[HPFGU-OTChatter] Othello (possible spoilers)

[Lee Storm (God Is The Healing Force)]

I hope your whole interpretation thing is a joke, Kemper.  I'm afraid I
don't see the homosexual trend of which you speak.  Phrases like loving
someone well is more like a brotherly love, IMO, or a truly deep
friendship...perhaps one-sided but very deep on the part of the giver.

Peace,

Lee (Scratching head and wondering why people always take the worst line of
interpretation, IMHO.)
[Kemper, Originally]:
| Since Main, Movies and OT are pretty quiet, I thought I'd talk about
| an issue that's been gnawing at me.
| 
| Recently, I went to Oregon's Shakespeare Festival where I saw Othello
| along with the best Midsummer's I've seen (five total) as well as a
| horrible contemporary play.  
| 
| I have never seen nor read Othello prior my most recent trip to the
| Festival nor did I ever hear anyone discuss its plot or its ending. 
| Sometime in the first two acts of Othello, I got the distinct
| impression that Iago had a thing for Othello.  
| 
| The following passage's general interpretation is that Iago thinks
| Othello has slept with his (Iago's) wife, Emilia:
| Iago: '... I hate the Moor:
| And it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets
| He has done my office: I know not if't be true;
| But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
| Will do as if for surety. He holds me well;'
| 
| Instead of 'office' I heard 'orifice'.  I know.  It's a stretch.  But
| Shakespeare is a tricky willie when it comes to language. So that
| changed the meaning. 
| 
| I hate the Moor:
| I'll come back to this.
| 
| 'And it is thought abroad,'
| This could be paranoia on Iago's part, fearing that others will
| know/suspect his sexuality, that twixt his sheets Othello has done his
| orifice:.
| 
| 'I know not if't be true;'
| I conjecture that this refers back to 'I hate the Moor:'
| 
| 'But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
| Will do as if for surety.'
| Iago suspects that he loves Othello (and perhaps hates himself for it)
| 
| 'He holds me well;'
| I think it could be easily inferred that Iago enjoys being cuddled by
| Othello.  Though it also means, Othello holds Iago in high regard. 
| That Shakespeare and his double meanings!
| 
| Later on in the middle of the play, Iago implies to Othello that his
| (Othello's) wife may be cheating on him.  Iago seeing that Othello is
| hurt by this, he says:
| ... but I am much to blame;
| I humbly do beseech you of your pardon
| For too much loving you.
| 
| Othello replies:
| I am bound to thee for ever.
| 
| Gay marriage!!! Yeah!!!  Who knew Shakespeare celebrated Pride?
| 
| While I suspect Iago is gay (and hates that part of himself), I don't
| think Othello is.  Rather, Othello had sex with Iago because there was
| a lack of women on the battlefield and can therefore separate that
| part of his sexuality.  
| 
| Poor Iago thought himself a villain, but he was just a victim of
| suppressed sexuality.  Emilia was a beard!
| 
| just thinking,
| Kemper