Othello - What Do We Learn in This Way About the ‘True Nature’ of Othello?
Othello:
Q: In a tragedy, conflict and suffering draw out the true nature of the chief characters inch by inch (John Russell Brown) –What do we learn in this way about the ‘true nature’ of Othello? Illustrate your points with evidence from the play.
Humans are like wet sponges- it takes a squeeze to reveal what is truly inside us.
The opening of ‘Othello’, paints the Moor as a dignified and controlled man, full of deeply rooted morals and religious beliefs. But through Iago’s lies and deceit, his squeeze of the sponge, Othello is led to believe there is a great conflict in his life, that of Desdemona being unfaithful to him. This knowledge, which Othello is rather too quick to believe, breaks down his self control and pulls out of him a wildly jealous man, ruled only by his emotions, too impassioned to hear Desdemona’s confusion and the truth of her love, or see through Iago’s deception. However, after he slaughters his wife in tepid blood ( I say tepid blood, for he is not blinded by bloodlust or rage when he commits his crime, but it is a crime of passion, performed for the sake of righteousness, not cold cruelty), and realises the truth of what he has done, his reactions show him still to be a man ruled by emotion, but now the emotions of regret, disbelief and horror are what drive him, and we see a return of his morals and religion when he sacrifices himself, in atonement and punishment, fully believing that he will be sent to Hell for his crime, ‘O cursed, cursed slave! Whip me ye devils, from the possession of this heavenly sight! Blow me about in winds! Roast me in sulphur! Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire! O Desdemon!’
The tragedy of ‘Othello’ (the play), gradually reveals Othello’s true nature as the story unwinds and he is faced with great conflict and suffering. His true nature is that of one who trusts too easily, is ruled entirely by emotion and righteousness, not reason and control. However, this is not to say his true nature is
Q: In a tragedy, conflict and suffering draw out the true nature of the chief characters inch by inch (John Russell Brown) –What do we learn in this way about the ‘true nature’ of Othello? Illustrate your points with evidence from the play.
Humans are like wet sponges- it takes a squeeze to reveal what is truly inside us.
The opening of ‘Othello’, paints the Moor as a dignified and controlled man, full of deeply rooted morals and religious beliefs. But through Iago’s lies and deceit, his squeeze of the sponge, Othello is led to believe there is a great conflict in his life, that of Desdemona being unfaithful to him. This knowledge, which Othello is rather too quick to believe, breaks down his self control and pulls out of him a wildly jealous man, ruled only by his emotions, too impassioned to hear Desdemona’s confusion and the truth of her love, or see through Iago’s deception. However, after he slaughters his wife in tepid blood ( I say tepid blood, for he is not blinded by bloodlust or rage when he commits his crime, but it is a crime of passion, performed for the sake of righteousness, not cold cruelty), and realises the truth of what he has done, his reactions show him still to be a man ruled by emotion, but now the emotions of regret, disbelief and horror are what drive him, and we see a return of his morals and religion when he sacrifices himself, in atonement and punishment, fully believing that he will be sent to Hell for his crime, ‘O cursed, cursed slave! Whip me ye devils, from the possession of this heavenly sight! Blow me about in winds! Roast me in sulphur! Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire! O Desdemon!’
The tragedy of ‘Othello’ (the play), gradually reveals Othello’s true nature as the story unwinds and he is faced with great conflict and suffering. His true nature is that of one who trusts too easily, is ruled entirely by emotion and righteousness, not reason and control. However, this is not to say his true nature is