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Othello Essay

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Othello Essay
Eng 102
The Guilty Conscience Is As Bad As A Guilty Act.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, I've come here today to present you with a man who wants to justify the murder of his wife. I will show you how unjustified his act and his thoughts were in this not so spontaneous crime. Othello is on trial for murder and I would like to remind you that he has admitted full and absolute blame for this and you should not heed that lightly. Under the circumstances his mental state will come into account, but do not be bewildered by his claims of psychosis as any man could have had these thoughts befallen upon him and not taken action. This act of murder was premeditated, therefore making it first-degree murder. In a passing conversation earlier with Iago, Othello suggests that Desdemona "shall not live". (Othello, 4.1.170) He goes on to describe how he should murder her as a passing thought. As Othello has stated here "Hang her! - I will chop her into messes. - Get me some poison, Iago, this night. " (Othello, 4.1.174,184,188) Iago goes on to suggest that Othello shouldn't poison his wife but rather strangle her in bed. Othello continued to speak with Iago about how he was going to strangle his wife because of her supposed adultery against him. Even though Iago is an accessory to this crime for his manipulation of Othello's thoughts and his suggestions on how to kill Desdemona, Othello is still at fault for the proceeded crime. Mens rea suggests that Othello knew murdering his wife was wrong and yet he did so out of spite. His actus reus suggests that in killing his wife he was distraught and did act in the heat of passion, yet still mens rea proves him guilty of this act and his malice aforethought. His psychological state is that of every other man with a jealous, green monster on his back. He is not warranted to any plea of insanity as he acted on a conscious and well planned thought, which does not concede in insanity. Othello once more admits to his guilty
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