1984 Quote Significance Ch. 2.4,5 -2/27

"There was such a depth of [the paperweight], and yet it was almost as transparent as air...[Winston] was inside it, along with the mahogany bed and the gateleg table and the clock and the steel engraving and the paperweight itself. The paperweight was the room he was in, and the coral was Julia's life and his own, fixed in a sort of eternity at the heart of the crystal" (147).

I believe this quote is significant because it acts as an analogy for what's happening in the book right now. The crystal that encases the coral represents the Party. It's political system is deep and intricate, but still transparent because Winston knows it is all a lie. Winston and Julia make a separate world within the Party's domain where they can have real coffee, sugar, and milk, as well as be free from the Party's watchful eyes. The bed, the clock, the entire room above Mr. Charrington's shop is the coral inside the crystal, the sanctuary encased within the Party.

Wainscoting-[Noun] 1. Panel or woodwork with which rooms, hallways, etc. are wainscoted.

Febrile-[Adjective] Pertaining to or marked by fever; feverish

1984 Quote Significance Ch. 2.3- 2/25

"'So long as human beings stay human, death and life are the same thing'" (136).

This quote possibly represents Winston's outlook on the future of the world. Humans are not perfect; we make mistakes and we lust for power. It was because of a few people's greed for power that the Party was created, and from there the world of 1984 was crafted. Now, because of man's imperfections, living in this dystopian society is death. Death is ensured, more so than if there was no Party and Capitalism still reigned. In a free society, one could act as one pleases, without worry of intrusion from the government. Winston is saying that as long as humans are the way they are, power-hungry and cruel, living will never truly be living, but an extension of death.

Prosaic[Word used in text: Prosaically]-[Adjective] 1. Commonplace or dull; matter-of-fact or unimaginative

Hence-[Adverb] 1. From this time; from now on

1984 Quote Significance Ch. 2.1 - 2/24

"At the sight of the words I love you the desire to stay alive welled up in him, and the taking of minor risks seemed stupid" (109).

This quote is significant because it is a major turning point for Winston in the text. Before, he hated women, partly because they did not the feel the same towards him as he did to them. He tempted the forces of the world he lived in by writing a diary, committing various accounts of thoughtcrime, and was even thinking of murdering people. Now, however, he feels he can't. Upon reading the note passed by the dark haired girl, he can't fathom trying it. He has a reason to live now, one that he didn't have before. When you love someone, it gives you a morphed sense of hope, a hope that somehow, they'll love you back. You need to stay alive and be ever ready just in case the moment comes when they say they do or don't. Or, if someone says they love you, it works the same way. Even if you don't love them back, you aren't going to kill yourself over it. Perhaps, somewhere inside, because of their revelation, you begin to feel the same way. To love someone so much as to break all social laws to tell them invokes some kind of response. Before, Winston said he hated the Dark haired girl, but now, I believe he doesn't just want her for her body. Before he may have, but now he knows there's something more.When you first realize you love someone, it is natural to isolate yourself to think things through, especially if you feel the same way, which is what Winston did.

Niggling-[Adjective] 1. petty; trivial; inconsequential 2. demanding too much care, attention, time, etc.

Fatuous-[Adjective] 1. foolish or insane, esp. in an unconscious, complacent manner; silly 2. unreal; illusory

1984 Qoute Significance Ch. 1.7,8 - 2/23

"Was the Party's hold upon the past less strong, he wondered, because a piece of evidence which existed no longer had once existed?" (79)

This quote is significant because it shows Winston's grasp of the truth and the Party's real power. The Party's hold would be less strong because of lack of proof. Since there was no proof the past was any different than what the Party said, then the Party, according to History did not do a thing. If, however, there was proof, and what the Party said was different, it would show how the strong the party is. Their hold on the past is so great that they can change it from what it was originally. Without proof of what history once was, the true extent of the Party's influence cannot be seen. For instance, if you went out into the world and saw only caterpillars and butterflies, you would think the tw are totally separate species. If you look at a caterpillar and observe it, you see that it morphs into a butterfly, all the more effective to your grasp of it because you knew it was a caterpillar before it was a butterfly. It is a paradox, since the one thing that could cripple the Party is also the reason it isn't as strong.

Anodyne-[Noun] A medicine or anything that relieves or allays distress or pain
Cumbersome-[Adjective] Burdensome; troublesome. Unwieldy; clumsy.

1984 Quote Significance Ch. 1.5,6- 2/13

"Why should one feel it to be intolerable unless one had some kind of ancestral memory that things had once been different?" (60).

I like this quote because it makes alot of sense. If we think something is wrong or different, it is only because we are basing it off of some preconceived notion about what is wrong. For instance, if we were raised to believe that people don't normally take a bus or a train, and we saw someone doing so, we would think it to be different than the norm we already have instilled in us. This is how the party operates, by teaching people about, not what is morally wrong or different, but what they believe to be. Also, the word 'ancestral' is used. This makes me think that Winston's parents made him this way. If they were taken out in one of the great purges of the fifties, that would leave them a good span of years to denounce the party. The point I'm getting at is that all of the people who blindly submit to the Party's will is because their parents did as well. Those whose parents did not go along with The Party's wishes, like Winston, believe the world around them to be wrong and different.

Saccharine(50)-[Adjective] 1. Of the nature of or resembling that of sugar.

Tacit(65, word used in text-Tacitly)-[Adjective] 1. Understood without being openly expressed; implied.

1984 Quote Significance Ch.1.4-2/12

"Comrade Ogilvy, who had never existed in the present, now existed in the past, and when once the act of forgery was forgotten, he would exist just as authentically, and upon the same evidence, as Charlemagne or Julius Caesar" (47-48).

I beliebe this quote is significant because it deals with the Party's idea of whoever controls the present controls everything. In this case, Winston is the one in control is the present. He's the one who is rewriting this article, so he's in control of it. He changed the past, and will probably now be able to control its future, somehow. On that note, I also think this is foreshadowing. I'm guessing the higher authority that reviews Winston's article is going to think there was so much initiative put into it that they call him in to wherever they are to speak with him. In a monstrous stretch, it would be even better if a Comrade Ogilvy actually had existed at one point, putting Winston on the spot.

Pneumatic(37)-[Adjective] 1. operated by air or by the pressure or exhaustion of air.

Palimpsest(40)-[Noun] a parchment or the like from which writing has been partially or completely erased to make room for another text

1984 Quote Significance Ch. 1.2,3-2/11

"The Party said that Oceania had never been in alliance with Eurasia. He, Winston Smith, knew that Oceania had been in alliance with Eurasia as short a time as four years ago. But where did that knowledge exist? Only in his own consciousness..." (34)

This quote is significant because it shows a flaw in The Party's and Big Brother's government. They try and wipe something out of existence by erasing it from all public records, but those are not the only places where information is stored. The people of Oceania know of things as well. Other people like Winston know things have happened. Those people, though, always disappear because of the government. You'd think it would arouse some sort of suspicion in the people of Oceania. Everyone who's on to something disappears. If they're on to the same thing, and they all disappear for it, wouldn't you think something wrong? If someone disappears, the government may say they don't exist but those close to them do know. No matter how much Big Brother tries, nothing can be erased from existence, because they still exist within the minds of others.

Dace(30)-[Noun] 1. a small, freshwater cyprinoid fish, Leuciscus leuciscus, of Europe, having a stout, fusiform body 2. any of several similar or related fishes of the U.S.

Repudiate(35)-[Verb, used with object] 1. To reject as having no authority of binding force. 2. To cast off or disown. 3. To reject with disapproval or condemnation. 4. To reject with denial 5. To refuse to acknowledge and pay (a debt), as a state, municipality, etc.

Othello Essay

Scott Pero
English 10 Honors
February 4, 2009
Describe Iago’s manipulation of Othello and how Othello reacts.
The Root of Jealousy

Human beings are not perfect. We have both good and bad qualities, and the two factions are constantly feuding to reign supreme. Some people see only the favorable characteristics of others, while others may perceive only the unfavorable. Both sides exist; it is merely a matter of strength that determines which traits are the obvious. No matter how much one may want one’s good side to be shown, one may lose control and set the bad side loose. It can be caused by any one of a myriad of stimuli in our natural environment. It is also in our nature to invoke these feelings in others. If someone strikes us as unfair or unjust, we may want to avenge the wrongs we believe were done to us. A way to do this is to exploit the bad and cover up the good in that person’s character. One such literary example is Iago manipulating Othello in the play "Othello". Iago, for an undisclosed reason, is out to ruin Othello’s life, using others to weave a web of lies and deceit that ultimately ends with Othello murdering his wife, Desdemona. Though at first Othello was just, he is tricked by Iago through Iago’s sneaky actions into being torn between jealousy and trust, until he finally gives in to jealousy.

In the beginning of "Othello", Othello himself is a just man. Though black, he has risen to become the general of the Venetian militia. He has even been wed to the fairest maiden in all of Venice, the pure Desdemona. His moral stature is shown when he address the Venetian senators as pertaining to whether Desdemona will stay in Venice while Othello leaves: "I therefore beg it/ to please the palate of my appetite…but to be free and bounteous to her mind; / and heaven defend your good souls that you think/ I will your serious and great business scant when she is with me" (Shakespeare 1.3.256-263). Othello here is a very moral and dutiful man, vowing that he will not shirk his duties if Desdemona is allowed to come with him to Cyprus. His faithful and benevolent demeanor is tempted when vengeful Iago machinates his plan.

Due to an unknown motive, Iago is out to punish Othello. He goes about doing this by using Othello’s own lieutenant in the process. One possible motive for Iago would be jealousy of Cassio. Instead of choosing Iago as his lieutenant, Othello chose Cassio. This motive can explain why he slanders both Cassio and Othello. Cassio is a courteous young man whom women love. Iago uses this to his advantage by hinting to Othello that Cassio is cheating with Desdemona: "Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it/ that he would steal away so guilty-like, / seeing your coming" (3.2.38-39). Why would Cassio be fleeing if he wasn’t guilty of something? This is the ploy Iago use to rouse Othello’s doubt. Many of Iago’s actions are indirect like this one. He acts as a puppeteer, pulling string by string until he gets what he wants, while not participating in anything himself. Othello soon doubts whether Desdemona is true or not based on Iago’s word.

Othello thinks Iago to be honest. Why would an honest person say someone was unfaithful if they were not? The mere notion, however, makes Othello sweat. What if his wife really is cheating on him? Staying true to the sane, just individual Othello is first portrayed as, he speaks to Iago about the matter: "What sense had I of her stol’n hours of lust? / I saw’t not, thought it not, it harmed not me…He that is robbed, not wanting what is stol’n,/ let him not know’t, and he’s not robbed at all" (3.2.335-340). Here, Othello is telling Iago that if Iago had not told him of Desdemona’s adultery, he would not be harmed like he is now. Othello truly loves Desdemona. If nothing had been said, he would have gone on loving blissfully and not had his mind weighed down by such notions. Othello still does not believe Desdemona would commit such an act, but more of Iago’s tricks ensure his hesitance.

Iago, seeing his plan is already working when Iago goes into epilepsy, decides to use Cassio in a most devious manner: "Now I will question Cassio of Bianca…He, when he hears of her, cannot restrain/ from the excess of laughter…and he shall smile, Othello shall go mad" (4.1.95-103). Iago is really talking to Cassio about Bianca, a strumpet Cassio had recently been having relations with, but he makes it seem as though, to Othello, they were speaking of Desdemona. Cassio speaks of Bianca as a whore and nothing of importance to him. Since Cassio never actually uses Bianca’s name, Othello is led to believe he is talking about Desdemona. This sly illusion causes Othello to slip into jealousy’s grip.

There is no doubt that Othello now suspects Desdemona of adultery. He is torn between loving his wife and letting jealousy take him over. The ‘proof’ Iago gives Othello is undeniable; thusly, Othello believes him. Although, some part of him aches in spite of his jealousy: "Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned/ tonight; for she shall not live. No, my heart is turned/ to stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand. O, the/ world hath not a sweeter creature!" (4.1.183-187). He feels the jealousy coursing through him, but he still knows he loves Desdemona. This is the turning point from the old, moral Othello to the new, enraged Othello, as his jealousy gives way to murderous results.

Othello planned with Iago about how to kill both Cassio and Desdemona. Othello suggested poison to kill Desdemona, but Iago offered the option of strangling her in her bed, the same bed she cheated in, possibly leaving evidence that it was Othello who did it. Othello’s soliloquy before murdering Desdemona offers a new glimpse into how exactly jealousy consumed him: "Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men. / Put out the light, and then put out the light…but once put out thy light…I know not where is that Promethean heat/ that can thy light relume" (5.2.6-13). Here, Othello is about to murder his own wife, but something is causing him to hesitate. He speaks of dousing one light, and then dousing another; that second light is Desdemona’s soul. After he douses his own candle, he’ll kill her, but if he kills her, how can he ever bring her back? There is still some small bit of care for Desdemona left in Othello, and it is fighting to break free of Iago’s deceit. Othello is thinking about his next actions and realizing that he still loves her and may miss her when she is gone. Nevertheless, he gives in to anger and Iago’s lies and smothers Desdemona, who in turn dies saying she committed suicide to keep Othello from persecution. Realizing what he had done, and to whom he did it, Othello returns to how he was in the beginning of the book, seeing the error of his ways.

What Iago did was cruel. He was responsible for the murder of four people, one of which was his own wife. By reviewing his manipulation of Othello and his other actions throughout the book, we can understand how Iago is considered the most evil of all Shakespearean villains, surpassing the likes of such literary caitiffs as Professor James Moriarty or the Wicked Witch of the West. His understanding of human emotions and the ability to bend them to his will is what sets him apart from the rest. Our emotions are delicate, and we must always be wary of the struggle between those that are good and those that are bad. There are times when both qualities wish to surface, to be unleashed into the world, but we must learn to control them. Without control, it can lead us to unimaginable ends. Without integrity, others can use us as we please. Without order, we are subject to chaos.