Shakespeare's Monologues
Shakespeare's Monologues
Othello is a noble moor in the service to the Venetian state. He elopes with Desdemona, the daughter of a senator, in secret. His best friend and servant is Iago, who is extremely jealous of Michael Cassio, who Othello chose to be his lieutenant over Iago. Othello is a strong and respectable man, who earned his reputation in battle. He has great love and trust for all of the people closest to him, especially for his wife. This level of love and trust is soon to be taken advantage of by Iago, who is about to set in motion a meticulous plan to convince Othello that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio. Othello thus becomes a tragic victim of manipulation, deceit, and betrayal that leads him to kill Desdemona. Soon after, he learns that he had been mistaken, and proceeds to kill himself because of his realization of what he has done.
Iago has set a plan to manipulate Othello into believing that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio. This scene shows that plan being set in motion as Iago uses crafty language to twist Othello's mind into believing this without a doubt. It is a struggle, though. At this point, Othello is strongly in denial, and though he is beginning to dislike Cassio and Desdemona because of these suspicions, he still insists upon guilt only being sure with evidence. Iago is planting the seeds of jealousy while simultaneously warning Othello about the dangers of jealousy. In this response, Othello has had enough of Iago's ambiguity. He questions why Iago says these things to him. He insists that just because Iago thinks something, it does not mean Othello will stoop to his level of suspicion without proof. People are allowed to appreciate the virtues of his wife, since that is who she is. Why would that make him jealous? He will trust that his wife loves him because he believes her vows to be truthful until proven otherwise. Only then will he deal with the love or jealousy that results.
Character description, monologue synopsis, and monologue scoring provided by Katy Hartzell as part of the Spring 2020 THT 352 class.
Why, why is this?
Think'st thou I'ld make a lie of jealousy,
To follow still the changes of the moon
With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in doubt
Is once to be resolved: exchange me for a goat,
When I shall turn the business of my soul
To such exsufflicate and blown surmises,
Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me jealous
To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,
Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances well;
Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:
Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw
The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt;
For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago;
I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;
And on the proof, there is no more but this,—
Away at once with love or jealousy!
| Number of Syllables | Scored Text | Beat Objective |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Why, why is this ? | [Beginning of beat 1] to silence |
| 10 | Think'st thou I'ld make a lie of jealousy, | |
| 10 | To follow still the changes of the moon | |
| 11 | With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in doubt | |
| 12 | Is once to be resolved: exchange me for a goat, |
[End of beat 1] [Beginning of beat 2] to condescend |
| 10 | When I shall turn the business of my soul | |
| 11 | To such exsufflicate and blown surmises, | |
| 13 | Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me jealous |
[End of beat 2] [Beginning of beat 3] to defend |
| 12 | To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company, | |
| 10 | Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances well; | |
| 10 | Where virtue is, these are more virtuous: | |
| 10 | Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw | |
| 10 | The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt; | |
| 11 | For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago; |
[End of beat 3] [Beginning of beat 4] to assure |
| 10 | I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; | |
| 10 | And on the proof, there is no more but this,— | |
| 10 | A way at once with love or jealousy! | [End of beat 4] |
Definitions from David & Ben Crystal / Shakespeare's Words are under copyright, and may not be used without their express permission. All other definitions are from sources in the public domain.
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