Act 5

[Enter Iago, with a light]

[Enter Iago, with a light]

Portrays how Iago has maintained power throughout the whole play and how he is the driving force of the plot. The “light” holds great significance as it represents Iago’s control over everyone as he keeps characters especially Othello in the dark. As he reenters, he manipulates the play as he twists the truth, adding corruption to the chaos all while keeping himself under the false pretence of being innocent. (after the fight)

'“This is the fruits of whoring”

Iago deflects blame from himself to project accusation onto Bianca. He easily utilises Bianca’s position within society as a prostitute to shift the blame onto her.

“I am no strumpet”

Declarative aggressively counteracts accusations. Bianca is presented as an outspoken woman forming a defence against Iago. AO3: She stands against the patriarchal stereotypes of women, and presents herself as powerful.

[bedchambers]

The typical connotations to a bedchamber represent safety and protection, however now is inverted as Othello corrupts the image of intimacy, leaving Desdemona as a vulnerable victim. The audience are almost locked into a claustrophobic room. Heightens tragedy as the stark contrast between safety and murder within the ultimate place of intimacy is inverted.

"It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul”

“It is the cause”

Convincing himself to convince Desdemona. It is repeated thrice to enforce Othello’s judgement .

Repetition of phrase helps to convey the distraught nature of Othello's emotions - he cannot stop thinking about Desdemona's lack of faith, overcome with grief.   \n \n Othello cannot bring himself to say "adultery": he is so furiously distraught he wishes not to speak word. Highlights the destructive nature of Iago's lies.

“chaste stars”

Cosmic imagery. Presents the role of fate within the place as Othello believes this has to happen. Heightening tragedy.

“Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow”

Othello returns to the poetic, romantic language her used to use. AO5: He could be describing her beauty and how it is aching however it also could suggest how her pallor image entices him.

Strangles her as he wants to preserve her beauty.

“Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men”

Othello attempts to justify his decision as he views this murder as protecting other men within society however this sliloquee only presents his emotional turmoil as he bends between the decision to murder Desdemona or not. Overall he compunds his decision shown through the modal verb “must”.

Through this speech we see Othello's flair return - we catch a glimpse of the 'old Othello'. This provides a heavy contrast between the man he has become as a result of Iago's machinations

“Put out the light, and then put out thy light”

The light acts as a motif for Desdemona’s life, structurally it illustrates how Othello’s views have changed from Desdemona being his “soul’s joy” to being willing to kill her.

Contextually AO3: Light was seen as a symbol of reason, which is ironic as Othello uses it now to justify his absurd thoughts and actions.

“I will kill thee

And love thee after”

Othello's mourns the loss of his wife as her plans her murder

Othello reflects on his love for Desdemona, showing that he truly does love her still. However, he believes justice must be administered; she must be killed to protect the world from her wrath. In killing her, he believes he is doing the world a duty - he kills her out of love, not purely out of spite.   \n \n Othello understands that it shall be easier to love Desdemona once he is no longer threatened by what she may say or do - in killing her, she can no longer hurt him.

“Banish me, my lord but kill me not”

“Kill me tomorrow”

“But half an hour”

“But while I say one prayer”

The fragmented syntax of begging from Desdemona clearly portrays the tragic element of Desdemona as the tragic victim as it illustrates her helplessness. Pathos is created as the pleading tone is left with the audience.

"Commend me to my kind lord."

Desdemona is momentarily revived, pleading for Othello's innocence. Desdemona's dying words are a defence of her innocence, yet also a defence of Othello's. She dies a submissive wife to Othello, illustrating how far she has changed from being an outspoken woman. Characterisation of her absolute virtue, purity and loyalty as she demonstrates her eternal love for Othello. Amplifies tragedy as she sends her love to the man who has ended her life.

“O, the more angel she,

And you the blacker devil”

Use of binary opposition conveys the stark contrast from both the physical and emotional between Othello and Desdemona. One could argue how they should have never been together. Ultimately presenting the role of fate on this couple.

“my husband” repetition Emilia

The reverberation of ‘husband’ emphasises her incredulity and how she has fallen victim to Iago’s manipulation. Emilia comes to a realisation of how she was imply a pawn in Iago's Machiavellian plan.

AO3: Challenges the patriarchy as she realises before anyone else.

“disprove this villain, if thou best a man”

Emilia challenges Iago’s masculinity as she ridicules his traditional male hubris and uses it to her advantage. She directly emasculates him in a threatening and daring tone. AO3: An elizabethan audience would have found this inappropriate whereas a contemporary audience my have found this revolutionary.

"I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak."

She is "bound" suggest she has strong connotations, suggesting she must to speak. Provision of an insistent tone helps convey the importance of Emilia's speech.

AO3: Refuses to be silenced which contradicts Elizabethan stereotypes, she goes against the expectations within the patriarchal society as she becomes empowered to speak for justice and morality, which supersedes social norms.

Emilia is the voice of truth throughout the play: she defends Desdemona and exposes Iago’s lies.

Tis proper I obey him, but not now”

Presents how Emilia is aware of social surrounding however acts as a martyr for the truth and will push for justice. She catalyses Othello’s anagnorosis and catharsis for the audience along with all the characters realisation of Iago’s machinations.

“Whip me, ye devils”

“Roast me in sulphur”

The exaggerated portrays of emotion and hyperbolic language by Othello transforms from self loathing to true disgust for his actions. The hellish imagery of “devils” and “whips” heightens his disappointment in himself. He begins his anagnorosis as he realises his heinous crime.

Shakespeare also keeps the focus solely on Othello in order to enhance the tragedy of his fall, thereby heightening the tragedy of his fall, thereby amplifying the tragedy as a whole, providing the audience with a greater sense of catharsis.

"I bleed, sir, but not killed"

Mocking tone: Othello, despite his military background, is unable to kill Iago, this he taunts Othello. Note this is Othello's last military act.   \n \n Othello is unable to kill Iago - an action he should be well capable of. This highlights the effect of Iago's lies - Othello has become so destroyed he is unable to even kill Iago.

“I have done the state some service and they know’t”

‘Othello is endeavouring to escape reality” (TS Elliot)

AO2/AO5:

• On one hand Othello’s last soliloquy conveys his inability to reach a full anagnorisis as he is infatuated by trying to escape his current reality of guilt. His egotistical nature is portrayed within the added phrase “and they know’t” as he merely attempts to save the last part of his reputation, completely ceasing to acknowledge Desdemona’s death. Leavis would support this point as he argues that he is “self dramatised”. Moreover suggesting his soliloquy is a pathetic justification of his actions, used as a blanket of comfort to avoid facing the truth.

• Overall Othello fails to reach a full anagnorisis, while having a deep sense of regret and reminiscence, he is unable to reach a full anagnorisis, leaving the audience without a complete catharsis.

“Like the base Indian, threw away a pearl”

“Speak of me as I am”

AO5: This is an expression of hope that his true and authentic story will be told with an extent of nobility, simply grieving Desdemona. He uses the metaphor of “the base Indian, threw away a pearl” to refer to his tragic neglect of Desdemona. The colloquial language of “threw away” portrays his dismissiveness of her precious value as a “pearl”. Generating a degree of sympathy from the audience as the tragic innocence of Desdemona is heightened through Othello’s regrets.

"I never will speak word"

MAINTAINS POWER

Through the play, words have proven to be Iago's strongest weapon, allowing him to wield immense power. As his lies have become exposed, his words no longer severe such power, and this Iago has nothing to gain from speaking. Therefore, he says nothing.