Othello (V, ii, 1-22) Analysis

            Othello’s soliloquy in the end of Shakespeare’s play is a prime example of how an individual’s cognitive power is hindered by the effects of an unfortunate event. Throughout Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago deliberately manipulates Othello into thinking that Desdemona had an affair with Cassio in order to fulfill his revenge upon Othello. As a result, Othello plummets into an unrecognizable and incomprehensible course of action against Desdemona in order to express his unbending frustration from Iago’s manipulation. Othello’s soliloquy near the end of the text explicates Othello’s reasoning to why Desdemona should be killed.

            Othello maintains a paradoxical relationship with Desdemona; he attempts to express his anger towards Desdemona but his extension of anger is interrupted by a remembrance of Desdemona’s innocence and sweetness. In the beginning of the soliloquy, Othello declares that he will “not shed her blood, / Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow / And smooth as monumental alabaster” (V, ii, 3-5) and expresses that Desdemona’s beautiful skin overpowers his desire to kill her. Despite this statement, Othello believes that his actions in dealing with Desdemona are constrained to only and ultimately killing her. Othello’s metaphorical statement in “When I have plucked thy rose, / I cannot give it vital growth again; / It needs must wither” (13-15) enunciates the fact how he wishes to kill Desdemona purely out of love. He behaves that the only way to vanquish his frustration is to vanquish Desdemona’s adulterous sin, which implies that he must transitively rid of Desdemona as well. His complex relationship with Desdemona demonstrates how one’s passion to love and hate are teetered in an unsteady manner between each other, and in this case, with Othello. Othello’s uncertainty in dealing with Desdemona’s actions is clarified when he states “So sweet was ne’er so fatal. I must weep, / But they are cruel tears” (V, ii, 20-21). Othello expresses his distressing tears in order to imply that killing Desdemona will not be as easy as it sounds considering how frustrated Othello is. His love for Desdemona seems to interfere with his attempt to rationalize a plausible solution to Desdemona’s adultery.