Othello Journal 4

Othello:
"This fellow's of exceeding honesty, and knows all qualities, with a learned spirit, of human dealings" (3.3.274-76).
"Oh, that the slave had forty thousand lives!  One is too poor, too weak for my revenge" (3.3.457-8).
     The actor I would pick for Othello would be tall and strong with a good smile and a happy face.  This would show his authority and power as well as his social side and his trust for others.  However, halfway through, the actor must be able to make a transformation into an extremely jealous, angry man that won't let anyone get in his way.

Iago:
"I do hate him as I do hell pains" (1.1.158).
"For Michael Cassio, I dare be sworn I think that he is honest" (3.3.137-8).
     The actor for Iago would be a little shorter and very thin and pale with longer black hair.  He would have to be sneaky and smooth in order to pull off Iago's character.  Iago is great at lying, pretending to be someone completely different than he is, and hiding his strong feelings.  He is able to fool everyone else around him.

Desdemona:
"If I do vow a friendship I'll perform it to the last article.  My lord shall never rest" (3.3.21-22).
"Believe me, I had rather have lost my purse full of crusadoes; and but my noble Moor is true of mind and made of no such baseness as jealous creatures are, it were enough to put him to ill thinking" (3.4.25-29).
    Desdemona would be fair-skinned and have easily read emotions.  The actress would have to act passionately and show Desdemona's strong feelings for justice.  She is very loyal to her friends and people she believes in.  When she starts to be accused and have Othello turn against her, I assume she would act desperate and very hurt and confused by the falseness of the accusations.

Emilia:
"What he will do with it heaven knows, not I; I nothing but to please his fantasy" (3.3.313-15).
"If it be not for somce purpose of import, give't me again.  Poor lady, she'll run mad when she shall lack it" (3.3.332-34).
    Emilia only wants to please her husband, Iago, but she is also kind and dutiful and doesn't want to do anyone any harm.  I think she is unaware of Iago's true character and feelings and would be greatly horrified by it all.  Emilia is innocent and unobserving.  I see the actress being plain and maybe shorter and more plump.  She would have to be unaware of all the scheming around her. 

Comment:
I agree that the actress you picked looks like she could be desperate and would do anything for Iago. However, I think another side to Emilia is that she is unsuspecting and doesn't know the trouble that Iago is making for Desdemona.

December 12, 2010 8:25 AM