Shakespeare on film class

Shakespeare on Film

Spring 2017

Jordan Platt

One-Pager #1

Pay attention to the format of this one-pager, as it models for you how to present a long passage that is not poetry. You can tell because there is no meter or “beat”; the lines are presented paragraph style and the dialogue around it is in normal (although Early Modern) syntax. Your task for this assignment is to do a “close reading” that pays attention to the language in the quotation below. You can copy and paste the introduction below and then type your close reading beneath, or you can handwrite your response, as long as it is legible.

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Here is a passage from Othello, Act I, Scene 3, right before Act II begins. Iago, the villain, is talking to Roderigo, who has been paying Iago to help him court Desdemona. Now that Desdemona is married, Iago is trying to convince Roderigo that he should continue their plot to separate Desdemona from her new husband, Othello. Iago wants more money to continue to help Roderigo win Desdemona, but Roderigo wants reassurance that Iago will follow through, will be true in his efforts.

Iago responds with this speech:

Thou art sure of me. Go, make money. I have told thee often, and I retell thee again and again, I hate the Moor. My cause is hearted; thine hath no less reason. Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against him. If thou canst cuckold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a sport. There are many events in the womb of time which will be delivered. Traverse, go, provide they money. We will have more of this tomorrow.

[Now your task is to provide a close reading and interpretation of this quotation.]