el norte (elnorte4) wrote, @ 2005-03-18 13:05:00

Othello, ACT I
METAPHORS--

In your notebooks, begin to list as many metaphors as you find in Act I. I suggest you list them by character, devoting a full page to Iago at least, and probably to Othello and Desdemona. Be sure to cite the act, scene, and line number as reference, and then explain what the metaphor means. It's also good to make a note about the significance of the metaphor as it is spoken by the character. You don't have to write huge volumes with each example--just make adequate notes.

Then here on blurty, post a specific metaphor, along with the character, meaning and significance to the plot, or the character, and of course cite the act, scene, and line.

One specific metaphor per person, so get yours in early! However, you may add other people's metaphors to your own list.

10 pts. Due Tuesday before class.

Have fun this break and I'll see you all in a week!

Finishing my homework early (Anonymous) 2005-03-20 22:27 (link)

Iago: "Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe." (Ii, 85). This metaphor is an insult directed to Brabantio. It maens (hahaha) that Othello, the black ram, is "tupping" Desdemona, the white ewe. They were telling Brabantio that he had been robbed and that Othello and Desdemona are getting married. The metaphor talks about the "old black ram" and the "white ewe". The significance of the "old black ram" can be othello's actual race or another insult that says he's un-pure. Ant the significance of the "white ewe" can be Desdemona's actual race or a reflection of her purity. I chose this specific metaphor because its funny and because... well, just because it's funny. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	forgot something (Anonymous) 2005-03-20 22:28 (link)
	forgot ny name. hahaha---> "tupping". hahaha -bruno (Reply to this) (Thread)

jourdan (Anonymous) 2005-03-23 19:15 (link)

Iago: "I am one, sir, that comes to tell you yor daughter and the Moor are making the beast with two backs."(I,i,12) This metaphor was used when Iago and roderigo call brabantio so he can find out that his daughter has left the household. Iago, being the villian he is, uses clever diction to use this analogy to give enough information to lead brabantio to look for his daughter. He uses the statement: the beast with two backs (which pertains to when two people are having sexual intercourse, depending on which position (no further details), all a perosn would see is two backs. Probably sayign beast could add to the vulgarity of this metaphor, because when usually saying beast, it's mostly in a negative manner. you don't say a wolf is a fuzzy critter, you say it's a primal beast. So saying that this is in a negative tense, i guess even adding that desdemona has liasons with Othello, can fuel the madess of brabantio. Diction can really alter someone's reaction to a situation. The fury can be contained or heightened depending on the way the situation is explained. *i think this one was used in class and iono if i 'll get credit so i'll try another one. but i'm not kind of sure if this is a metaphor. Brabantio; "thou art a villain." (I,i,14) I thought of this quote as somethign spoken figuratively because it's sort of an ironic statement. Brabantio calls this mystery perosn (iago) a villain, but using dramatic irony, only the audience knows how much a villain Iago really is to begin with. Brabantio calls Iago a villain because 1) of the obscene accusations iago has spoken of desdemona, and 2) he's this weird rude guy who just walks up to his house yelling and distrubing the peace. This interaction would of course lead brabantio to say Iago is a villain. What else to villains do? They do bad, distasteful things, all of which is Iago. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: jourdan (Anonymous) 2005-03-26 21:29 (link)
	I kept laughing and I liked how you placed diction into your explanation. - alex (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

(Anonymous) 2005-03-26 14:59 (link)

Iago - "Ere I would say I would drown myself for the love a guinea hen, I would change my humanity with a baboon." (Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 310-311) Here, Roderigo speaks to Iago about dying from the heart once our 'prescription' is all out of love. And Iago responds saying he has loved too many times (I think that's what he means) to distinguish the difference between an injury and a benefit. Meaning, he knows the difference between having potential or getting hurt and he has never found a man that learned to love himself. I think that meant that he has never met a man that couldn't live without having to be with someone. Therefore, he says the metaphor I stated above. He'd rather have his love given to a guinea hen and change his humanity with a baboon; so I guess he doesn't have to worry about being in love and having to be loved in return.. (This was hard. I'm sorry if I did it wrong. Spring break made me really lazy) (Reply to this) (Thread)

Haja Jalloh (Anonymous) 2005-03-26 21:46 (link)

“…But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at; I am not what I am.” I,i,62 In this quote, Iago, who is the speaker tells Roderigo about how he feels about Othello and how he’s just serving Othello to look out for himself. In the whole little speech that he makes, he talks about how he’s only serving Othello so that he could take advantage of him, and get what he wants. From the beginning, Iago clearly states that he is not what he appears to be. He is two-faced and he wants the audience to know that he is two-faced. The metaphor that Iago uses here is “daws” (which are crow-like birds). In this quote, Iago is saying that if his outward appearance started reflecting what he really feels, soon enough he would be wearing his heart upon his sleeve for birds to peck at. (Reply to this) (Thread)

ALiSHBA'S RESP0NSE (Anonymous) 2005-03-27 02:17 (link)

hey ms. north! here goes my blurty responsee.. **i'm not sure if this is a metaphor, but if it isn't, just tell me & i'll do another one. x] IAG0--"...Our bodies are our gardens, to which our wills are gardeners..." [ACTI;SCENE3;LiNES315-316] SiGNNiFiCANCE+MEANiNG--- first, i'm gonna explain what the quote means or what i think it means. I think the quote means that making certain decisions are based on your thoughts/ opinions on it. The example of gardens to gardners means that gardners take care of the gardens&it's their responsibility. The same thing goes for our bodies to our will. Making a decision is a person's responsibility & whether your 'will' is for or against a situation, you have to stick with it. (i hope that made sense) WHAT'S G0iNG 0N?--- at this point in the story, Iago is giving advice to Roderigo about his 'problem'. roderigo is in love with desdemona & is mad because her & the Moor are married. being the dimwit that he is, roderigo went to iago & asked him for advice. roderigo has no idea that iago is a villain, he's just worried about his 'problem' . iago is telling roderigo not to worry & that everything will be fine if he gives him money. That means that if roderigo gives iago money, then roderigo THiNKS that iago will help him. (Reply to this) (Thread)

Cheri (Anonymous) 2005-03-27 08:16 (link)

"You are one of those that will not serve God if the Devil bid you." (Ii105) Iago said this to Brabantio when he and Roderigo were outside trying to tell him that Desdemona and Othello were off together. My guess is that here, Iago is calling Brabantio just downright evil. He says he would listen to the Devil, and more importantly he'd listen to the Devil when it'd tell him not to follow God. I think that Iago is saying such a thing about Desdemona's father because he won't listen to or believe the two gentlemen when they are trying to tell him about Othello. He may be evil because he refuses the help that Iago and Roderigo are trying to give him. This quote/metaphor is significant because it is one of many that show that the personality of Iago is pretty blunt and straight forward. He tells it like it is. The line may be a 'preview' as to how Iago and Brabantio interact with each other throughout the story (that is, if they interact much at all). Is Iago always going to be that honest to Brabantio, or is he going to manipulate and work on him just like he is Roderigo? (Reply to this) (Thread)

Man we need another week of vacation....Wrench (Anonymous) 2005-03-27 21:49 (link)

Iago (I,iii,331-332): "Drown cats and blind puppies!" I dont know if I recorded the line stuff right, but oh well. This here is when Roderigo wanted to kill himself because the fact that Desdemona is with Othello. Iago soon then uses this metaphor here to picture how pointless and impulsive it is to commit suicide. Like cats and dogs, being lesser beings, having no knowledge of what is happening or what they are doing. Anyways, its also shows that Iago's apparently telling Roderigo to be a man and not some pet, being control throught the urge to kill himself. Karene (Reply to this) (Thread)

melinda yo (Anonymous) 2005-03-27 23:33 (link)

Brabantio: "That the bruised heart was pierced through the ear." [I, iii, 216] Alright, in this qoute Brabantio's feelings were hurt by the useless advice the Duke offers him. And the advice that Duke gives him is that Brabantio should take action and try to stop the marriage and he says he should do that instead of just standing there speaking words to his daughter for he will cause more mischeif. So the qoute is a metaphor to the actual meaning: 'all the words that the Duke was saying to Brabantio is hurting him inside.' (he hears the words through his ear, and his heart is a bit crushed by the harsh words.) So, it doesn't literally mean that a bruised heart pierced through the ear. Aaaah. You get the point though, right? I'm a confusing explainer. Anyways, so the significance of this quote is that this is one proof of the fact that mostly everyone is trying to convince Brabantio that it isn't right for Othello to be with Desdemona. They are all trying to make Brabantio turn against his daughter's relationship with The Moor. (Reply to this) (Thread)

c. singian (Anonymous) 2005-03-28 00:51 (link)

Iago; "I hate the Moor, And it is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets H'as done my office." (Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 377-379) "'twixt my sheets H'as done my office."- the meaning of this metaphor is that Iago is saying that there is gossip going around that the Moor(othello) has been fooling around with his wife. Iago refers to "my office" as his wife and "'twixt my sheets" as maybe his home or bed.. the significance of this metaphor shows that Iago not only 'wants' to help Roderigo, but has intentions for himself as well. the information that their is also a rumor that is going around deepens Iago's hate of the Moor. this also creates this an idea in the audience's head that whatever Iago tells Othello, may just be to manipulate and deceive him. -chrisma (HAPPY EASTER. hha i'm late (: ) (Reply to this) (Thread)

Cleo (Anonymous) 2005-03-28 12:21 (link)

"A maiden never bold, of spirt so still and quiet that her motion Blushed at herself." (Iiii 94-95) In the quote Brabantio is talking to the counsel and describing Desdemona to them. Brabantio is saying that Desdemone is not the type of person who would do rash and out of the normal things without his consent, for example marrying Othello. Desdemona was said to be a very modest person who would blush at every thought/comment given to her by someone. The signifigance of this metaphor describing Desdemona would be that he was describing his once loyal daught and now he know longer knows her in a way, because of what she has gone off and commited. (Reply to this) (Thread)

evelyn d. (Anonymous) 2005-03-28 18:54 (link)

ok i dont know if this is a metaphor but yea " it is silliness to live when TO LIVE IS TORMENT" ACT I, iii, line 303 Here Roderigo is comparing life to torment, we can almost imagine a crazy winter day with all the rain and torment around. ITs so very true with life too because there are those very crazy days when everything is chaotic and not going well for many, and it also begins to cause chaos to you personally and emotionally. (Reply to this) (Thread)

Shanice Aiken (Anonymous) 2005-03-28 22:19 (link)

Iago: "I have't! It is engendered! Hell and night Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light." (Act I,iii, 394-395) Well this quote means that Iago had began his plan of how he was going to destroy the marriage of Othello and Desdemona. He uses the words "Hell and Night" meaning through evil and darkness the "monstrous"(abnormal, hideous, shocking) "birth" the beginning of their marriage, must be brought to the "world's light", the public's attention. In this speech he clear state the he hates Othello and is going to presuade him into believing his honest, loving, caring wife is messing around on him. (Reply to this) (Thread)

stef b. (Anonymous) 2005-03-28 22:41 (link)

Citation: Act Iiii:311 Character:Iago Metaphor:"...I would change my humanity with a baboon." Meaning: In this metaphor, Iago is saying how his life is so messed up that he wouldn't mind living life as a baboon. Significance: I guess the significance of this to the plot would be that he probably thinks that Rodrigo really stupid since he's paying Iago to try to break up Othelle and Desdemona. (Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: stef b. (Anonymous) 2005-03-28 22:48 (link)

just in case that doesn't count since someone already used it as part of there answer combined with the line before it in the book, heres another one: Citation: Act Ii:56-57 Character: Iago Metaphor: "Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty, but seeming so for my pelicular end..." Meaning: Iago is saying how the he should only be judged by heaven because he wants the other characters to show how serious he was for what he did. Significance: This is significant to the plot because the readers know that he is just being fake to the other characters, but he wants the other characters to believe that he is being a good person, when he really isn't. -stef (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Samantha Bertulano (Anonymous) 2005-03-28 22:59 (link)

"Heaven is my judge" -Iago (I,i,56) During this speech, Iago states that he is two-faced. He doesn't mind if he hears people say awful things about him since he knows he's being awful for a reason. But that doesn't happen. He can be or act however he desires to be. He may seem trusting, maybe deep down he's not. However, no one can criticize his actions, his personality; only God is able to since He is the only one that truly knows what Iago is up to. (Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: Samantha Bertulano (Anonymous) 2005-03-28 23:06 (link)

oh boo. stef already took it. here's another: "you'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse, you'll have your nephews neigh to you, you'll have coursers for cousins, and gennets for germans." -Iago (I, i, 108-110) Iago portrays Othello and the rest of "his people" as horses. Most horses obey their masters. Horses take their masters around on back, wherever they want go. They are fed with whatever their masters give them. It's as if horses are slaves to the person. Iago simply states that, Othello and his family will give disgrace against Brabantio's family due to the fact that all horses do is serve. Their family is royalty (almost?) and he doesn't want "horses" brought into it since it can mess up the whole family line of being high class. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

LaiLani Manimbo (Anonymous) 2005-03-28 22:59 (link)

character: Iago page: 6 act: 1 metaphor:Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul. explanation: This is where Iago and Roderigo go to Brabantio to tell him about the wedding of Desdemona and Othello. Iago uses this type of metaphor to tell Brabantio how his daughter has married Othello. Losing half your soul probably means losing a big part of you that you thought you had control over. Your heart is burts, meaning a tragedy has occurred to cause you big pain. This metaphor was the only one that I actually found interesting. ;]* (Reply to this) (Thread)

....ugghhhh...school already.........nooooooo!!!! (Anonymous) 2005-03-28 23:36 (link)

Roderigo: I,iii,303-305 "it is siliness to live when to live is torment; and then we have a prescription to die when death is our physician" Roderigo is talking to Iago right after he finds out that Othello and Desdemona are married and he's telling Iago that he wants to kill himself. As for the metaphor he is saying that everyone dies and he's comparing it to a prescription but death itself (like the grim reaper) is a physician who assigns us our prescription or our death. He is also saying that death is inevitable and why not die now when he is in so much pain. well hope that's right....dee (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: ....ugghhhh...school already.........nooooooo!!!! (Anonymous) 2005-03-28 23:38 (link)
	ok well someone had the first part but "and the we have a prescription to die when death is our physician" isn't taken (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

michelle papilla (Anonymous) 2005-03-29 00:02 (link)

[Act I, Scene I, 103] "My house is not a grange." In this quote, Barbantio is somewhat questioning why Rodrigo is saying that someone is breaking into his house. Barbantio mentions in the line before, that it is Venice. He says his house is not an isolated one, and from this, I think he's kind of offended [or maybe just cranky at night] by Rodrigo's accusations. The quote is a negative direct comparison, but that still qualifies as a metaphor, yes? I'm not sure. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	JON (Anonymous) 2005-03-29 00:04 (link)
	"Our bodies are our gardens"//BY: Iago//SCENE: 3//LINE: 315 I think this metaphor talks about how out bodies should be tended and should be taken care of properly like how gardeners take care of their gardens. Iago means that we should take care of our bodies properly. (Reply to this) (Thread)