Othello Act 5, Scene 2 Lines #338-356

Within Act 5, Scene 2 of the Shakespearian play Othello, Lodovico informs Othello he is to lose command and Cassio will end up being the guv of Cyrpus instead. Subsequently, Othello is to be held jail and will wait for trial. It is from this point in the play that Othello protests his excellent service to Venice. From lines 338 to 356, Othello states his final speech prior to ultimately taking his own life. Here, Othello reveals his sorrow over what he has actually done feeling a strong sense of sin in his actions.

His ego is still undamaged nevertheless as he points out that he has done a great deed to the state despite the overshadowing for his act.

Othello declares his position as a figure who is all at once consisted of and left out from Venetian Society. Evident in his final statement, he utilizes contradictions to describe his frame of mind before and after the adjustment of Iago. Another element exposed is the level to which his sins have actually affected him and how he longs for the fights that helped him woo Desdemona's love through his brave stories.

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Despite having actually done his services to the state, he exposes his absurdity as somebody who existed within and outside Venetian society providing increase to a series of contradictions.

In line 342, he asks others to speak of him as he genuinely is being, "nothing extenuate, Nor set down aught in malice." The first inconsistent sentence reveals that he does not long for his guilt to be minimized as suggested by the diction "extenuate.

" Nor does he want be considered wicked which he would feel ashamed for as Iago is the genuine villain in the play. Othello reveals in the next line that he has actually "loved not wisely, however too well" showing that he was not able to communicate the very same amount of affection back to Desdemona as she had done to him. Othello's love for Desdemona reveals a sensitive part of Othello in spite of his military background.

It was Othello’s love for Desdemona, however, that acted as a catalyst to which Iago manipulated and used to his advantage. In the next contradictory statement, Othello states that he was “not easily jealous, but, being wrought. ” Othello is referring to his previous assessment of Desdemona’s relation with Cassio where he told Iago that he had nothing to fear and thus would not become jealous. However, the audience knows that this is no longer the situation as the “honest” Iago made Othello into a pawn of a greater game. Othello comments on his how he won the affection of Desdemona enchanting her through his heroic tales.

Othello mentions the “Arabian trees Their medicinal gum” and “Aleppo” which were elements in his heroic tale. He cherishes his memories of when he spoke of such places to Desdemona further emphasizing his love for her. It is evident that no medicine in the world can cure him of his agony and torture referring to the medicinal properties of the “Arabian Trees. ” However, the burden of his sins become overwhelming referring to a “base Judean, threw a pearl away. ” This quotation suggests that he has angered the heavens and makes a religious reference to the betrayal of sacrifice of Jesus.

Similar to the betrayel of Jesus, he has betrayed Desdemona’s pure qualities and love. There is irony involved because he killed Desdemona who had the qualities of a Saint who was always willing to forgive Othello for his actions. This trait was emphasized previously in the play where Desdemona wished for the heavens to forgive Othello and send him to Purgatory rather than hell so that he may repent for his sins. Despite Othello’s pains and cries, he briefly manages to calm himself thus regaining his dignity that gave rise to his higher state of power in Venice.

This indicates that his ego is still intact and has not been completely shattered as he works the persistence reveal his innermost feelings of being an outsider. He mentions “Aleppo” which is translated as a significant staging post for trade between Europe and the East where it was said that the punishment there should a Christian strike a Turk was immediate death. Othello make this reference because he feels that he has been an outcast of Venetian society despite his title. He feel that he has been struck to death in comparison to Christian who struck a Turk.

Considering the severity of the punishment, it is evident that this is not small matter, but rather a serious one with racial discrimination. While in the act of killing himself, he alludes to the metaphor of the killing of a Turk. He acknowledges that he will forever be an outsider. In summation, Othello’s final remark has allowed him to personally reflect his actions and to reveal to the audience his remorseful feelings. While establishing the difference between one who was included and exclude in Venetian society, he makes his final act of martyrdom. The only opponent left for him to conquer becomes himself.