Free Soliloquies Essay - Othello’s Soliloquy :: GCSE Coursework Shakespeare Othello

Analysis of Othellos Soliloquy During Othellos monologue in Scene 3, ll. 299-318, Shakespeare uses the literary devices of imagery, symbolism, and antithesis to develop the state of mind of Othello during this strenuous cartridge clip in his life. Othello, who seems to intrinsically believe that as a public fingers breadth he is fated to be unsuccessful at marriage, is torn among his love for Desdemona and the possibility that she is having an affair with Michael Cassio. This particular passage comes at a juncture after he denies that this could be true, and before he is last convinced of his wifes infidelity. The fact that Othello is wavering between believing Iago and trusting his wife is reflected in the imagery Shakespeare uses in the soliloquy. The first image that is used is that of a falcon. Lines 301-304 read If I do prove her haggard, / Though that her jesses were my dear heartstrings, / Id whistle her off and let her down the wind to butt at fortune. This shows that Othello is still unsure about Desdemona, and claims that though he is in love with Desdemona, he would drop her if he found out she was cheating. This is instead a strong willed statement, but it is diminished by lines 319-320, which follow the charm of Desdemona and Emilia into the chamber. Othello says, If she be false, heaven mocks itself / Ill not believe t. This is an typesetters case of how turbulent Othellos state of mind is. The steadfast determination verbalised using the falcon image sort of melts when he sees Desdemona, and he forthwith professes denial that she could be untrue to him. Yet, just ten lines earlier (l. 308), Othello says, Shes gone I am abused and proceeds to lament the precise institution of marriage O cure of marriage, ? That we can call these comminuted creatures ours / And not their appetites Shakespeares placing of these three different conclusions Othello has drawn in much(prenominal) close proximity is an example of antithesis, and a testame nt to the changing and disorganized state of mind of Othello. Additional symbols are used in the soliloquy which exemplify this as well. In lines 311-314, he says I had rather be a toad / And live upon the vapor of a dungeon / Than to write in the corner the thing I love / For others uses.