3 Line 319, she admits that Desdemona will be distressed if she realised that the handkerchief had vanished, "Poor lady, she'll run mad when she shall lack it." Ultimately, she was ompletely aware that it was of high importance and that it would cause trouble if it were to go missing. In Act 3 Scene 3 Line 307 she says to Iago in their chamber, "What will you giveme now for that same handkerchief?" This certainly suggests that she neglected her duties to protect her lady for her own gain, to satisfy her husband's desires and to receive attention from him.Thus she was building a foundation and prospects of misfortune which might be delivered to her mistress. Emelia was conscious of the possible consequences of taking that gift of Othello’s from Desdemona and this denies her of being the real hero of Othello.

The consequences of her initial action were evident, however, Emelia chose to ignore its dire impact on Desdemona and her position. She predicted Othello's growing sense of betrayal and witnessed his anger towards his wife, yet remained detached from the situation, although she had caused it. This directly refers to the consequences of the missing handkerchief for Desdemona. In Act 3 Scene 4 Line 19-20, Desdemona questions, "Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia?" and Emilia merely answers, "I know not, madam." This significant lie, which is evident to the audience, is crucial when determining whether Emilia is the real hero of Othello, as it demines her character as an honest person. Furthermore, Emilia was present in the room when Othello had angrily asked to see the handkerchief and Desdemona had been shocked at his rash and jealous behaviour. Even then, she did not reveal what she had done or tried to restore Desdemona's marriage through acquring the handkerchief again to return it. Although, Emilia did not intend to cause trouble, she allowed for more mayhem through being irresponsible of her past irrational behaviour.

Ultimately, Emila cannot be the real hero of Othello when her actions throughout the whole play is explored. She ignited a fire initially, knowing that it is potentially dangerous and she did not quench it when she was given proof that it had become damaging.

Reputation in Othello

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

The significance of reputation in relation to Desdemona is that it is what she defies but it is what defines her character. When Desdemona secretly marries Othello, the moor, she deceives her father as well as the social expectations which are imposed on her. Her father, Brabantio has a reputation as a respected senator, and as his young daughter, Desdemona had been expected to carry the same reputation. By betraying her father, she is stripped of this reputation and is almost disowned. Also, Desdemona’s reputation as a cultured young girl is self-destroyed as falling in love with the moor was viewed as socially unacceptable and impossible unless he had used charms on her. When she declares her love for the moor, she is stripped of her original reputation of an innocent and trustworthy young girl. However, although Desdemona disposes this reputation, every action taken after by her is judged and perceived based on her reputation. For example, through the previous experience, Desdemona gains a characteristic trait of a liar, and this reputation encircles her whole character as other characters judge her based on this reputation.

Cassio has a distinctive and high reputation which he is very fond of. As a ‘florentine’, he is seen as a cultured, educated and therefore, a respected figure. The significance of reputation in relation to Cassio is that it is what his character is based upon. After damaging his reputation, Cassio is devastated and claims, “I have lost the immortal part of myself and what is left is bestial.” Thus his character is wrapped by reputation and its high importance in his life determines it as his biggest strength and weakness.

Iago’s reputation in the play differs significantly to what is read by the reader. If to discuss only the reputation that is envisaged with him by other characters in the play, the significance of it is that Iago heavily relies on it. All of Iago’s plans throughout the play, depend on the other characters to trust him through his honest reputation. Constantly, other characters refer to him as ‘Honest Iago’ and he uses this false reputation to his advantage. The reader is aware that it is false as Shakespeare invites readers to glimpse at the truth behind the Iago’s plotting.

Othello: Act 1 Scene 1

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 reporting Desdemona’s marriage to Othello to her father when regarding only the cultural context. However, when his motives in provoking a response filled with jealousy by Branbtio are considered, he cannot be completely justified. The cultural assumptions with encircle the newly formed relationship, are that marriage with a black man is unacceptable and to do so especially in secret, is a form of betrayal towards her family and her race. In those times, it was socially expected for the father to be in control of his young daughter, and through marrying the moor without permission, Desdemona had committed ‘treason against the blood’. Also, a significant discriminatory attitude towards Black people had existed and it was considered culturally undesirable and shocking for a cultured young lady to fall in love with a foreigner. Thus, Iago had sufficient reason to report this secret marriage to Desdemona’s father. Nevertheless, the insights gained in to Iago’s motives suggest that he is not justified. He uses this piece of information to cause chaos and exploit the situation through the response brought by it. He seems to take advantage of Brabantio’s love for Desdemona, so that chaos can be caused without him being blamed for it, and the way in which he confesses his false innocence to Othello afterwards, illustrate his deceitful ways. Iago, then, cannot be justified in reporting the couple’s marriage to her father, as it was purely for his gain, out of his hatred, to cause trouble for Othello.

When the old aristocracy was first overthrown, I had predicted its consequences to be no where near what it truly came to be. Slowly, I saw my beloved city, St Petersberg, and its cultural and artistic value being destroyed. As with many others, I endured the corrupt regime binding my hands, body and mind so that I could not breathe and I bled on the inside. A voice came to me. It called out comfortingly, it said, "Come here, leave your deaf and sinful land, leave Russia forever. Freedom was what I thirsted but I stood my ground because my sturbborn heart could not betray the motherland while others left, fleetingly. Thus, I transposed my unbendable will on to a piece of paper, I am not one of those who left the land. I pondered a lot in those dark days, as opening my mouth to express my thoughts was considered dangerous. I thought about whether this dark period will ever end and whether if the days of Russia's propserity and enrichment will ever return. Has this century been worse. Than the ages that went before? Perhaps in this, that in a daze of grief and anguish it touched, but could not cure, the vilest sore. But I knew all I could do was hope and stay strong in mind and spirit. So much had I lost and had stolen from me but I still possessed the power to form a shared connection with others whom I did not know through the tip of a pen.
Give me bitter years of sickness,
Suffocation, insomnia, fever,
Take my child and my lover,
And my mysterious gift of song--
This I pray at your liturgy
After so many tormented days,
So that the stormcloud over darkened Russia
Might become a cloud of glorious rays

Term 3 Homework Task

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.
I must say, in the present day, Requiem has become somewhat of a tribute to the women of Stalin's Russia during the years of persecution and purges. When I first wrote it, it was in response to a lady who once, I, together, formed the long lines of mercy that queued up every day outside the gates of the Kresty Prison, in order to catch a glimpse of our loved ones. She had whispered, 'Can you describe this?' And those few words were enough for me to discretely endeavour to construct my thoughts and struggles in to a poem. Such heartache, had I felt, as I arranged, not just my feelings, but the pains of the women of Leningrad, in to verses of a mother's cry for her son. But because my life had been so full of losses and suffering, that to write Requiem, was as easy as stamping my grievious heart, which had longed for my son to return to my arms for 17 months, on to a piece of cigarette paper. I remember, the cold snow, rain and wind, outside those firmly shut gates, were still not able to extinguish the burning love in every mother's heart, waiting for their imprisoned son.

Week 2 Chapters 6-10

In these chapters we gain an insight into Okonkwo's relationships with Nwoye, Ikemefuna and Ezinma. Why does Okonkwo feel and behave as he does towards each of these characters? What was your response to Okonkwo as a result of these revelations?

Okonkwo never openly expressed his fondness for his children. In fact, he did not display any emotion at all, unless it was anger, due to the fear of showing a sign of weakness. Therefore, he treated each of his family members with “a heavy hand”. However, some of his subtle actions revealed his undoubtable affection for Ikemefuna. Time to time, Okonkwo allowed Ikemefuna to accompany him like a son to important village meetings and communal ancestral feasts. Ikemefuna had become to be a part of his family and Okonkwo saw that he could become a man that he would be satisfied with. Okonkwo killed Ikemefuna because he could not cope with himself collapsing under emotions. He had high expectations of himself and he had to abide by illustrating ultimate strength in mind and body. Conversly, Okonkwo was disappointed by the weak attributes displayed in his oldest son's personality. He was worried that Nwoye would become a disgrace to him and continuously found fault in his efforts and thus threatened him in a harsh manner when he saw signs of laziness. He desired for Nwoye to become a great farmer and a great man and consequently became angered by his actions. Okonkwo also demonstrated little fondness to Ezinma but it did show on rare occasions. He resented that she was a girl, although she looked very much like her mother, who was once the village beauty, because he believed that Ezinma encapsulated what a boy needs to become a great man in the village. Okonkwo still spoke harshly to her but inwardly knew that she was of critical importance to his mind's wellbeing.

Okonkwo

Things Fall Apart Chapters 1-5

q What attributes are valued in the males of Umuofia?
Specified attributes are highly valued in the males of Umuofia by its people. The most dominant characteristics valued are physical strength, bravery in warfare, and to a certain degree, brutality. This is most evidently exemplified through Okwonko’s persona and how he came to be a man of influence and importance in Umuofia. His character suggests that hard work and the capability to be dominant are also highly valued, as it leads to achievement which is awarded through multiple titles and defined through the number of wives. Lastly, the emphasis on the gaining of power and reputation through growing successful yam, indicate that wealth is also strongly valued in the males of Umuofia.

q How important are proverbs in this culture? What saying tells us this?
Proverbs seem to be of rudimentary importance in Umuofia. As with most cultures which utilize mainly oral communication, history had been accumulated through stories and proverbs in Umuofia. Therefore, the proverbs are used to educate the children with customs and the values on which the community had been founded and dependent on till the present day. It also plays a critical role in maintaining civilization in the culture and in being a reference to ancestors and traditions.

q Explain how marriage and family life function.
Marriage and family life seems to revolve around the man of the house which automatically is a role fulfilled by the husband. The unlimited number of wives a man can possess, or, in other words, buy and the women’s ultimate duties of serving the husband decisively depict the hierarchy in the family. The husband has a hut to himself, where he is served all his meals by his daughters. However, every member of the family seems to be allocated a job which they individually pull their weight in and support the life function of the family.

q What is the attitude to women in general and in regard to religious beliefs?
As discussed above, women are the inferior gender in this culture. They can be lawfully subjected to beatings by their husband and are ‘bought’ in to marriages where they become dependents of the husband. Nevertheless, in regard to religious beliefs they become a whole separate being. As for example, the priestess who is an ordinary woman throughout the day, loses the expectations and roles of the female gender when she is doing the work of the God she serves. She becomes a mere body that is used as mechanism to communicate the God’s messages to the people.

q How does sharecropping work?
Sharecropping was the system of borrowing yams from others, then returning two thirds of the harvest to the original owner of the yams.

q Has Ibo culture been presented positively, negatively or have we seen both?
So far, an overview has been given in the narrative of the Ibo culture. It plainly presents both positive and negative aspects of the primitive society which increases the realistic aspect of the characters and their lifestyle. As of all cultures, the narrative constructs Ibo culture with its complexities and only delves into its most extreme events. Therefore, the Ibo culture is represented neither positively nor negatively.