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Othello
 Along with Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth, Othello is
one of Shakespeare’s four great tragedies. Most critics look it as the top
of Shakespeare’s dramatic art. Othello is different from other
tragedies because it portrays the most vicious guy, Iago. King Claudius is
ferocious because he takes away Hamlet’s kingdom. Lear’s daughters are
faithless and Macbeth is a villain (Macbeth, his Lady and the Weird Sister
witches are all evil). All these people are bad in their own way, but none
of them can be compared with Iago.
Othello begins on a street in Venice, and an
argument is between Roderigo, a rich man, and Iago. Roderigo has been paying
Iago to help him to marry Desdemona. But Roderigo has just known that
Desdemona has married Othello, a Moor general whom Iago serves for. Iago
says he hates Othello, because Othello gives his position to a soldier named
Michael Cassio.
Iago and Roderigo lied to Brabanzio that his daughter
Desdemona has been stolen by and married to Othello. Brabanzio later finds
it is true. But after Othello’s explanation and his daughter’s defense of
her choice, Brabanzio accepts the fact.
Othello is sent to
Cyprus to aid in the arm. But the
enemy is defeated by the storm at sea. Then Cassio and Iago, Roderigo,
Desdemona, and Emilia arrived respectively. Iago tells the audience that he
will use a plan to everyone.
Iago gets Cassio drunk and makes him to fight with
Roderigo. As a punishment, Cassio is removed from his position by Othello,
but Cassio wants to be forgiven so Iago suggests him to talk to Othello’s
wife Desdemona and then he speaks ill of both for having an affair behind
Othello. Othello believes that it is true because Iago asks Emilia, his
wife, to steal a handkerchief which is an evidence to prove that Cassio and
Desdemona have an affair.
Othello accuses Desdemona of being a whore. Ignoring her protestations and
desperate imploration, he kills her:
Cyprus. A Bedchamber in the castle: Desdemona in bed
DESDEMONA: Who's there? Othello?
OTHELLO: Ay, Desdemona.
DESDEMONA: Will you come to bed, my lord?
OTHELLO: Have you pray'd to-night, Desdemona?
DESDEMONA: Ay, my lord.
OTHELLO: If you bethink yourself of any crime. Unreconcil'd as yet to heaven
and grace, Solicit for it straight.
DESDEMONA: Alack, my lord, what may you mean by that?
OTHELLO: Well, do it, and be brief; I will walk by. I would not kill thy
unprepared spirit; No,—heaven forfend!—I would not kill thy soul.
DESDEMONA: Talk you of killing?
OTHELLO: Ay, I do.
DESDEMONA: Then heaven .
Have mercy on me!
OTHELLO: Amen, with all my heart!
DESDEMONA: If you say so, I hope you will not kill me.
OTHELLO: Hum!
DESDEMONA: And yet I fear you; for you are fatal then.
When your eyes roll so: why I should fear I know not, Since guiltiness I
know not; but yet I feel I fear.
OTHELLO: Think on thy sins.
DESDEMONA: They are loves I bear to you.
OTHELLO: Ay, and for that thou diest.
(Act V, Scene ii)
Emilia finally realizes that Iago is using her against Desdemona and Cassio.
When the whole truth is told to Othello, he is very sad and tries to kill
Iago but only wounds Iago. Unfortunately, Iago kills Emilia and escapes, but
he is caught by Lodovico and Montano. Lodovico and Montano also bring back
wounded Cassio. Othello makes a speech about how he would like to be
remembered, then kills himself with a sword he had hidden. The play closes
with a speech by Lodovico. He gives Othello's house and goods to Graziano
and orders that Iago be executed.
Military heroism and love are the major themes of the play. Othello is a
soldier. From the earliest moment, his career influences his married life.
Othello succeeds in winning Desdemona heart by the tales of his military
travels and battles. He is sent to Cyprus after he just gets married. While
Desdemona is used to better “accommodation”, she accompanies her husband to
Cyprus. Moreover, she seems calm by the tempest or Turks that threatened
their crossing. She is, indeed, Othello's “fair warrior”, and he is happiest
when he has her by his side in the midst of military conflict or business.
The military also provides Othello with a means to be in Venetian society.
While the Venetians in the play are generally fearful of the prospect of
Othello's social entrance into white society through his marriage to
Desdemona, all Venetians respect and honor him as a soldier for Othello is a
moor.
Once the Turks are drowned, Othello is left without anything to do: Othello
begins to feel uneasy with his footing in a private setting, the bedroom.
Iago calls this uneasiness, calling Othello in Act IV, Scene I, "[a] passion
most unsuiting such a man." In other words, Iago is calling Othello
unsoldierly. Iago also takes care to mention that Cassio, whom Othello
believes to be his competitor.
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