Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Othello- Juxtaposition/Diction

Othello, the Moor of Venice
William Shakespeare
Act IV, scene 1

Once Othello is convinced that Desdemona is having an affair with Casiso, he enraged with Cassio.  "I would have him nine years a-killing" (IV.i.166).  But Othello stil compliments Desdemona, because he still has feelings for her.  "A fine woman! A fair woman! A sweet woman!" (IV.i.166-167).  Iago tells Othello  he must forget that, and Othello's feelings or expression of them seem to do a complete 180.  "Aye, let her rot, and perish, and be damned tonight, for she shall not live."  But then he goes back to positive diction: "Oh the world hath not a sweeter creature" (IV.i.169-171).
Iago tells Othello to cut it out, and Othello keeps switching back and forth in his feelings for Desdemona: "Hang her! I do but say what she is, so delicate with her needle, an admirable musician- oh, she will sing the savageness out of a bear- of so high and plenteous wit and invention-...And then, of so gentle a condition... I will chop her into messes" (IV.i.174-184).
These juxtaposing thoughts/words reveal the complex emotions Othello is experiencing.  He loves his wofe very much, and is crushed by the thought that she would cheat on him.  Othello hates Cassio and at times, seems to want Desdemona dead, but part of him still loves her.  These crazy emotions will most likely allow Iago to be even more manipulative and he will be able to more easily convince Othello to take drastic measures, like killing Desdemona.  Soon we shall see which of the conflicting emotions wins out... (since Othello is a trajedy, I'm going to hazard a guess that the negative emotion prevails and Desdemona ends up getting strangled in her bed...but thats just a guess.)

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