Deception and Betrayal

William Shakespeare | Othello

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Analysis of an image and scene: Othello Confronts Desdemona

Posted on May 21, 2015 ·

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(http://www.art-archive.com search; “Othello” by Kharbine-Tapabor)

This image is illustrating the scene when Othello confronts Desdemona, in, Act V Scene II. The image shows Othello (the male standing with the dark skin pigmentation) slowly creeping up on the beautiful lustrous Desdemona (the white women) laying on her bed in her deep slumber. “It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul. Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars, It is the cause. Yet I’ll not shed her blood, nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow, And smooth as monumental alabaster. Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men. Put out the light, and then put out the light. If I quench thee, thou flaming minister, I can again thy former light restore, Should I repent me. But once put out thy light, Thou cunning’st pattern of excelling nature, I know not where is that Promethean heat, that can thy light relume. When I have plucked thy rose I cannot give it vital growth again, It must needs wither” (Act 5 scene 2 line 5-15). This when Othello is staring at his wife Desdemona sleeping, he’s trying to talk himself into going through with murdering his wife. He doesn’t want to leave a scar on her beautiful skin, so he ends up using a pillow to strangle her to death. He still shows signs of love and affection towards her, by kissing her a couple of times and stating that he’ll love her again once she is dead. He even gives her time to pray and confess for her so-called wrong doing, “If you bethink yourself of any crime unreconciled as yet to heaven and grace, solicit for it straight. Well, do it, and be brief. I will walk by. I would not kill thy unpreparèd spirit. No, heavens forfend, I would not kill thy soul!” (Act 5 scene 2 Line 30). This entire scene just really go to me when I was watching the film adaptation, it brought me to tears.

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