Othello by William Shakespeare Essay

Othello by William Shakespeare is a tragic story of envy, hatred and giving trusting to a very vicious person. It tells a tale of two people who loved each other despite the fact that they are worlds apart in terms of race, age and experience. Othello was a Moor, and Desdemona was the prettiest woman. Envied by Roderigo and Iago, the latter devised a plan to deceive Othello that his wife is cheating on him with his most trusted lieutenant Cassio. Unfortunately for the main characters, the plan worked and Othello stop up killing his faithful wife.Learning about what a fool he had become, non believing his own wife, Othello killed himself and died in his wifes embrace. Roderigo was killed by Cassio and Iago was tortured to death. I have chosen to discuss Act V, Scene II of the play Othello, where Othello was inclined his wife was unfaithful and made up his headway to kill her. For him, this was the only honorable thing to do. The first part showed Othello looking at his sleeping w ife amidst a flickering candle. He states It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul, Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars It is the cause. Yet Ill not shed her bloodNor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow, And smooth as monumental alabaster. In this speech, Othello is trying to convince himself that it was Desdemona who was at fault that is why killing her must be done. He accuses his wifes beauty as the cause of her infidelity. And because of this beauty that he entrust kill her with honor, and not damage any part of her splendor. He is obviously confused, hesitant, trying to make sense of what he is about to do. Yet she must die, else shell let out more men. Put out the light, and whence put out the light If I quench thee, thou flaming minister, I can again thy reason light restore,When I have pluckd the rose, I cannot give it vital growth again. It must needs wither Ill smell it on the tree. In these lines, Othello has affirmed reasons for him to kill his wife, an d convinced himself that by killing her, he is relieving her of her sins, bringing back her purity and innocence, as if being born again. He then kissed his wife and this awakened her. Desdemona, quite feeling there is something wrong, tried to capture her husbands love once again by inviting him to lay beside her that instead, Othello asked her whether she had already prayed because he does not want to kill an unprepared spirit.When Desdemona appeared confused, Othello told her that is has been proven that she has betrayed him by being with Cassio and that he has the handkerchief that Othello so lovingly gave her. Despite Desdemonas pleadings of innocence, Othellos mind has already been poisoned by Iagos stories, and he killed his wife. This scene, I believe is the umbrella of the whole play. Even though it was not actually verbalise in Act V, Scene II, it was obvious that Othello was a great man but was blinded by jealousy. And this blindness is a solid proof of Iagos cunningnes s in manipulating the different characters.It was also shown here how Desdemona truly loves her husband by admitting suicide and not revealing that it was Othello who killed her. The painting that I have chosen (above) in some way shows the entirety of scene II of Act V. By looking at it, one can clearly see the difference in Othello and Desdemonas lives. She was about a goddess, sleeping in her white wedding sheets, and he looks like a confused peasant wearing a suit that is fit for him. in that location was hesitation, uncertainty and doubt in his eyes. He was holding a dagger evidently implying that he is about to kill her (although this was actually used to kill himself).His sit around seems like he was sneaking in to steal a look of his stunning wife. Desdemona on the other hand, looks so peaceful, almost illuminating in conscionable a faint light of a flickering candle. Although the painting pretty much illustrated the scene from the play, it was still lacking of life and dimension. In a terce person point of view, it would not be as effective in delivering the message unless the person really knows the story. Therefore, while I consider myself as a visual person, I still much prefer the written form of this particular scene.It is more dramatic and touching to be able to create a scene with your own imagination. A major factor for this choice is that I have always loved reading because it can really take me on a journey where I can be in control. Also, I can have my own interpretation of different chapters in a harbour or novel whereas in watching a movie to looking at a photograph or painting, you can only interpret up to the limit of what the artist or director. Written literary works can give you limitless possibilities, and that is the challenge I treasure in reading.