![]() ![]() Similarly, in Othello’s Farewell Speech the repetition of the word ‘farewell’ and use of the childish word ‘big’ suggests that his mind is in turmoil. Shakespeare uses alliteration and repetition to emphasise Othello’s anguish and despair, and the Oh’s and exclamation marks highlight his pain. The images Iago plants in his mind of Desdemona ‘topped’ by Cassio, and of Cassio sleep talking to her force tortured cries like ‘Death and damnation! Oh! ’ and ‘Oh, monstrous! Monstrous! ’ to leave Othello. The word ‘monster’ was also brought up before by Othello when he said it was as if there were ‘some monster in thoughts/ too hideous to be shown’, which is interesting because Iago is jealous of Cassio, so perhaps Shakespeare was implying that he has the monster in him as well.Īs jealousy consumes him, his noble character and sophisticated language begin to deteriorate. The fact that it ‘doth mock the meat it feeds on’ suggests that it corrupts the mind, which is exactly what happens to Othello’s when he is consumed with jealousy. Othello is even warned against the dangers of ‘the green-eyed monster’ by Iago. This tells us just how much Othello trusts Iago, and Iago – knowing this – uses it against him. At the same time, Iago makes sure Othello has no doubt about his love for him: ‘My Lord, you know I love thee’, and the audience can see he has managed to fool Othello when he repeatedly refers to him as ‘honest Iago’. The short, sharp language with numerous exclamation marks reflects Othello’s frustration. Him by the way he continuously echoes him, making him even more uneasy and unsure. Iago continues to manipulate Othello throughout the scene, and when they later talk again, Othello can tell Iago is holding back from The word ‘chaos’ could also hint at his epilepsy, as he knows that something like not loving her will trigger it. This tells us that the entire universe stops making sense to him, which also foreshadows what will happen when he finally does stop loving her. Shakespeare also lets the audience know just how much Desdemona means to Othello when he says ‘chaos is come again’ when he doesn’t love her. To me this suggests that Othello is more comfortable when Desdemona isn’t around, and that is why he expresses his love for her so openly when she isn’t there to hear it. Only once Desdemona has left does he relax: ‘Excellent wretch! ’ he exclaims affectionately. The fact that he asks her ‘to leave me but a little to myself’ just after telling her he will ‘deny thee nothing’ shows the conflict already going on inside his mind he needs to be left alone so he can sort out his thoughts. This immediately makes Othello suspicious, and his suspicion only grows when she tries to get him to speak to Cassio. Iago cleverly uses the word ‘stealing’, which is effective as it suggests that Cassio didn’t want to be caught talking to Desdemona. Iago is shown to manipulate Othello right from the beginning of the act, when he cunningly says ‘Ha, I like not that’ on seeing Cassio ‘stealing’ away from Desdemona. On the other hand, in Act 3 Scene 3, the audience is able to see how Iago transforms Othello’s love for Desdemona into anger and hatred. The audience would have been swept up in his speech at this point. Othello is almost lyrical in his speech using Brabantio’s insult to cleverly yet respectfully reply ‘This is the only witchcraft I have used’. Here Shakespeare foreshadows the nature of their love and Othello’s fragile mind. We also learn how Othello and Desdemona fell in love, and that their relationship was built on pity as he says ‘She loved me for the dangers that I had pass’d / And I loved her that she did pity them’. This is what makes the other characters, along with the audience, respect him. Even after Brabantio accuses him of ‘witchcraft’ and other horrid things, he remains calm, and doesn’t once retort back. His words are powerful and eloquent at the same time, and carry the confidence he has the right to feel. He believes that his services ‘shall out-tongue his complaints’, which they do. In Act 1 Scene 2, Othello says ‘Let him do his spite’ showing that he doesn’t judge anybody no matter what they do, and isn’t threatened by what her father might do. We see his humble character through his respect for everyone, as well as his deep love and affection for his new wife, Desdemona. Before Act 3 Scene 3, Othello’s state of mind is shown to be very calm and collected by Shakespeare.
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