Week 4- Still More Othello

Wow, fourth post in September already, and we've come to yet again talk about Othello. Jeez, hopefully next month we'll get a new choice. Anyways, let's get right into it.

So our first passage comes from Daniel J. Vitkus, and his article titled: Turning Turk in Othello: The Conversion and Damnation of the Moor. Located in the second paragraph on page 18 of the article and page 161 of the Shakespeare Quarterly it was posted in:

We may infer from Iago's comment at 4.2.216 that Othello is a native of Mauritania, but the play makes it clear from the beginning that Othello is or has become a Christian. Shakespeare may have known from Pory's translation of Leo Africanus that some Moors "are Gentiles which worship Idols; other of the sect of Mahumet; some others Christians; and some Iewish in religion."

Along with this, I found the specific passage in Otherllo referred to in the article and will use that with today's post. Located on page 94 in Act 4, Scene 2, Line 216 it reads:

Iago: ...I mean purpose, courage and valor-this night
show it. If thou the next night following enjoy not
Desdemona, take me from this world with treachery
and devise engines for my life.
Roderigo: Well, what is it? Is it within reason and compass?
Iago: Sir, there is especial commission come from
    Venice to depute Cassio in Othello's place.
Roderigo: Is that true? Why, then Othello and Desdemona
      return again to Venice?
Iago: O no; he goes to Mauritania and taketh
   away with him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode
   be lingered here by some accident; wherein
   none can be so determinate as the removing of
   Cassio.

Though the passage confirms the articles point that Othello is a native of Mauritania, why does the later half of the passage seem more like Iago is explaining that Othello is taking Desdemona there for a lovely getaway?

The article made some excellent points about religion, telling how the Moors weren't all associated to the same views; most were, but there were some who saw something different and would pursue that religions views, much like how Othello is. Vitkus might not have been seeing what Shakespeare had intended, but that doesn't change how his points are important. When we look at the passage itself, it's mainly with the last line by Iago that makes me feel like instead of going for some important guidance or political reason, that Othello is just taking Desdemona there to have sex somewhere different or something. It's a bit extreme, but I can't blame how a character talks in a play that was made somewhere near 400 years ago, that would be impossible to ask the author about. Either way, this passage seems more dirty than religious to me than what Vitkus was aiming for, but that could just be me nitpicking.

Well, pretty short and to the point today, but hope you like it. Hopefully in October my posts will get a little more exciting. I know I'm looking forward to it. Until next time then. ^^