Sunday, December 30, 2012

149 Quiz Answer

Here's the answer to this week's quiz.
Iago is a soldier who fought beside his general, Othello, for some years and who became his trusted advisor. At the beginning of the play, Iago claims to have been unfairly passed over for promotion in favor of Michael Cassio. Iago plots to manipulate Othello into demoting Cassio, and thereafter to bring about the downfall of Othello himself.
The three bloggers who came up with Iago as the correct answer are naturgesetz, Raymond Pert and Black Jack’s Carol.

(For Three Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "Y" is for "Year")
Each week I’ve been posting a weekly quiz here. Folks seem to like them so here’s another one, a good way to start the year.
I wrote the following scene, inspired by one of the better-known Shakespeare characters. Your assignment – should you choose to accept it – is: the scene is suggestive of which character?


“That last liberty, that’s one I’ll never forget.”
“Yeah, that was something. Took me a couple of days to recover.”
“Made me think the Service as a career isn’t really so bad after all. But Jim, you don’t really agree with that, do you?”
“Why should I agree? Fifteen years of service, battles and combat all over the world, risked my life dozens of times, and what do I wind up with? Two metal bars and a few rows of ribbons – what good are they in civvie life? “
“Come on, you got your rank. Full Lieutenant isn’t too bad a pay grade for retirement.”
“But that – that – is exactly the point. I was due for lieutenant-commander and they bring in this Hughes, a total outsider. They make him a lieut-com and he’s now the fair-haired boy as far as the Captain is concerned. That should have been my job! It was as though it had been promised to me. For all practical purposes I already had it; the skipper depended on me for just about everything!”
“Yeah, I know. I thought it was – well – unfair.”
“Unfair is the least of it. For the good of the service you want experienced officers. This Hughes guy, he doesn’t seem to have been anywhere or done anything - he spent most of his time idling - and he is now the skipper’s right-hand man!”
“You don’t seem to understand that in the military, politics often plays a more important part than experience. You see, actually, Hughes has been places and done things.”
“Yeah, like what?”
“Well, he’s been to the right schools, the right university. He comes from the right family, an important family that seems to know all the right people. And you – let’s face it – you never set foot in a universibty and not very many schools as far as that goes; you came up through the hawsepipe.”
“There was a time when a guy who came up through the hawsepipe, who started at the lowest level and worked his way through all that petty-officer crap right on up to a commission, he kept up the pace and made the very best, the most experienced officer!”
“Yeah, yeah. Listen, I’m on your side. But Hughes has got the job. It’s obvious that he’s the skipper’s choice. You should relax and just accept it. What's the point of being defiant or to keep on nagging? A few years more, you’ll make lieut-com and you can retire.”
“In the meantime I’m supposed to take orders from the likes of this – landlubber! I don’t think I can stand it!”
“Hey, I hadn’t realized how much you were upset by this. Jim, you’ve got to calm down. You’ll get yourself all worked up and maybe do something stupid to try to get revenge.”

Go on; have a go. The scene suggests which Shakespeare character?
(Submitted also to Sunday Scribblings.)

28 comments:

Altonian said...

I shall probably embarrass myself here, since I love Shakespeare, but I found this surprisingly difficult. There are more than a few alternative choices within the whole gamut of W.S.s characters that could possibly fit your clues. I have 'chickened out' on going for an 'each way' bet, and plumped for a win only - Henry Percy (Henry Hotspur). ????

naturgesetz said...

Iago, methinks.

Berowne said...

All hail! Naturgesetz has come up with the correct answer!

The Blog of Bee said...

Oh gosh was going in with my choice - "too late" she cried "what a wretch". Nice piece.

Berowne said...

So far, naturgesetz is the only one to come up with the correct answer. Anyone else like to try?

Other Mary said...

I don't even have an educated guess... *hangs head in shame*

Kathe W. said...

oh hell- I just love reading your posts and don't have a clue since I am such a heathen when it comes to Shakespeare! But I cannot wait to see what the correct answer is so I can go look it all up and perhaps get a bit eduated! Hah!

Berowne said...

Altonian: Hotspur was an excellent guess, but not quite the correct answer. Who'd like to try next?

Margaret said...

No clue but I think it is really interesting (and I feel sorry for the guy ;)

btw, our "flu" lasted an average of four days. Hope you are feeling better by now.

Carrie Van Horn said...

You got me again...I have no idea. Thank you for making me think Berowne! :-)

Lyn said...

This one really is a puzzlement..thanks for having so much faith in me...Onward and upward to the New Year..cheers and the best all around!

kaykuala said...

Nor a wild guess nor an educated guess. But love them all. It's an education to be given snippets every now and then! Just waiting to see the correct answer each week! Nicely Berowne!

Hank

Wayne Pitchko said...

im just an old clueless poet.....but another good write indeed...thanks for your words

Berowne said...

As usual, the correct answer will be posted on Thursday. Thanks all for your interest. And oh yes, happy new year!

Jae Rose said...

Hmm..is the sea setting a red herring? Jim..Hawsepipe..i will never get these right! You are honing them to a golden nib..as i read the lieut-con abbreviation it made me feel in safer future/slight fantasy waters..can i cheekily propose a 2013 challenge..a scene/character from a new world/far off world piece of writing? happy new year..jae

Helen said...

I'm beginning to think you derive serious pleasure from taunting us with these (brilliant) quizzes! I am feeling hopelessly stupid. Keep 'em coming!

Happy New Year!

Kate said...

MacBeth? Have a jolly holiday and Happy New YEAR to you too. Kate, ABC Team

Optimistic Existentialist said...

I found your blog through Green Speck. I love it sir

May I follow?

Happy New Year!!

~Keith

Roger Owen Green said...

Don't have my sea legs. No idea. The Tempest? It's a tempestuous conversation.

Happy New Year!
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Berowne said...

Sound the loud bassoon! We have another winner! Raymond pert is the second to come up with the correct answer.

Berowne said...

Optimistic Existentialist: "I love it, sir. May I follow?"
By all means. The mare the morrier - or something like that.

Tumblewords: said...

Poorly educated in the Shakespeare vein, so I won't hazard a guess but I do enjoy your stories and maybe I'll even learn something! :)

Berowne said...

"I found your blog through Green Speck. I love it sir."
My thanks to Green Speck for the link.

Black Jack's Carol said...

Iago?

Happy 2013. I admire that your posts are so consistently stimulating. Just caught up with the Santa one and enjoyed it. I was wondering if you ever did get your pony.

Berowne said...

Number three! We now have three correct answers: Black Jack's Carol also came up with the right answer.

Silent Otto said...

A midsummer nights dream floats before my eyes. The fairy ?

Berowne said...

Raymond Pert wrote: “The character is Iago. We see his disdain for Cassio and we see the origins of his plan to practice revenge on Cassio and Othello.”

Berowne said...

Black Jack's Carol: "I was wondering if you ever did get your pony."
No. Here it is January Third and still no equine.

 
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