Musical+Casting+of+Roderigo



Epiphany from the movie __Sweeney Todd__ Act 4, Scene 2 (Roderigo’s frustration with Iago)  [|[Music Begins]] ** RODERIGO ** : I do not find that thou deal’st justly with me.
 * IAGO ** : What? In the contrary.
 * RODERIGO ** : Every day thou doff’st me with with some device. Iago and rather, as it seems to me know, keep’st from me all convenience that suppliest me with the least advantage of hope. I will indeed no longer endure it, nor am I yet persuaded to put up in peace what already I have foolishly suffered.
 * IAGO: ** Will you hear me, Roderigo?

· Roderigo continues to accuse Iago of being misleading and not following through with his plan.

** IAGO: ** I grant indeed it hath not appeared, and your suspicion is not without wit and judgment. But, Roderigo, if thou hast that in thee indeed, which I have greater reason to believe now than ever- 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.

·  Iago continues to try to reassure Roderigo that he needs to have faith in Iago, and tells him that he needs to kill Cassio. Iago told Roderigo to kill Cassio because Cassio would be taking Othello’s place as general. Othello, he tells Roderigo, which is a lie, is being sent to Africa and would, therefore, be taking Desdemona with him. He has to kill Cassio so Desdemona would stay in Cyprus. Roderigo consented to think about it because Iago, playing the loyal honest friend, insisted he would be their right next to Roderigo to help with “knocking out” of Cassio’s brain.


 * RODERIGO: ** I will hear further reason for this.
 * IAGO: ** And you shall be satisified.

 [Music Fades]  Explanation: Roderigo is the tool behind Iago’s evil plot to ruin Othello, and can be simply described as being very ignorant. The song “Epiphany” from the movie version of __Sweeney Todd__ is very unstable and at times expresses vulnerability. Roderigo is very weak and vulnerable throughout the majority of the play; never following his opinion but relying on Iago’s because of his lack of self confidence. However, in the scene above, Roderigo challenges Iago’s plot and denies it being justified. The song expresses pain and anger when the male voice speaks, but expresses moments of innocence of confusion when the female voice talks. It can be very loud at times and very soft at times. It can be very quick and prickly, or slow and exaggerated. The instability of the song depicts Roderigo’s instable character as at the end of his and Iago’s conversation in Act 4 Scene 2, Roderigo agrees to kill Cassio despite his earlier disagreement with Iago. This vulnerability and lack of personal decision can be heard by the song’s sudden changes in speed, volume, and exaggeration. Roderigo never remains true to himself, which ends in his death, and this song doesn’t have a happy ending as the music is tragic and violent till the very end.


 * P.S. The video clip is irrelevant; only focus on the music.**