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Submitted by liborvitu on May 1, 2005
Category: English
Words: 1552 | Pages: 7
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Othello's Loss for Words
Othello's character throughout the play demonstrates a skill and confidence in the art of language. From the beginning we see long, eloquent speeches that dazzle his audience eloquently mixing complex words that help portray him as not only a strong warrior but also a fighter with a sound mind. However when Iago pressures him about the possible relationship between his wife Desdemona and Cassio, Othello's passion for his beloved wife breaks down his self-control. In the next few pages I will demonstrate how Othello's speech during the beginning of the play helps to strengthen his character, and by his death, he's but a stuttering empty shell of a man. In addition, we'll compare the language of the moor with that of Iago and see how anti-heroic words shape the way we see this self-interested character.
During the third scene of the first act, Othello speaks eloquently about how he's won and married Desdemona. This is a beautiful forty-line speech that really shows his capacity to articulate and communicate effectively before the higher court. The language that he uses helps us see Othello as a true, confident leader. Shakespeare writes:
Hath this extent, no more, Rude am I in my speech,
And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace,
For since these arms of mine had seven years pith
Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used
Their dearest action in the tented field
And little of this great world can I speak
More than pertains to feats of broils and battle. (I.iii.81-87)
Here Othello uses irony to subtly demonstrate his grasp of the English language. His claim that he is "rude" in speech is particularly revealing because he knows all too well that no one in that room would believe that he has rudimentary abilities. Similarly, the remaining line of this example shows us his poise with regard to physical strength and the...
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