MovieChat Forums > Othello (1996) Discussion > roderigo's beard???

roderigo's beard???

posted 18 years ago by MoreAdventurous8
3 replies | jump to latest

At one point in the film near the end, I think when Roderigo pushes Iago up against a wall with a sword up to his neck, he abruptly rips off his beard. At first I didnt realize this because it was sudden, and absolutely random. But my question is why? First of all would they even have fake beards back then if he was in 'disguise', even though a beard isnt much of a disguise especially a weird fake one. And why would he jsut rip it off? It was quite hysterical actually, and makes the way they portray Roderigo in the film even more funny/crazy.

[–] globebot 18 years ago

Iago first gives Roderigo advice after Othello and Brabantio have settled the matter with the Duke about the fate of Desdemona.
It is in fact a mockery of Rodergio to potray him as a more pathetic character. Iago tells him "Defeat thy favour with an usurped beard," implicating that Rodergio is not man enough to grow a beard, and the director proves it true by showing that Roderigo had to use a fake beard just to follow Iago's advice.

During the scene where he rips it off, Roderigo is already mad at Iago for not following up with all the requests he had asked of him. Roderigo already is suspecting Iago of stealing the jewels he has asked Iago to give to Desdemona.
"I do not find that thou deal'st justly with me"

So in his rage he rips off the beard that Iago has told him to grow out of spite toward Iago.

[–] MoreAdventurous8 18 years ago

Does he say that in the actual play? I can't recall it, but I could be wrong.

[–] Bagpuss_1966 18 years ago

He certainly does. :)

Line 335 - Put money in thy purse. Follow thou these wars; defeat thy favour with a usurped beard. I say, put money in thy purse.