why did othello kill his wife

In his soliloquy before killing Desdemona he states his love for her, however Othello thinks murder is the only punishment worthy of betrayal "yet she must die, else she'll betray more men". What do Iago and Roderigo discuss when left alone on stage? Othello and Cassio demand to know why he did it, but Iago refuses to explain and says he will never speak again. Iago had originally manipulated Othello into believing that his wife Desdemona had been cheating on him with his former lieutenant Cassio. . But then he loudly denounces her as a "liar, gone to burning hell" (129), admitting that he killed her. Let me go with him. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. When he becomes overwhelmed with jealousy, he plans to kill her while she is asleep. O beware my lord of jealousy". Often as the audience we feel like screaming at him for being so blind to the facts, we are drained of our emotions. Othello refuses to believe Desdemona’s denial of the charge, saying that Cassio has confessed but will speak no more, since he has been killed by Iago. It is later revealed that his wife had all along been faithful and it was Iago who plays on the jealous emotions of Othello so that he may lose face in the eyes of the people and eventually lose his position as their leader. He only gets away with this because they trust him and this protects him from any questioning. He lists all of the hardships he would have been willing to endure for his beloved wife – sores, shames, poverty, captivity, scorn – but the one thing he cannot endure is having his heart so cruelly broken, his love so cruelly discarded (Act 4, scene 2). Iago becomes very jealous of Othello because of his position in the Venetian Army. What relationship do you see developing? Emilia has spoken to him, and revealed Iago’s doings. 48 Vitosha Boulevard, ground floor, 1000, Sofia, Bulgaria Bulgarian reg. He says he doesn't have anything concrete so Othello should just watch. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime. Emilia brings out the scheme when the truth is told about the true goings on. Shakespeare uses this technique to show us that Othello has lost his confidence and is no longer self-assured. Like Othello Lear looks for justice instead of the revenge that Iago seeks. Othello is a tragedy because the. Read our Othello character summaries; More detail: 3 minute read Act I. (5.2.44-47) To his dismine, he is easily blinded by anger and betrayal. Iago suggests what Othello should be thinking and feeling. MONTANO 'Tis a notorious villain. Why does Othello kills his wife? . Cassio was complicit because he didn't say that the cheating wasn't actually happening. This flaw brings about their downfall. Othello acts like a confident man when in Venice, he has the support of his wife and men like Cassio. Answer: There certainly is not that strong and equal tie of love which we would expect to find existing between man and wife. Does Cassio kill Montano? This has an enormous effect on the audience. In the 17th century, Shakespeare found the plot for 'Othello' in Giraldi Ginthio's collection of tales 'Hicatomithi' (1565). Nor to comply with heat the young affects in me defunct and proper satisfaction; But to be free and bounteous to her mind. " Belonged to his grandmother. Iago sees the opportunity and uses his knowledge of Cassio to get him into a fight with Roderigo. At this point in the play Othello's heroic qualities are put on show for the audience once more. At the beginning of the play we hear of Iago's rage at the fact that Cassio was made lieutenant instead of him. "I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me". Examination Questions on Othello Question: What is the relationship between Iago and Emilia? He ends up taking his own life out of remorse for Desdemona’s death. Shakespeare's Desdemona is a Venetian beauty who enrages and disappoints her father, a Venetian senator, when she elopes with Othello, a Moorish man several years her senior. This can be linked to the tragic hero King Lear; he is far too trusting and divides his country between his two treacherous daughters, which inevitably leads to his death. When her husband is deployed to Cyprus in the service of the Republic of Venice, Desdemona accompanies him. I would argue, though, that Othello's true fatal flaw is his self-doubt. Shakespeare's writing although hundreds of years old are always relevant to our lives because that is what they are about, life. We witness the character of Othello fall from a position of control in Venetian society due to a combination of different reasons. This combined with Iago's perverting of the situation looks very abnormal to Othello. Scholars His inability to comprehend his reason verses passion is mainly represented in Act 3 scene 3. In conclusion, Iago draws Othello in and then skilfully persuades him that Cassio and Desdemona should die by using an array of linguistic and rhetorical tricks and by paying close attention to Othello’s sentiments and desires so that he is transformed from not suspecting anything to wanting to kill his wife and her alleged lover within three days. Come, sit thou here most learned justicer. MONTANO 'Tis a notorious villain. PhDessay is an educational resource where over 1,000,000 free essays are collected. After killing his bride he is brought out of his trance and realises the mistakes he has made. By warning Othello has in fact put it in his utmost mind. In his final soliloquy of Act I, Iago professes his hatred for the Moor and further expresses his suspicions about the Moor’s infidelity with his wife. Could this mission be his only love? What is Iago's plan and purpose in act 1, scene 3 of, What is the relationship between Iago and Roderigo in. When he first considers the possibility of Desdemona's infidelity, he becomes angry. Iago is good at planting ideas. " eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. MONTANO 'Tis a notorious villain. Didst thou not see her paddle with the palm of his hand? " He is also speaking in a similar way to Iago, This may symbolise that he has come to think in the same manner. Secondly, how does Othello kill himself? Save time and let our verified experts help you. Explain what Othello means when he says "Thou dost stone my heart,/ and makes me call what I intend to do/ A murder, which I thought a sacrifice." In Venice they do not let God see the pranks they have not shown their husbands". Another example of this is found further on in the play when by controlling the circumstances Iago gets Cassio to talk disparagingly about Bianca, while Othello thinks the conversation is about Desdemona. He admires and loves his wife, but he can't believe that she would be in love with him. can use them for free to gain inspiration and new creative ideas for their writing assignments. Iago needs to know that his news will not be instantly dismissed, he does this by the affirmation of his love. " Othello's overpowering jealousy blinding him from the truth and Iago's revenge which bring about the chaos and evil. The Moor fondly compliments her wit and charm. This infuriates Othello since as Iago puts it, Cassio not only received Othello's handkerchief from his wife but then gave it away to his whore (Bianca) as if it were worthless. Only because of his stories, she arranges a marriage with him. Othello believed that his wife cheated on him and as a result he kills his wife as shown by Othello when he says “Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men” (5.2.6). Although no mention is ever made of it, Othello views himself as different, which he is, from the rest of Venetian society. "— S. T. Coleridge. Othello shows his transformation by striking Desdemona, something no one could have envisaged from their once love filled relationship. Desdemona doesn't realise that Iago is abusing her goodwill so that it will bring about her own downfall. He uses many tactics to persuade Othello that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio, the reason, is revenge. What techniques does Shakespeare use to reveal Iago’s villainy. Cassio and Desdemona are friendly to each other and Iago can see how this could appear to be more than just friendship. Othello and Iago had fought together in wars and it is most likely that they had often held each other's lives in their hands. 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