Hamlet
Othello
Exam Techniques
Using Othello as a Comparative Text: The General Vision and Viewpoint
Roderigo’s prejudice against Othello and Desdemona’s inter-racial marriage. His total control of the ‘snipe’ Roderigo is shown in the list of imperative commands he issues to him, ‘Go to’, ‘provide thy money’. The audience watches to see what happens. A convinced Roderigo vows to ‘sell all my land’. The audience understands, almost approves, that Roderigo’s ‘unbitted lusts’ for Desdemona have been used against him by Iago. This is a bleak image of the human condition.
The scheming ensign uses the same technique against Othello. Furious at the disturbance of the night-time brawl in Cyprus, ‘a town of war’, Othello admits, ‘My blood begins my safer guides to rule’. Iago uses the Moor’s anger to dim his perception of the truth. He pretends to excuse the drunken Cassio, ‘the best sometimes forget’, while laying the blame on him. Othello swiftly decides ‘never more be officer of mine’. He has foolishly accepted Iago’s version of events. The audience watches helplessly while the predator encircles his prey. Iago is succeeding in leading Othello ‘by the nose/ As asses are’. Shakespeare presents an unsettling picture of what happens in a cynical world when characters blindly trust one another rather than relying on their own observations or knowledge.
Throughout this pessimistic play, we see the amoral villain work his ‘medicine’, protected by a pretence of honesty. Othello alarmingly asks Iago to ‘speak to me as to thy thinkings’. The master director now puts on a show for Othello, who has demanded ‘ocular proof’ of his wife’s infidelity. Iago gradually poisons Othello’s love for Desdemona, instructing him, ‘Look to your wife, observe her well with Cassio’. Deviously, he develops the metaphor of ‘seeing’ to intensify Othello’s suspicions, ‘In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks/ They dare not show their husbands’. He makes innovative use of the handkerchief to cast even more doubt on Desdemona’s character.
The audience is plunged, horrified, into this evil atmosphere, waiting to see if Othello will fall completely into Iago’s evil trap. Like Roderigo, the gullible Moor has given up his will to Iago, and acts as he is instructed, ‘Iago beckons me’. He will docilely stand to be educated about what he has ‘seen’ when Cassio speaks about Bianca and Othello believes that the lieutenant is mocking Desdemona, ‘Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice?’ Forewarned of Iago’s villainy, we observe
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how it works and are saddened by the disturbing perspective presented.
In Othello, Shakespeare has depicted a universe where order and disorder co-exist. Human choices play a vital and potentially destructive role – especially when characters are manipulated by such a skilful villain as Iago. Although Desdemona is presented as the symbol of goodness and purity, a ‘pearl’, her decision to elope with Othello and betray her father’s trust has set in motion the tragic events of the play. She has so immersed herself in her choice of love that she dies without gaining any self-knowledge, ‘Commend me to my kind lord’, and with a possibility of suffering in the next world, according to Christian belief. This adds to the overall sense of failure at the end of the play.
But Shakespeare springs a final surprise on the audience and Iago. The diabolical schemer who believed he could control everyone and turn every event to his own advantage is eventually brought down by Emilia’s selfless act of human decency. The playwright does not allow evil to triumph. The forces of anarchy that the crass individualism of Iago unleashed are defeated by truth, ‘He lies to the heart’. In a powerful display of the courage of the ordinary person, Emilia accuses Othello of ignorance and stupidity even at the risk of her life, ‘I care not for thy sword’. She speaks Desdemona’s epitaph, ‘she was chaste, she loved thee, cruel Moor’.
Iago is caught and will face punishment for his ‘work’. Order is ultimately restored despite Iago’s final attempt at manipulation, ‘From this time forth I never will speak word’. Cassio is charged with ‘the censure of this hellish villain’. But will Iago explain himself? The play concludes with a dual vision and viewpoint. The audience respects Emilia’s bravery, yet is horrified by ‘the tragic loading of this bed’. They are shamefaced at having been positioned as onlookers and reluctant colluders by Iago’s diabolical brilliance. They now realise, ‘Knavery’s plain face is never seen, till used’.
The audience can appreciate the importance of courage because we admire the ability of humans to stand up for what is right. The duality of Shakespeare’s vision not only reflects but also illuminates. The Elizabethans believed that society functions well when order is maintained. Shakespeare’s play illustrates the value of decency and love in the face of evil.
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