Music in Othello - 1633 Words

Music in Othello In Cyprus, observing the joyous reunion of Othello and Desdemona, Iago says to himself that he will wreck the lovers harmony: O, you are well tuned now! / But Ill set down the pegs that make this music, / As honest as I am (2.1.199-201). The pegs to which he refers are the tuning pegs on a stringed instrument. Their love is the instrument on which Iago is planning to loosen (set down) the pegs until the harmony is turned into discord. [Scene Summary] Because no one like to be a party-pooper, Iago sings drinking songs in order to encourage Cassio to get drunk. Drinking songs tend to be rollicking, jolly justifications of drinking. Iagos first song delivers the message that life is short, so you might as well†¦show more content†¦Othellos occupations gone! (3.3.345-357) The music of war, including the thunder of the cannon, makes Othello feel alive, fully himself, but without Desdemonas love he feels that hes nothing. [Scene Summary] Shortly after Othello has berated Desdemona about the handkerchief, Cassio appears to once again ask Desdemona to intervene on his behalf. She tells him that My advocation is not now in tune; / My lord is not my lord; nor should I know him, / Were he in favour [appearance] as in humour [attitude] alterd (3.4.123-125). In other words, now is not a good time to talk to Othello; hes not himself, and if his appearance had changed as much as his attitude, she wouldnt recognize him. The phrase in tune is so common (in Shakespeares time as well as ours) that it may be a stretch to call it a musical image. [Scene Summary] At a moment when Iago is trying to build Othellos jealousy into a murderous rage, Othello begins to think of what a beautiful, sweet woman Desdemona is. Iago tells him that he needs to put such thoughts out of his mind, and Othello says, Hang her! I do but say what she is. So delicate with her needle. An admirable musician! O, she will sing the savageness out of a bear (4.1.187-189). However, its not Desdemonas music, but Iagos words that win the battle for Othellos soul. Othellos mood becomes ever more savage, and he plans the time, place, and manner ofShow MoreRelatedMusical Characterization For Othello s Othello997 Words   |  4 Pages Musical Characterization for Othello In Verdi’s Othello, the music is used by Verdi to characterize each character in the opera. It is the music who describes the audience the personality traits of each character. Moreover, music accompanies every scene in the opera. In many cases, we can know what is happening or what the character is feeling through the music the orchestra is playing. 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