Essay on Shakespeare’s ‘Othello, the Moor of Venice’

His use of metaphors such as ‘Like the base Judean,’ and ‘Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees,’ might be seen by T. Othello speaking about unrelated issues such as his past victories may lead F. This is why I agree that the speech begins in ‘quiet authenticity’ and ends in ‘self dramatization,’ however I do not agree that he is not a tragic hero. He also refers earlier to Iago as a ‘demi-devil’ and this shows that he has learnt from his misfortune, probably the most important lesson being that even seemingly honest people can be ‘demi-devil’s’ I also strongly disagree that he would ‘rather rant than think’ as I believe that his speech is far from ranting but more f him reminiscing about his life and the tragedy that recently occurred. This thus also debunks his claim that Othello has ‘ceased to think about Desdemona,’ and that he is ‘only thinking about himself. ’ I believe that Othello is a tragic hero and that he did learn from his misfortune, that he is thinking, that there is a reason for which he says what he says and that it is not mere ranting. Secondly the manner in which Othello ends his speech, in a dramatic manner, recounting vividly with clear description his former might, how he regained Venice’s glory when a Venetian lost it in battle once more recounting how much he had done for Venice and then immediately stabs himself in a dramatic manner. Othello knowing that these are his last moments as he plans to kill himself, attempts to salvage his badly tarnished image before he dies and is unable to redeem himself forever. I however see no evidence of his generosity, the greatness of his heart his absoluteness, his disinterestedness in his final speech and so do not agree with this view. His main concern in the speech was how he would be perceived after death and the stupidity of his actions, killing Desdemona.

Lastly I will examine Helen Gardner’s perception that ‘The essential nobility of Othello is reaffirmed,’ I agree with this portion of her critical perspective but disagree that this constitutes’ his generosity, the greatness of his heart, his absoluteness, his disinterestedness. I also do not subscribe to the view that, ‘He is endeavoring to escape reality. Leavis to believe that he is ranting but I believe that the reason he does this is as he knows that he is going to kill himself and so talks about what he feels he ought to talk about before he kills himself.