Analysis of one of Othello’s Soliloquy in act 3 in discussion form (speech)

Iago has convinced Othello that his wife, Desdemona is cheating on Othello with Cassio. This has left Othello contemplating over Desdemona’s faithfulness. At first Othello did not believe a word Iago said about Desdemona, but as soon as there was the slightest amount of evidence. Othello started believing and eating all the words that Iago said. During Othello’s soliloquy, he doesn’t appear to be the same self-confident General he was formerly portrayed as. Instead, indecision over his wife’s infidelity has caused him to explore his flaws as a human being. Showing signs of appearance versus reality.

Othello’s Soliloquy

This fellow’s of exceeding honesty,

And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,

Of human dealings. If I do prove her haggard,

Though that her jesses were my dear heart-strings,

I’d whistle her off, and let her down the wind

To prey at fortune. Haply for I am black

And have not those soft parts of conversation

That chamberers have; or for I am declined

Into the vale of years-yet that’s not much-

She’s gone: I am abused, and my relief

Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage,

That we can call these delicate creatures ours

And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad

And live upon the vapour of a dungeon

Than keep a corner in the thing I love

For others’ uses. Yet ’tis the plague of great ones;

Prerogatived are they less than the base.

‘Tis destiny unshunnable, like death:

Even this forked plague is fated to us

When we do quicken. Desdemona comes!

If she be false, O then heaven mocks itself!

I’ll not believe’t.

The conniving Iago has unquestionably caused Othello to be suspicious of Desdemona’s fidelity. Othello, like every one of the other characters, is duped by this ‘honest’ ancient whom he knows and trusts. Ironically, Iago is of such wicked nature:

This fellow’s of exceeding honesty,

And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,

Of human dealings

Othello is left alone to think about himself and put himself down. Torn between his great love for Desdemona and the doubts from Iago’s propaganda, of her faithfulness. Othello’s mind is full of fake images of Desdemona with Cassio.

Thinking back to when Iago was talking about Desdemona deceiving Brabantio, and her lies of fear for Othello, he questions his life upon her faith. Feeling threatened and insecure, he considers his own love for Desdemona:

If I do prove her haggard,

Though that her jesses were my dear heart-strings,

I’d whistle her off, and let her down the wind

To prey at fortune.

Metaphorically comparing his wife as a beautifully untamed hawk, Othello states he would relinquish his love for her as he knows that having an adulterous wife would make him less honourable in the public’s eye. He would set her free without hesitation.

Othello is ‘not easily provoked’ into jealousy, but when Iago starts his subtle insinuations it is only too easy for Othello to identify in himself the possible reasons that could cause Desdemona’s love to waver. Chiefly of his colour: ‘Haply, for I am black’, and does not speak as eloquently as the chamberers. Feeling distrusted, incompetent, and incompatible as he compares Michael Cassio, whom he believes is the one Desdemona admires more than an old Negro as her husband:

Haply for I am black

And have not those soft parts of conversation

That chamberers have; or for I am declined

Into the vale of years-yet that’s not much-

She’s gone

Perhaps Desdemona was behaving unnaturally in loving him because she fell in love with what she feared to look upon. This perception adds further suspicion to Desdemona’s faithfulness and inturn, causes Othello to lose all his self confidence and resorted to loathe her.

Now Othello believes the curse of marriage that men can own the delicate creatures, as wives, but they can never know their insatiable desires. Despite her pledged vow to Othello, his constant thought of Desdemona’s betrayal has become overwhelming.

Othello’s soliloquy shows his sense of injury and self pity. He implies his shamefulness metaphorically that he would rather be a toad and live in a dungeon, than to tolerate her infidelity. He would rather tear his own heart out if necessary or:

I had rather be a toad

And live upon the vapour of a dungeon

Than keep a corner in the thing I love

For others’ uses.

Seeing himself as a great man, he realises this betrayal is the destiny of all great ones. With his great reputation, he realises that he has even lesser chance to escape cuckoldry than poor men have:

Yet ’tis the plague of great ones;

Prerogatived are they less than the base.

‘Tis destiny unshunnable, like death:

Even this forked plague is fated to us

When we do quicken.

It is his inescapable fate that is destined to tarnish him from the very moment he was born. As Othello becomes firmly believing in Iago’s insinuations, his tone accentuates by his anger. Metaphorically he states when a man is cuckolded, forked horns will grow on his head, which could be seen by all except himself.

Iago’s subtle machinations has intoxicated Othello’s mind against Desdemona’s betrayal. Jealousy has made Othello believe that Desdemona, the most beautiful lady in Venice, might be unfaithful to him. If that is true, Othello blames heaven for the course of the problem:

If she be false, O then heaven mocks itself!

I’ll not believe’t

The once honourably proud General has been degenerated through his pride and self esteem by believing he has been cuckolded. Obviously, his fatal trust in the villainous Iago, and his obsessive jealousy leads Othello’s honest betrayal and tragic downfall.