1) Describe your experience reading Othello. How much can you identify with any of the characters in the play? Which one(s)? For what? Reading Othello for me was extremely difficult, I was never a fan of Shakespeare. I have difficulty reading and understanding, having to search to understand what message Shakespeare was trying to convey. This is probably my least favorite thing to read. I don't think I completely identify with any of the characters in this story. However, if I had to choose one, it would probably be Desdemona. Desdemona is loyal, compassionate, and loving throughout the play until her death. I think that as a woman, I would last until the end by expressing my innocence. However, for me as a person, Othello redeems himself, but unfortunately, it's a little too late. (B) I feel like Othello's tragedy is self-inflicted but also beyond his control. Othello is manipulated by Iago who is a master at manipulating people and does the same with Cassio and Roderigo. Although it would be possible for Othello to rid himself of Iago's influence, it would be extremely difficult. Although Othello is in control of his actions, his perspective is skewed by Iago's manipulation. So, in a sense, it was on his own initiative that he struck Desdemona in public and murdered her in private, and yet he did so in response to a false belief that was implanted in him and in which would be almost impossible to resist. You might say, “But no matter what Desdemona had done, Othello should have known that killing was not a good thing. »And yet people kill others all the time, knowing it is wrong and yet believing there is an overriding moral reason to do so. (C) I feel like Othello's tragic flaw is jealousy. Othello quickly falls under Iago's trap and manipulation. Othello believed Iago and became vulnerable to anything negative simply because of his ability to be very jealous. He also has a very short-tempered character and rushes into decisions without really thinking or wondering. How is she a contrasting character to Desdemona? What other characters are used for balance? (A) Emilia's relationship with Iago truly seems like a marriage made in hell. Iago constantly makes fun of her and disrespects her. He never seems to offer her any affection and he always talks about women in general. The fact that he treats her this way shows us that Iago is not only evil to those who he believes have betrayed him on some level, he is evil to everyone, even those he is supposed to love. Emilia's role shows us that no matter what you do for Iago, nothing is ever good enough. (B) Desdemona and Emilia are similar to their husbands in their honor, but they are strikingly different because their motivations come from different areas. Desdemona and Emilia show honor and respect to their husbands, Othello and Iago, the two women each respond to their husband's orders. Yet the two women have very different relationships, leading them to have different motivators. Desdemona and Othello have a relationship based on true love and both want to see each other happy. This motivates Desdemona to comply with Othello. But Emilia and Iago seem to have a relationship based on necessity. Iago does not speak kindly to Emilia or show her any tenderness. Emilia's marriage has hardened her as a person, while Desdemona is perfectly happy in her marriage to Othello. (C) Another