Act V, Scene ii, Lines 76-96
OTHELLO
By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in's hand.
O perjured woman! thou dost stone my heart,
And makest me call what I intend to do
A murder, which I thought a sacrifice:
I saw the handkerchief.
DESDEMONA
He found it then;
I never gave it him: send for him hither;
Let him confess a truth.
OTHELLO
He hath confess'd.
DESDEMONA
What, my lord?
OTHELLO
That he hath used thee.
DESDEMONA
How? unlawfully?
OTHELLO
Ay.
DESDEMONA
He will not say so.
OTHELLO
No, his mouth is stopp'd;
Honest Iago hath ta'en order for't.
DESDEMONA
O! my fear interprets: what, is he dead?
OTHELLO
Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge
Had stomach for them all.
DESDEMONA
Alas! he is betray'd and I undone.
***
Shakespeare’s Othello is one of the world masterpieces, and the tragic destiny of Othello and his beloved Desdemona has become legendary throughout the course of history. The beautiful love story of the Venetian general and his wife turns into a real nightmare at the end of the play when they metaphorically and literally fall victims of Iago’s evil plan. When Othello is convinced that Desdemona has a relationship with Cassio, his uncontrollable jealousy pulls the trigger to carry out the only possible resolution of this problem – murder. The passage (V.ii.76-96) presents a part of Othello and Desdemona’s dialogue right before he kills her. It clearly demonstrates how the unbearable feeling of jealousy has transformed the once noble and loving Othello into an irrational and vindictive murderer.
Othello is trapped in Iago’s web, and he is so skillfully manipulated that he believes every single word the “honest Iago” says (V.ii.92). Shakespeare uses irony to describe Iago in order to show what a perfect villain he is and how naive Othello is to trust him so blindly. The only proof that the general has of his wife’s supposed infidelity with Cassio is the handkerchief. However, it turns out to be serious evidence because every time he accuses Desdemona in unfaithfulness he mentions it: “By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in's hand” (V.ii.76). The handkerchief has a metaphorical meaning and it symbolizes Othello’s love and devotion to Desdemona. Discovering it with another man makes Othello feel betrayed, and the connection between Desdemona and him is destroyed.
Once Othello finds out about Desdemona’s affair with Cassio, he undergoes a sudden and irreversible transformation. He loses his temper and rational thought, and falls completely under the control of the feelings born from his jealousy.
O perjured woman! thou dost stone my heart,
And makest me call what I intend to do
A murder, which I thought a sacrifice:
I saw the handkerchief (V. ii.78-81 ).
Othello no longer respects his wife but despises her for the betrayal. This is demonstrated by the tone with which he speaks to Desdemona – with disgust and hatred. The Moor accuses his wife of turning his heart into stone and declares that her actions are responsible for the measures he is planning to take. Othello directly states that Desdemona has the blame for her coming death and that her infidelity had sentenced her to it. The general defines the murder he is going to commit as a sacrifice. In this statement there is an obvious dramatic irony because Othello believes to be doing something noble by killing the vicious Desdemona, but in fact he is performing the biggest mistake and injustice in his life.
Othello is blinded by his jealousy, and he sees the only possible resolution of the situation to be the death of those who have deceived him. Throughout the entire dialogue (lines 76-96) Othello does not change his position on the subject even for a second. He is determined in his decision and does not doubt the rightness of Iago’s words and the facts. He does not listen to Desdemona’s suggestions that this might be a trap and that Cassio “is betray'd” (V.ii.96). Seeing her husband’s rage, Desdemona realizes what the consequences of this dramatic situation would be and she exclaims: “Alas! he is betray’d and I undone” (V.ii.96). Desdemona’s behavior throughout the passage demonstrates how much she loves Othello because despite his rude attitude towards her, she still calls him “my lord” and tries to make him see the truth (V.ii.85). Unfortunately, Othello does not believe a single word she says, and is determined to carry out his revenge and punish Desdemona: “Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge had stomach for them all” (V.ii.94-95). The use of hyperbole, “had all his hairs been lives”, in this phrase emphasizes Othello’s determination to carry out his vengeance. This statement plays a key role because it reveals the change in his character and attitude. It shows that the revenge for him is above all, and he will complete it at any price. The Moor is no longer the confident and patient general from the beginning of the play. Instead he has lost his self-control, his consciousness lacks rational thought, and he is going to kill his wife as if she is the worst enemy in his life.
The theme of tragic love is illustrated in another work of Shakespeare - Romeo and Juliet. Even though the plot and the characters are different, in both plays love leads to dramatic consequences – the death of the beloved. Othello and Desdemona, and Romeo and Juliet become the victims of the unfavorable circumstances. Unfortunately, in the end it turns out that their love causes their death.
Desdemona’s last words “he is betray'd and I undone” from the passage foreshadow the tragic ending of the story (V.ii.96). Othello’s actions after finding out about his wife’s unfaithfulness reveal the power of jealousy and how it can influence a person’s character, thoughts, and actions. The final result is that from a loving and committed husband Othello turns into the merciless executer of his wife.
Works Cited
http://innocenthalfdevil.deviantart.com/art/Broken-Heart-38249254
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