SUBTEXT: CHARACTERS’ OBJECTIVES
& SUPEROBJECTIVES
Exploring the text via modern performance
Today’s Objective

Today I will evaluate the language,
content, meaning, and significance of a
passage in Act 2 of Othello by
constructing responses to prompts about
subtext and characters’ objectives.
Looking Ahead…


In a few days, you will start working in
groups on creating a modern script of a
particular scene in either Act 3 or Act 4.
This activity today should give you a small
taste of that fun exercise as well as some
things to think about when you construct your
modern scripts and prepare for your
performances.
Subtext – What is it?

Meaning that is not explicitly stated in a text, but is
understood by readers/viewers
 Implicit
meaning
 Inference


Metaphors provide subtext
Characters’ thoughts and motives can also provide
subtext
Character’s Objective



Examining a character’s objective is one way to
help us understand the subtext of a text
A character’s objective = what he/she wants in that
scene—the goal (Folger 169)
A character will attempt to achieve that goal until
he/she is successful, at which point he/she will
identify a new objective (Folger 169)
Character’s Superobjective


Examining a character’s superobjective is another
way to help us understand the subtext of a text
A character’s superobjective = what he/she wants
by the end of the play/text—the ultimate goal “big
picture” goal (Folger 169)
Determining Characters’ Superobjectives



THINK / WRITE: (quickwrite #1)
Group 1:
 What is Iago’s superobjective?
 What is Desdemona’s superobjective?
Group 2:
 What is Othello’s superobjective?
 What is Cassio’s superobjective?
Discussing Characters’ Superobjectives



PAIR-SHARE / SMALL GROUP / WHIP-AROUND:
Group 1:
 What is Iago’s superobjective?
 What is Desdemona’s superobjective?
Group 2:
 What is Othello’s superobjective?
 What is Cassio’s superobjective?
Reading to Understand Subtext…


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Round-Robin reading: 2.1.181 – 2.1.233
Need 5 volunteers to read aloud to the class:
 Someone to read stage directions
 Iago
 (groups 1, 2, 5)
 Othello
 (group 3, 4)
 Desdemona
 (group 1, 2, 5)
 Cassio
 (group 3, 4)
As they are reading, think about your character’s
objective in this scene
Writing to Understand Subtext…


THINK / WRITE: (quickwrite #2)
Independently and silently, write down your two
characters’ objectives in this scene
 Iago
 (groups 1, 2, 5)
 Othello
 (group 3, 4)
 Desdemona
 (group 1, 2, 5)
 Cassio
 (group 3, 4)
Performing to Understand Subtext…



Same passage (2.1.181 – 2.1.233)
4 volunteers to perform this passage using modern
language:
 Iago
 Othello
 Desdemona
 Cassio
Perform with your character’s objective in mind
Discussing to Understand Subtext…


4 performers explain their character’s objective in
this scene
Agree? Disagree? Let’s discuss based on the
quickwrites you just did
 What
did you notice in the reading? In the
performance?
 Compare/contrast the reading vs. the modern
performance
Reflecting to Understand Subtext…

For homework tonight: grab a half-sheet on your
way out; it contains the following prompt:
 How
did the combination of reading, viewing,
and/or participating in the modern
performance today impact your understanding
of this passage and/or of the play so far?
How did our discussion of subtext help you
better understand this passage, scene, act,
and/or the play so far as a whole? Please be
specific in your explanation.