Othello Act II

Responding to Question #4:
How is dramatic suspense created? Contrast the amount of information possessed by the audience as the play proceeds with the knowledge that various individual characters have: what is the effect of such a contrast?

     I've learned to realize that whenever Iago is left alone on the stage, I am about to learn some other deep insight into his evil plan. And I get excited for it. His tone changes, and he becomes more like the evil character he is as opposed to the gentleman he pretends to be. Even in the clip we watched on Wednesday, we saw a shift in the character portrayed by the actor. Iago's voice changed slightly, and he looked directly into the camera. Suspense is created through the expectancy of information whenever Iago begins a soliloquy.
     Audience members know as much as Iago knows because he tells them. He clearly explains his feelings and decisions to those watching him in the audience. However, his fellow characters are not this privileged. Othello says this about Iago, "This fellow's of exceeding honesty, / And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit, / Of human dealings." (III.iii.259-261) Othello and the other characters think they know Iago as a gentleman and loyal companion when he is, in fact, just the opposite. He is loyal to no one but himself. The effect of this is that Iago is loved by the characters (except maybe not by his wife), but he is despised by the audience members. This literary tactic evokes sympathy from the audience as we watch/read as the characters walk blindly into Iago's traps.