Task: Show how Othello`s language reflects the change in the mood between the
early part of the play (act I) and act III scene III (line 334, end, and the
death scene). Intro: Othello is the story of an African general who falls in
love with a rich Venetian nobleman’s Daughter, to wed her, but after a short
while things aren’t all what they seem. When lieutenant Iago puts his foot in
it and stirs up relationships to degenerate general Othello out of jealousy.
Othello loses it and thing’s go very downhill. Act I scene II: In this part of
the play it does not seem as though Othello is a man who likes trouble within
his environment unless on the battleground. He likes to keep an idyllic
situation, quote “Tis better as it is” (Othello at the start of the play )
he uses short and simple language. Next Othello says, “let him do his spite,
my services which I have done my signiory” He is telling Brabantio to say what
he wants as the council will never put me away for the services I have done for
this country. Othello knows he’s in control, he shows this by using words like
Stuff, I lack,......service, Yerked, Magnifico, Give him cable, etc. The first
impressions of Othello are: YEAH, THIS GUY KNOWS, WHAT HES DOING FOR SURE, as he
is a fluent speaker, good with words and very highly confident. He shows his
confidence when he speaks quote “My parts, my title, and my perfect soul shall
manifest me rightly”, -he is trying to say I know what I am doing, and what I
am doing is right. “My life upon her faith”, -Again confidence. Desdemona
will not say a word against my actions or me. He has exact control of all
situations and conversations. We can see all this observing his general code of
language and his behaviour when in difficult situations. In his second quote he
says to Brabantio that, you can say what you want, I shall allow you, as I knows
that I will not go to jail as I have done too much for Venice. (Again
confidence). When the council is questioning him, he manages to sweet talk his
way out of it by using the tone of his voice (calm and gentle) and words like,
Most reverend signiores etc. “But I love thee gentle Desdemona” Is his next
quote to the council. His vocabulary is very big and he thoroughly has control
of his sentences and actions. Othello starts off with his characteristic
dignified idiom but due to a man, whose every utterance is deception, who takes
Othello into false words to change the identities of his loved ones to be his
worst enemies, Othello degenerates to become a psycho. Othello first uses the
power of his speech (to show his position), to create his image, but then falls
to be, in a way, a psychiatric (false), villain, who kills his friends, and his
only family. Iago does not show his opposition to Othello but does always create
a yes sir, yes sir, three bags full sir atmosphere when around him. (False
friendship). Othello often uses colourful words in sound and in his speech
(e.g.; - Keep up your bright swords, for the due will”...shows he is also a
powerful speaker. Othello never steps out the soldier image and he always keeps
precise speech, sincerity and devotion to his job. Even in his fall he stays a
soldier- “Damn her, lewd minx! Oh damn her, damn her (three times), come, go
with me apart, will withdraw, to furnish me with some swift means of death, for
the fair devil, now art though my lieutenant”. Towards the end of the play,
Othello begins to lose his powerful speech in himself, as he is not so
confident. What Iago says about Desdemona and Cassio, he starts to believe, but
then he is unsure of it, he even loses it physically, where starts to have
eppiliptical fits. In and around act III scene III Othello begins to lose his
self-confidence, where he begins to see his wife and himself through Iago’s
eyes. He also begins to corrupt himself because of Iago’s characteristic
expression. His style begins to break down, and he begins to get very agitated.
Othello starts to repeat his words three times just to establish himself. When
he talks of his wife he uses words such as pish, nose, ears, lips, its possible,
confess, handkerchief, oh devil. These words now, would not signify much but
then were quite erotic words suggesting that Othello actually believes the lies
and suggests the degeneration of General Othello. From the point where Othello
has an eppiliptical fit, he and Desdemona fail to understand each other’s
language. Othello’s language is almost all the time violent and aggressive
through his emotional jealousy, which leads to vile acts of emotion. Still
Othello does not forget his soldier image.