Shakespeare's Monologues
Shakespeare's Monologues
Desdemona is a strong Venetian woman. She is not afraid to rebel against customs, this can be seen through her marriage to Othello, a man of Moorish descent. She is devoted to him and very loyal to the ones around her and would do anything within her means to help if it was needed.
Othello firmly believes that Desdemona, his wife has cheated on him with his Lieutenant Michael Cassio. This firm belief stem's from the lies that Iago, Othello's confidant had told him. In this monologue, Desdemona is desperately begging Iago to help her convince Othello that she is, in fact a loyal wife who would never betray him in such a way. She is trying to convince Iago of her love for Othello in hopes that he would agree to help her get back into his good graces.
Character description, Monologue synopsis, and monologue scoring provided by Ahmanee Simmons a student in the Spring THT 352 class.
O Good Iago
What Shall I do to win my lord again?
Good friend, go to him; for by this light of heaven,
I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel:
If e'er my will did trespass gainst his love,
Either in discourse of thought or actual deed
Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense,
delighted them in any other form;
Or that I do not yet, and ever did
And ever will-- though he do shake me off
To beggarly divorcement --love him dearly,
Comfort forswear me! Unkindness may do much
And his unkindness may defeat my life
But never taint my love. I cannot say 'whore:
Ir does abhor me now I speak the word;
To do the act might the addition earn
Not the world's mass of vanity could make me.
| Number of Syllables | Scored Text | Meaning of Beat |
| 4 | O ;Good ;Iago | [Beginning of Beat 1] To question |
| 10 | What Shall I do to win my lord again? | [End of Beat 1] |
| 12 | Good friend, go to him; for by this light of heaven, | [Beginning of Beat 2] To plead |
| 10 | I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel: | ; |
| 10 | If e'er my will did trespass gainst his love, | ; |
| 10 | Either in discourse of thought or actual deed | ; |
| 10 | Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense, | ; |
| 10 | Delighted them in any; other form; | [End of Beat 2] |
| 10 | Or that I do not yet, and ever did. | [Beginning of Beat 3] To convince |
| 10 | And ever will-- though he do shake me off | ; |
| 10 | To beggarly divorcement --love him dearly, | ; |
| 11 | Comfort forswear me! Unkindness may do much | ; |
| 10 | And his unkindness may defeat my life, | ; |
| 11 | But never taint my love. I cannot say 'whore:' | ; |
| 10 | It does abhor me now I speak the word; | ; |
| 10 | To do the act might the; addition earn | ; |
| 11 | Not the world's mass of vanity could make me. | [End of Beat 3] |
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