Irony in Shakespeare's "My Mistress' Eyes"

After reading William Shakespeare’s poem, “My Mistress’ Eyes,” irony shines through once again. While reading the poem, all of the descriptions the speaker uses to describe his mistress are unbecoming or unattractive. He states a positive comparison, and then tells the reader how that description does not fit his mistress. The speaker states, “If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head,” (Shakespeare, 885). To most people, hair the consistency of wire and dull colored cheeks and skin would not be appealing. Many people expect these characteristics to push men away or be undesirable, but the irony becomes apparent when the speaker states that he still loves his mistress and finds her rare and unique. Regardless of her looks, he still cares for her. The speaker looks past the physical characteristics of his mistress, which are not very positive, and he expresses his love for the woman because of her uniqueness and personality. Many people believe that to be desirable or wanted by others, they must be perfect in appearance and in every other way. However, in this poem, the speaker proves that sometimes the deeper parts of a person, those hidden under their appearance, are really what are important.

The Irony Behind "Barbie Doll"

After reading the poem “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy, the true irony of the title itself became apparent. Before reading the poem, I expected it to revolve around the perfect “Barbie Doll” image so many people strive for. However, that is where the true irony came out. Barbie Dolls are famous for their unrealistically thin bodies and perfect features, and because they are played with by young girls, that image becomes the image girls and teenagers seek out. Yet, in this poem, the girl in question does not share the Barbie Doll characteristics. While she was intelligent and ate healthily, the girl lacked the physical characteristics made popular by dolls. She had so many wonderful and beautiful characteristics and personality traits, yet all people could do was compare her to her dolls. They just “saw a fat nose on thick legs,” (Piercy, 835). This poem actually brings to attention a dilemma that has been going on for years. While many little girls grow up playing with Barbie Dolls, people have begun to wonder whether the “perfection” of the dolls encourages girls to strive for the same perfection or feel inferior towards others. Just as it negatively affected the girl in Piercy’s poem, causing her to lose faith in herself, people worry that toys that can be so much fun initially are really much more dangerous than they seem.

The "Peers" in "A Jury of Her Peers"

After reading Susan Glaspell’s “A Jury of Her Peers,” I began to consider the title and how it related to the story. Minnie Wright, the suspected murderer of the story, lived a quiet life, alone in her home with a strict husband and no children. Compared to the other women in the story, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, she seemed very different. However, after more thought, I determined that Minnie Wright was really not that different from her peers after all. The women worked as farm wives, so many of their daily duties included canning and sewing. However, this could be seen as a rather dull existence for any of the women. Even though Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters had more caring husbands than Minnie Wright, they still understood the loneliness of her situation, especially with no children to take care of. Furthermore, Mrs. Hale had known Minnie as a child and knew of her wonderful personality. She understood that it was taken from her, due to the silence of her home and lack of visitors. The women also could comprehend how something as simple as someone killing her bird could cause her to snap and murder her husband. Mrs. Hale states, “No, Wright [Mr.] wouldn’t like the bird…a thing that sang. She [Minnie] used to sing. He killed that too,” (Glaspell, 423). Mr. Wright broke Minnie, and then he broke her bird. While they do have caring husbands, the other women could understand the lack of respect felt by Minnie. Her husband took away her only companion, but Mrs. Hale’s and Mrs. Peters’ husbands took away their dignity by their overall perception of women. They made their wives feel inferior, which is exactly how Minnie must have felt. While seemingly lacking in similarity, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters prove to be the peers of Minnie Wright more than expected.

Sympathetic Characters in "Hunters in the Snow"

“Hunters in the Snow,” a short story by Tobias Wolff, introduces the reader to three very interesting and dynamic characters. Tub, Kenny, and Frank are all quite selfish and rude to each other, and their attitudes and lack of commend sense and intelligence is what pushes along the action in the story. However, even with the distasteful personalities of the three, one still stands out as the most sympathetic character. Tub, a very obese man, is constantly made fun of and verbally abused by his “friends.” All of these actions eventually wear him down until he finally stands up for himself, but his desire to be liked by his friends still affects his decisions. He allows Frank to abuse is excessive eating habits, and honestly tries to point out to Frank how ignorant and hurtful he is towards other people. Tub states, “That’s true, Frank…You never pay attention,” (Wolff, 197). In this story, Tub is the only one to get Frank to consider the way he treats others but pointing out one of his flaws. While all the characters are greatly flawed, Tub’s attempt to fix one of them is admirable. Furthermore, I found Frank in the story to be the least sympathetic character. His attitude and actions are inconsiderate and rude for the entirety of the story, and he often is two-faced towards his friends. Whether he is leaving his wife for a fifteen year old girl, making fun of Tub’s obesity, or taking blankets from a frozen, injured Kenny, Frank does not seem to care about the happiness of anyone but himself. 

Roderigo - Othello Acts 4 and 5

While reading Othello, a play by William Shakespeare, one character in particular continued to confuse me. It seemed as though he really had no purpose except to be there, and I was confused why Shakespeare had included him in his work. However, after Acts 4 and 5, it is clear why Roderigo was created. Throughout the majority of the play, Roderigo is a standstill character who does very little to progress the story onward. However, it turns out that he is the first person to see through Iago’s deceit. While it is turned around on him, Rodergio is the first hint the reader gets that people might be catching on to Iago’s actions. Furthermore, while Roderigo is used to kill Cassio, resulting in his own death instead, he helps the others realize and confirm Iago’s madness after even after death. Roderigo had been communicating with Iago for a long time in order to try and help him win over Desdemona, and after his death, letters regarding this agreement were found within Roderigo’s pockets. One discussed how Iago had requested that Roderigo kill Cassio, removing him from the picture. The other letter, however, listed many of the complaints Roderigo had against Iago. Cassio states in regard to the letters, “And even but now he spake, after long seeming dead, Iago hurt him, Iago set him on,” (Shakespeare, 1459). Even though his interactions with Iago got him killed, Roderigo got his revenge on Iago even after death.

The Handkerchief - Othello Acts 4 and 5

William Shakespeare’s Othello proves to be a play with great depth, particularly in symbolism. While many objects and people in the story symbolize various things, one item in particular symbolizes one of the main themes in the play, deceit. All throughout the play, Iago is deceiving others with his actions and words, manipulating their feelings in order to create the conflict he desires. He, however, has the help of various items in achieving this goal. Othello’s strawberry covered handkerchief is this item that proves the most helpful to Iago. The handkerchief singlehandedly deceives multiple people, resulting in terrible actions that push forth the plotline of the play. In particular, the handkerchief symbolizes the deceit, albeit non-existent deceit, in Othello and Desdemona’s relationship. The handkerchief is a direct representation of Othello and Desdemona’s relationship because Othello gave it to her after their marriage. Because Iago has Emilia, his wife, steal the handkerchief, he is able to convince Othello that Desdemona is cheating on him by planting the item on other people, especially Cassio. While he really only discovered it because Iago had planted it on him, Iago makes it seem as though Desdemona had given Cassio Othello’s handkerchief as a sign of her affection. After Bianca brings it by, they discuss, “‘And did you see the handkerchief?’ ‘Was that mine?’ ‘Yours, by this hand,’” (Shakespeare, 1431). While all the other characters are none the wiser, the handkerchief passed around within the story effectively symbolizes Iago’s deceitfulness and the affect that has on all the characters.

Dynamic Emilia - Othello Acts 4 and 5

William Shakespeare’s play Othello is home to the development of many dynamic characters. However, one character in particular stands out when referencing great changes in personality and character. Emilia, Iago’s wife, was a quiet, reserved character for the majority of the play. Her quietness was brought forth by her husband’s treatment of her, as he called her names and disgraced her. In hopes to gain his favor, Emilia tried to be the perfect wife, a silent and simple woman, but it was not enough for Iago. However, in Acts 4 and 5 of Othello, Emilia finally has her moment to retire from being a push over and to stand up for herself and those she cares about instead. After Othello’s murder of Desdemona, Emilia is shocked that he would do such a thing. When Othello’s reasoning is explained, however, Emilia finally proves that her character was more than skin deep. Regardless of any possible consequences, Emilia’s incrimination of Iago is what finally reveals to the other characters exactly who was behind all of the madness in the play. She states, “Oh mistress, villainy hath made mocks with love! My husband say that she was false!” (Shakespeare,1454). This outburst from Emilia proves to Othello that Iago had been telling him lies about his wife, now directing the blame towards Iago. In the end, even though Iago killed her for it, Emilia died with more dignity than ever because of her final confession and realization.

The Willow Song - Othello Acts 4 and 5

After reading William Shakespeare’s Othello, there was a particular detail that I recognized to carry a great deal of importance within the last two acts. In Act 4 of Othello, Desdemona is speaking to her servant Emilia about a song she knows. However, I did not recognize that this song foreshadowed future events in the plot until I finished the play. Desdemona states that her own mother’s maid, in love with a mad man, knew this song, and “it expressed her fortune and she died singing it,” (Shakespeare, 1443). This description is interesting, because many of the statements made compare to Emilia’s situation. Like the woman in Desdemona’s story, Emilia is a servant, of Desdemona to be exact. Furthermore, she is married to Iago. While it is not common knowledge to the characters until the conclusion of the play, the reader is aware that Iago is a mad man. However, when this is finally realized, it is too late to change the outcome of Desdemona’s foreshadowing tale. Emilia’s refusal to accept her husband’s treachery results in his stabbing of her. As is discovered in Act 5, Emilia dies singing the song Desdemona had taught her about, in accordance to the story Desdemona told about her mother’s servant. Through this simple interaction between two characters, Shakespeare successfully foreshadows Emilia’s fate.

Jealousy in Othello

After reading Act III of William Shakespeare’s Othello, another major theme within the play became apparent. The majority of the problems and actions that take place within the story have the root cause of jealousy. Overall, the reason Iago is lying to everyone about everyone is because he is jealous of Cassio and Othello as well. In his mind, Cassio took his rightful position and Othello took his wife. Because of the jealousy he feels towards those two men, Iago makes it his goal to disgrace and ruin them. However, in Act III of the play, Othello states to Iago, “Within these three days let me hear thee say that Cassio’s not alive,” (Shakespeare 1419). Because Othello believes Cassio is sleeping with his wife, he gets jealous and in turn plots to kill Cassio. Othello’s anger and actions are ironic though because first of all, the reader still does not know whether he slept with Iago’s wife or not, which would make him a hypocrite, and second of all, because there is really nothing going on between Cassio and Othello’s wife Desdemona. Iago’s response to his jealous actually inspires jealousy in the others he interacted with, creating unnecessary drama and conflict. Because of the theme of jealousy within this story, Iago is able to successfully get his wish of slowly destroying Cassio and Othello.

Appearance vs. Reality: Shakespeare's Othello

A theme that becomes apparent in the first three acts of William Shakespeare’s Othello is the idea of appearance versus reality. In these acts, it seems as though the way all the other characters view one character is the exact opposite of the truth. While Iago, the antagonist of the story, is constantly praised as an honorable man, Othello, the protagonist of the story, is often questioned or thought to be disgraceful. The separation between reality and the way things appear is what pushes the story forward. Because Iago wants to get rid of Othello, he decides to go about it by ruining the lives of multiple other characters. While in reality he is a good person, Cassio is made out to look like a raging drunk after Othello’s wife. To convince him of Cassio’s treachery, Iago says to Othello, “But such a handkerchief – I am sure it was your wife’s – did I today see Cassio wipe his beard with,” (Shakespeare, 1418). While everyone else is losing their trust in each other and the officers they had put their faith in, they remain in respect of honest Iago. However, behind it all, Iago is the one tearing everyone’s lives apart and manipulating their feelings and actions. In this play, the one person who is remains a respected person is the one person who does not deserve any respect at all.

Othello's Time Period: Men vs. Women

Act II of William Shakespeare’s Othello introduces the reader to the drastically different roles of men and women in marriage. The two couples mentioned are Iago and Emilia and Othello and Desdemona, and while Othello treats Desdemona much better than Iago treats Emilia, they are still not shown much respect. Othello complains constantly about his wife, especially how she talks too much. During this time, it was expected of wives to take care of the household, have children, and keep quiet. Apparently, Emilia talks to Iago, which upsets him. While complaining to Cassio about her, Iago states, “would she give you so much of her lips as of her tongue she oft bestows on me, you’d have enough,” (Shakespeare, 1385). Iago just wanted a wife who would do as told and keep to herself, and Emilia’s talking does not satisfy that wish of his. Furthermore, Emilia understands that Iago thinks nothing of her. When asked whether he could say something kind or good about her, Iago claims that he could not. Desdemona is even affected by Iago’s disrespect for women when he claims that he will not say anything about her because he is too critical. Iago then goes into a description of all different types of women and how he would treat them, and Iago is still critical and obtuse. Through Iago’s treatment of both his wife and Desdemona, Shakespeare effectively portrays the disrespect shown towards women during the time period of his play.

Iago's Revenge: Othello, Act I-II

After reading Act I of William Shakespeare’s Othello, the reader is introduced to the major conflict of the play. Iago, an ensign to a captain named Othello, is angry over the fact that another man, Michael Cassio, attained the position of Lieutenant, or second in command, over himself. This anger towards Othello’s decision is what fuels the plot line as the story continues. While Iago probably did deserve the position over Cassio as he had more battle experience, Iago goes too far and decides to gain revenge on Othello. Iago, in hopes of vengeance, begins to set up different situations and lies in order to disgrace Othello or cause confusion. Even as one reads into Act II, Iago’s lies are what run the story. The conflict that he creates, whether stating that Othello kidnapped Desdemona or trying to create an affair between her and Cassio, is what slowly starts to whither away at each character’s respect and liability. Furthermore, Iago is after Othello because of a rumor he slept with his wife. However, Iago’s unreasonableness shines through when it is realized that he does not actually know whether it happened or not. Iago states, “And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets he’s done my office. I know not if’t be true,” (Shakespeare, 1382). Fueled by his anger over his military position, Iago chooses to slowly attack Othello through lies and the people around him.