Is she a defeated Hufflepuff trapped in a nightmare of domestic violence? A gleeful Slytherin co-conspiring her husband’s villainy? A tough-as-nails Gryffindor just doing her best to survive in a hostile and uncertain world? All strong choices, all definite possibilities, and thus every actor – and every production – gets to choose. “Why, the wrong is but a wrong i’th’world and having the world for your labor, ‘tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly make it right.” – Act 5, Scene 1Įmilia’s text is wide open to an actors’ interpretation, and it’s tough to derive anything specific about her essence from the inflectionless words on the page. He goes about it the way he goes about everything else - cleverly - and his second suit to Desdemona would probably have paid off as well as his first were it not for the interference of that malignant motive-hunter, Iago. When Cassio drunkenly brawls his way out of his job, he mourns the loss of his status above all, and bends his considerable efforts towards recovering his position. He may or may not actually be good at his job (we don’t exactly get many chances to see him in action) but he’s definitely excellent at doing those extra things that really make the boss take notice and grant him that coveted promotion (like, say, brokering that boss’s secret marriage?). ” – Act 2, Scene 3Ĭassio is a social-climber obsessed with status. “Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation, I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial. She is also not very inclined to examine the details of her decisions for hidden devils, preferring instead to take the world (and Iago) at face value - the Gryffindorian trait that ultimately leads to her demise. Desdemona portrays all the classic Gryffindor traits: she is bold, outspoken, well-liked, trustworthy, and a natural leader. If a more recklessly brave way to enter a play exists, I haven’t seen it yet. When we first meet Desdemona, she has just eloped with Othello and told her father to his face (and in front of the entire Venetian court) that the obedience she once showed him is now “due to the Moor my lord” (1.3.189). May trumpet to the world.” – Act 1, Scene 3 My downright violence and scorn of fortunes “That I did love the Moor to live with him His love for Desdemona and desire to disbelieve Iago’s lies about her leads Othello to wait almost an entire day (several hours, at least, depending on the production) after hearing about her supposed adultery to strangle her for the same a relatively huge amount of restraint for this resolved Gryffindor. However, Othello’s decisiveness is of the distinctly Gryffindorian “do first, ask questions later (maybe)” variety, which can be a disaster in delicate situations. Like many of his house, he acts as soon as it seems action may be called for - an excellent trait for a military leader. “Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it without a prompter.” – Act 1, Scene 2īold, principled, trusting, trustworthy, and a natural leader, Othello is a decisive Gryffindor. Bankrolled by the besotted Roderigo (who also wants Desdemona), Iago uses rumor and suspicion to “make the net that shall enmesh them all.” Othello – Gryffindor Iago vows revenge on Othello for several reasons: he wanted the promotion, and perhaps Desdmona, for himself. Othello, in brief: Othello, general of the Venetian army, elopes with Desdemona and promotes Cassio to lieutenant instead of Iago. That textual essence guides this particular sorting exercise.Īlso, this is definitely serious real scientific stuff and not at all just Lia’s opinion about nerdy things she cares too much about, so strap in and read on for the true and accurate sorting of these Shakespeare characters. But for those who care enough to look, an essence can often emerge from the page that remains no matter what choices an actor makes on the stage.
ASC SafeStart Season Characters & More GET SORTED INTO THEIR HOGWARTS HOUSES FOR virtual QCMM 2020Īctors must always make choices about text in performance in order to create their characters, and those choices will influence how an audience understands those characters - what they are like, how they operate, and where they might end up in a Hogwarts-style house sorting.
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