The finals words by Othello proves to be noteworthy. As the character starts his dialogue, he has already accepted what is to come, his suicide. Before he takes his life, he leaves the reader with a climatic ending. “Soft you, a word or two before you go. I have done the state some service, and they know’t. No more of that. I pray you, in your letters, when you shall these unlucky deeds relate, speak of me as I am. Nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice… in the extreme. Of one whose hand, like the base Indian… set you down this, down, and then say also that in Aleppo I once saw a Turk beating a venetian, so I grabbed the Turk by the throat and hit him like this.” (5.2.354-370) Eloquently put, Othello ends his life on his own terms, clearing his conscience of murder and accepting that he destroyed what he held dear. Breaking down Othello’s speech, he starts off clearing his name. It goes to show the importance reputation is to Othello. He wants to remind people that he is not the man they see before him, he wants to be known for his active duty in Venice rather than a murderer. Jealousy has caused him to stumble as he admits. Personally I believe Othello is sending a message, jealousy is mans worst enemy, it causes manipulation and trickery which inevitably can lead to self-destruction. Othello’s story is a life lesson to those who hear it, it highlights that certain things are taken for granted. In this instance love, he claims to have loved too much, for it was love that drew his madness. As beautiful as his speech is, it is subtle cover up for the killing of Desdemona. It seems Iago is most to blame, however it was not Iago’s hands around the neck of Desdemona. Othello wants to be known as a serviceman and a man who loved too much, however he will be known as a murderer. Contradicting himself, Othello compares himself to a Turk, the sworn enemies of Venice. As silly as an Indian, why compare yourself to people who are ruthless murderers. The same sword he draws to kill Turks, he uses upon himself, solidifying that he too is a stone cold murderer. The dialogue of Othello is able to free his name yet taint the idolization of him. Othello will be known as a man of disgrace and pity.
Image Credit:http://students.purchase.edu/joshua.oates/portfolio/GraphicDesign/AngryOthelloPosterWEB.jpg