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Othello

“ Put out the light, and then put out the light. ”. Othello. Murders of Desdemona and Emilia Othello ’ s Suicide. Considering Act 5 Scene 2 The Closing Act The Final Act. Act 5 Scene 2 - Opening. Stage directions are critically significant

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Othello

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  1. “Put out the light, and then put out the light.” Othello • Murders of Desdemona and Emilia • Othello’s Suicide Considering Act 5 Scene 2 The Closing Act The Final Act

  2. Act 5 Scene 2 - Opening • Stage directions are critically significant • “Enter Othello, with a light, Desdemona in her bed.” • Painfully ironic • Darkness and Light / Ignorance and Truth

  3. Act 5 Scene 2 - Opening • Setting: • In most plays, the bed will be the central feature of the stage in this scene • Exchange between Othello and Desdemona frustrating and painful to watch

  4. Act 5 Scene 2 - Opening • Othello’s opening speech delivered whilst Desdemona is asleep • Motif of light a feature of his speech • Tragic irony: “Put out the light, and then put out the light.” 5.2.7

  5. Desdemona and Othello • Othello finally confronts Desdemona but he is determined to follow through with his actions – audience reminded of his absolute, unwavering and steadfast nature • Intradialogical directions indicate Othello’s physical gestures and facial expressions, revealing of his emotional and mental state • “..for you’re fatal then/ When your eyes roll so.” 5.2.38 • “Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip?/ Some bloody passion shakes your very frame..” 5.2.43-4

  6. Silencing of Women • Final silencing of Desdemona • Despite her pleading, Othello proceeds to smother her • Othello denies her last request even for a prayer • Contrast Desdemona’s firm and confident voice at the beginning of the play – futility? • Even Emilia, portrayed as the more worldly wise and stronger than Desdemona, is unable to stop the tragedy • “Nobody – I myself – farewell.” 5.2.125 Tragic as whilst she is aware of her innocence, she remains silent in order to protect her husband – spirit of self-abnegation • Continues to blame herself

  7. Othello’s Last Words • “Then must you speak/ Of one that loved not wisely, but too well; Of one not easily jealous…” • True? Or another act of self-deception? • More apt if these words had been spoken by Desdemona – another level of silencing – female voice relegated to a male

  8. Othello’s Last Words • “Where a malignant and a turbaned Turk/ Beat a Venetian and traduced the state, I took by th’throat the circumcised dog/ And smote him thus” • Within Othello lies a barbaric Turk and by killing a Turk, he wants to redeem himself • YET, his absolutism still remains • Real tragedy (?): He dies as unenlightened

  9. Closing Line of Play • Spoken by Lodovico • “Myself with straight abroad, and to the state/ this heavy act with heavy heart relate” • rhymed couplet together with its sighing alliteration closes the play on a solemn note • a final reminder to the audience of Othello’s once respected, revered position as the Head of the Venetian army

  10. Othello Act 5 – Trial of the Hero?To what extent is Othello the victim, and how far is he an agent of his fate?

  11. Othello’s Suicide • Consider Othello’s suicide: final and ultimate act of exclusion from society and the society at large • Filled with pathos and tragic poignancy at this inability to assimilate completely into the Venetian society and as his role as a husband

  12. Othello GuiltyAgent of own fate Not Guilty Victim Egoist Igao’s manipulation Jealousy—Self generated Natural reactions of Man under pressure Failing to admithis guilt Vulnerabilities & Insecurities in a foreign society Action— Killing Desdemona Nobility restoredLang, action Toyed by fate Othello Act 5 – Trial of the Hero?

  13. Othello the Egoist? • Sees himself as agent of justice to society • Proves to himself that he is a fair and honourable individual • Blind to his own faults • A victim of others’ cruelty; society’s injustice, perhaps?

  14. Othello’s Final Speech • “Cheering himself up” self-soothing rhetoric – T.S. Eliot • Compares Desdemona’s death to roses/light • Othello is not confronting the truth but shields himself from it • As an individual he appears to be self-centered and demonstrates self-idealization… • ….to compensate for his sense of weakness

  15. Suicide INAUTHENTIC SINCERE His drive to murder Desdemona is also a drive to kill something deep within himself Moral cowardice He’s not condemned “rash & most unfortunate” Histrionic gesture Self-admiring dramatization A result of him failing to attain Real self comfort Othello’s Suicide

  16. Othello’s Suicide • Self-indictment so complete that it is an act of self-annihilation • Because of his need for moral and emotional finality • Recognition of his own desperate need for Desdemona’s love • Dies upon a kiss • As an individual, the act of suicide is a complete removal of one’s self from the society

  17. Justice & Discernment in Society • Appalling injustice can go under the name of justice • Iago to Othello • Othello to Desdemona

  18. Justice & Discernment in Society • Human emotions alters aspects of justic (falsify or enforce) • Love and hate • Desire for people, truth • Fear • Respect

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