othello

A. The following are two speeches that I found to be most meaningful to me. Both quotes are said by Othello, whose character I believe made the most impact on my perception of the first great black protagonist in Western literature.
1. “Haply for I am black…’Tis destiny unshunnable, like death.” (Act 3 Scene 3 Lines 267-279). This is the first time that Othello himself, and not Iago calls negative attention to either his race or his age. His conclusion that Desdemona is “gone” shows how far Iago’s insinuations about Cassio and Desdemona have taken Othello. In a matter of a mere 100 lines or so, he has progressed from belief in his conjugal happiness to belief in his abandonment.
2. “Then must you speak of one that loved not wisely…and smoke him thus.” (Act 5 Scene 2 Lines 403-417). This is a farewell speech that Othello gives right before he is about to kill himself. He reaffirms his position as a figure who is simultaneously a part of and excluded from Venetian society. Othello has calmed himself and regained his dignity. By killing himself as he is describing killing a Turk, he identifies himself as a threat to Venetian society, acknowledging that he will always remain an outsider.

B. Although I don’t enjoy reading that often, especially classic literature, I found that the story of Othello was intriguing and made a significant impact on me due to the themes and issues addressed. Mainly because society still deals with these situations today; these themes are a part of our lives and people can relate to them. Our antagonist, Iago lets us into his own demented mind, allowing us to understand what he is thinking, feeling, and plotting. Most of us know an Iago. One of our own mortal enemies, our friend who all the while is stabbing us in the back. He is the portrayal of pure evil. Othello, our protagonist, struggles with the common man’s own fears. He suffers greatly his own hubris, he is so afraid of having his pride hurt. But his jealousy is the main conflict. Jealousy something each of us deals with daily. The internal conflicts each character fights with helped me understand them and relate to them. What I have grasped and would like to remember from this play is to never let others determine one’s life and to prevent jealousy from becoming one’s weakness. These are the two main points that the play makes which leads to a tragic ending that could similarly occur for someone in todays world.