The agony that Othello endures when he feels that he has
lost Desdemona is expressed so eloquently and so passionately that it is difficult not
to feel sympathy for Othello even when the reader knows that he is wrong. Two speeches
are particularly poignant. The first occurs in Act 3 after Iago's words have begun to
create suspicion and jealousy:
I had been happy if the general
camp,
Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet
body,
So I had nothing know. Oh, now
forever
Farewell the tranquil mind! Farewell
content!
Farewell the plumed troop and the big
wars
That make ambition virtue! Oh farewell . .
.
In this speech Othello's
war and soldier references equate Desdemona's love to all that he feels is important in
this world, to all that has defined him as a man. Everything that has made life seem
worthwhile is lost to him now that he doubts Desdemona's love for
him.
Later, Othello's anguish over the ocular proof Iago
has provided of Desdemona's infidelity also reveal his deep emotions. He wavers between
his anger toward Desdemona and his admiration for her in such lines
as
Hang her! I
do but say what she is, so delicate with her needle, an admirable musician--oh, she will
sing the savageness out of a bear--of so high and plenteous wit and
invention--
Here, we see
Othello expressing within the same sentences his struggle between his love for Desdemona
and his belief that she should be punished for her
indiscretions.
And of course, Othello's unmitigated remorse
for killing Desdemona and his refusal to rationalize his actions also create sympathy
for this noble general:
Cold, cold, my
girl!
Even like thy chastity. Oh, cursed
slave!
Whip me, ye
devils,
From the possession of this heavenly
sight!
Blow me about in winds! Roast me in
sulphur!
Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid
fire!
O Desdemona! Dessdemona!
Dead!
Oh! Oh!
Oh!
The heaven and hell
imagery here shows Othello's belief that his actions have damned him and that
Desdemona's innocence will secure her a place in heaven. The short exclamatory lines
indicate his extreme emotion, and the hyperboles show that he fully understands that
he will suffer not only in this life but in the
afterlife.
And finally, Othello's last speech, which places
the blame only on himself for throwing "the dearest pearl away" is the last time that
treasure imagery is used to describe Desdemona, and shows once more Othello's integrity
for admitting his wrongdoing and his willingness to suffer the consequences for his
actions.
In this way, pathos for Othello is
established.
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