The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 12.1329  Sunday, 3 June 2001

[1]     From:   Mike Jensen <
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        Date:   Friday, 01 Jun 2001 09:11:56 -0700
        Subj:   Re: SHK 12.1314 Re: Othello and Emilia

[2]     From:   Geralyn Horton <
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        Date:   Friday, 01 Jun 2001 12:30:40 -0400
        Subj:   Re: SHK 12.1314 Re: Othello and Emilia


[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:           Mike Jensen <
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Date:           Friday, 01 Jun 2001 09:11:56 -0700
Subject: 12.1314 Re: Othello and Emilia
Comment:        Re: SHK 12.1314 Re: Othello and Emilia

Sorry, but "Thus do I ever make my fool my purse -" (1.3.375)just
doesn't sound very sexual to me.  You have to invent a lust from Iago
towards Roderigo, and Iago says this is for his "profit."  (l. 378).
Best not to stretch the "put money" lines into a sexual interpretation,
I think.  It is so unnecessary, and there is no indication, other than
our imaginations, that Iago thinks this way in these lines.

Citations from William Shakespeare: The Complete Works, Oxford, 1988,
edited by Wells, Taylor, Jowett, and Montgomery.

All the best,
Mike Jensen

[2]-------------------------------------------------------------
From:           Geralyn Horton <
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Date:           Friday, 01 Jun 2001 12:30:40 -0400
Subject: 12.1314 Re: Othello and Emilia
Comment:        Re: SHK 12.1314 Re: Othello and Emilia

>The more interesting one occurs in 4.2 when Othello says this about
>Emilia: "This is a subtle whore,/ A closet lock and key of villainous
>secrets,/ And yet she'll kneel and pray--I ha' seen her do't" (22-24).
>When, I ask my class, has Othello been in a position to see Emilia keep
>"villainous secrets"?

Uh-- Othello doesn't say he's seen her do that-- he's assuming that if
Desdemona did stray Emilia was her confidant and helped her keep it
hidden.  What he has seen is the praying part.
Geralyn Horton
Newton, Mass. 02460
<http://www.stagepage.org>

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