Othello Reading #7

            In the beginning of the play Othello is presented as an eloquent speaker, who always remains calm, no matter what the situation he is dealing with. His voice of reason deteriorates throughout the play, and at times he no longer makes sense when he is speaking. At the end of the play, Othello appears to return back to his former self in his final soliloquy before he kills himself: “Speak of me as I am. Nothing extenuate, Nor set down aught in malice” (V, ii, 402-403). Othello in his final words tells Lodovico, that when he has to retell the story of the events that unfolded, to be honest about how Othello acted. Othello does not want Lodovico to tone the events that transpired down. Many people, when they have realized that they did something wrong, will try to move past that one event, and instead focus on all the great things that they accomplished. Othello does the opposite, by pushing Lodovico to not make excuses for Othello. Othello’s soliloquy illustrates his humility, and confirms to the audience, that he is a tragic character who simply loved Desdemona too much, and who believed Iago’s words. The audience has more sympathy for Othello because he does show remorse for his actions, and he portrays himself as a romantic who got lost in Iago’s plan. Othello even states, “Like the base Judean, threw a pearl away” (V, ii, 407). Meaning, that Othello did not even realize what he had until he lost it. Othello’s final soliloquy is essential to the play, because the audience needs to have empathy for Othello in order for him to be a tragic character.