Othello Act 5 Scene 2

I’ll not shed her blood Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow… Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men

Othello conflicting over whether to kill D as she looks so pure but ultimately resolving that she must ide

[he kisses her] O balmy breath, that dost almost persuade Justice to break her sword!

Othello comparing himself to Justice and feeling that D’s innocence, beauty, etc. is almost enough to persuade him away. Note: stage direction is repeated again a few lines later, showing Othello’s ongoing fondness for D

Villainous whore!

What Iago calls Emelia when she reveals to everyone that actually Iago orchestrated the whole thing with the handkerchief

O, falsely, falsely murdered!

D saying that she has been falsely murdered

Nobody; I myself. Farewell; Commend me to my kind lord: O, farewell!

Desdemona’s final words. Protecting Othello quite literally up until the end of her life. Monosyllables, disjointed language, exclamatory - distress, evokes sympathy

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

Othello defending himself in his final moments

must you speak Of one that loved not wisely but too well

O trying to dictate how his story is told

Have you prayed tonight, Desdemona?… I would not kill thy unprepared spirit

Othello asking Desdemona if she has prayed and then actually telling her that she’s going to kill her. Could be interpreted as an act of kindness and compassion or seen as an act of torture as he could’ve killed her painlessly in her sleep, but has awoken her and told her she is going to die.

By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in’s hand!… I saw the handkerchief

Othello when accusing Desdemona of cheating on him with Cassio, after Desdemona insists she “NEVER LOVED CASSIO”. Repetition shows his fixation on the handkerchief, perhaps he keeps going back to this evidence to try his justify his actions, as Desdemona’s pleas of her innocence may’ve caused him doubt

Honest Iago

How Othello describes Iago, even at this stage of the play

His speech is disjoined, interrupted by lots of monosyllables (“Ha!”, “O”). Lots of very short interrogatives addressed to no-one as he’s the only one in the room (e.g. “What’s best to do?”)

Nature of Othello’s speech after smothering Desdemona (she’s not quite dead yet)

O, the more angel she, And you the blacker devil!

Emelia’s accusations towards Othello after Desdemona dies. Reference to “blacker” = suggests racial stereotypes are influencing Emelia’s perception of Othello/he has now resorted back to the racial stereotypes that he so valiantly defied before

I told him what I thought, and told no more Than what he found himself was apt and true

Iago when Emelia confronts him about Othello’s comments about him after Desdemona’s death. Highlights Iago’s manipulative nature but honest, confident tone almost suggests a sense of arrogance that his plan has come off - e.g. doesn’t talk around the subject and doesn’t deny the accusation. Links back to Iago’s earlier justification of his actions in his soliloquy (“how then am I the villain?”)

“Go to, charm your tongue.”/”I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak”

Iago trying to tell Emelia to essentially go away and shut up after she starts on him about how he manipulated Othello and let to Desdemona’s death (“you told a lie, an odious, damned lie”) PLUS Emelia’s response highlighting her defiance and perhaps how the truth about her husband has given her the courage to break away from the subservient wifely role she felt confined to before (e.g. when giving him the handkerchief). Could argue this ultimately costs her her life

Poor Desdemon! I am glad thy father’s dead. Thy match was mortal to him, and pure grief Shore his old thread in twain.

Gratiano addressing the dead Desdemona and revealing Brabantio’s death (and why it happened) to the audience

She with Cassio hath the act of shame A thousand times commited

Othello when justifying his actions after everyone (Gratiano, Emelia, Montano) are in the room and have seen that he has murdered Desdemona. Crucially it shows how Othello took Iago’s comments/manipulation out of proportion, with the use of hyperbolic language exceeding Iago’s descriptions of Desdemona’s disloyalty. Could either been seen as a) him trying to justify his heinous actions or b) a sign of his mental deterioration

Ay, ay. Lay me by my mistress’ side

Emelia after “[Iago wounds]” her. Monosyllabic exclamations convey distress and amplify the tension/tragedy of the scene. The fact that she is lain next to Desdemona in death is highly significant as Desdemona was of a higher class than her, was her mistress. Creates a tableau of female unity (before Othello spoils it), unity in death. Also perhaps a commentary on how despite being of different classes, they experienced the same fate (being killed by their husband), links to Paster’s critical view about how “Desdemona’s fate in the bedroom scene is universal”

in my sense, ‘tis happiness to die

Othello quote that could be used as evidence that his suicide was an act of cowardice rather than of nobility

From this time forth, I never will speak word

Iago vowing to be silence. Appears to be hyperbolic, but he really doesn’t say anything else.

Myself will straight abroad, and to the state This heavy act with heavy heart relate

The final lines of the play. Lodovico saying he will return home and tell everyone in Venice what has occurred, warning them and thereby warning the audience. Rhyming couplet (as is typical of Shakespeare’s plays). Repetition of “heavy” in final line leaves somber tone at end of play