Act 5, Scene 1

Othello is a pitiful tragic figure by the end of the play.

After he kills Desdemona, Othello recognises that he has lost all of his strength and battle prowess. He proudly recalls how he was once a valiant and capable warrior: 'I have seen the day, That, with this little arm and this good sword, I have made my way through more impediments Than twenty times your stop.' However, now he is easily disarmed and overwhelmed by apparently lesser men: 'I am not valiant neither, But ever puny whipster gets my sword. But why should honour outlive honesty? Let it go all.' Othello's 'honour' (his greatness as a soldier) is ruined alongside his 'honesty' (his morality). This tragic fall is recognised by Lodovico: 'O thou Othello, thou wert once so good, / Fallen in the practice of a damned slave.'

Othello's guilt causes him huge suffering.

After he realises how wrongful Desdemona's death is he cries out in torment looking for eternal punishment: 'Whip me, you 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! Dead Desdemona! - Dead! O! O! O!'

Summary of Act 5, Scene 1 Iago and Roderigo wait outside the brothel where Cassio visits Bianca. Iago positions Roderigo with a rapier (a type of sword) in a place where he will be able to ambush Cassio. Iago then withdraws himself, although Roderigo asks him not to go too far in case he needs help killing Cassio. Cassio enters, and Roderigo stabs at him but fails to pierce Cassio's armor. Cassio stabs and wounds Roderigo. Iago darts out in the commotion, stabs Cassio in the leg, and exits. Not knowing who has stabbed him, Cassio falls. At this moment, Othello enters. Hearing Cassio's cries of murder, Othello believes that Iago has killed him. Inspired by what he believes to be Iago's successful vengeance, Othello returns to his bedroom to kill Desdemona. Lodovico and Graziano enter and hear Cassio's and Roderigo's cries. They can see nothing because of the darkness, and they are wary of helping the crying men in case it is a trap. Iago enters carrying a light. He first pretends to discover Cassio, who begs him for help, and then stumbles upon Cassio's assailant, Roderigo, whom Iago stabs without hesitation. Graziano and Lodovico are still unable to see Iago, and they are unaware of what he is doing. Finally, the three men come face-to-face, and they question Cassio about his injuries. Bianca enters and begins to cry out when she sees the wounded Cassio. Iago questions Cassio about his assailant, but Cassio can provide no explanation for what has happened. Iago suggests that Roderigo is to blame. Cassio says that he does not know Roderigo. Attendants carry off Cassio and Roderigo's corpse. Emilia enters, and Iago tells her what has happened, adding the explanation, "This is the fruits of whoring" . He and Emilia chastise Bianca, at whose house Cassio had dined that evening. Iago takes Bianca under arrest, and sends Emilia to tell Othello and Desdemona what has happened. Iago ends the scene with an aside: "This is the night / That either makes me or fordoes me quite"

Analysis of Act 5, Scene 1 In the first scene of Act V, we see the utterly futile end of Roderigo and his plans. Roderigo was first persuaded that he need only follow Othello and Desdemona to Cyprus in order to win over Desdemona, then that he need only disgrace Cassio, then that he need only kill Cassio. Now, Roderigo, stabbed by the man who gave him false hope, dies empty-handed in every possible way. He has given all his money and jewels to Iago, who admits that the jewelry more than anything else motivated his killing of Roderigo: "Live Roderigo, / He calls me to a restitution large / Of gold and jewels that I bobbed from him" . Roderigo is certainly a pathetic character, evidenced by the fact that he does not even succeed in killing Cassio. Unwittingly, Roderigo causes Iago's plan to be foiled for the first time in the play. Because of this, Iago is forced to bloody his own hands, also for the first time in the play. Displaying a talent for improvisation, Iago takes the burden of action into his own hands because he has no other choice. Once Iago sees that Roderigo has failed to kill Cassio, Iago is able to wound Cassio, return with a light to "save" Cassio, kill Roderigo, and cast suspicion on Bianca and her brothel, all in a very short time. Neither Lodovico, Graziano, nor Cassio shows the slightest suspicion that Iago is somehow involved in the mayhem. Othello is not the only one who finds Iago "honest." Othello's brief appearance in Act V, scene i, is particularly horrifying. Joyfully supposing Cassio to be dead, Othello proceeds to his bedchamber with great fervor, crying, "Strumpet, I come. / Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, are blotted. / Thy bed, lust-stained, shall with lust's blood be spotted" . When he promises that the bed shall "with lust's blood be spotted," he means that when he kills Desdemona, her guilty blood of "lust" will spot the sheets. But spotted sheets also suggests wedding-night sex.

Summary

As Cassio leaves Bianca's house, he is attacked and wounded by Roderigo. Cassio then injures Roderigo. Iago wounds Cassio by stabbing him from behind. Iago then stabs and kills Roderigo. In front of Lodovico and Gratiano, Iago accuses Bianca of being involved in the attack on Cassio

Iago is resentful of virtue.

Besides wanting Cassio dead to avoid suspicion, Iago also wants to see Cassio murdered for his virtuous appearance and charm: 'He has a daily beauty in his life/ That makes me ugly.'

Iago's deviousness is shown

He slyly stabs Cassio from behind and wounds Roderigo to avoid exposure of his villainy. The fact that he promised to support Roderigo in the fight ('I'll be at thy elbow') only adds to the treachery of Iago's actions. Furthermore, Iago's devious, quick mind allows him to deflect suspicion away from himself by accusing Bianca of conspiring against Cassio.

Emilia redeems herself in this scene.

Her previous cynicism is replaced by bravery as she nobly stands up to Othello and defies her malevolent husband. Her loyalty to Desdemona is however unrewarded as she is maliciously killed by Iago.

Othello has lost his natural sense of leadership and justice.

In Act 2, when Iago and Roderigo incited a street brawl, Othello admirably restored order and took control of the situation. In contrast, this scene shows Othello, much like Iago, hiding in the shadows during the fight. Othello is now a corrupted figure who has lost his previous nobility and greatness.

Desdemona's lover for her husband never falters.

Some critics see her dying words as a selfless act as she attempts to deflect blame from Othello by claiming she committed suicide. Others however, see Desdemona's final words as evidence that she never gives up on her vision of Othello as an idealised hero, that she in fact blames herself.

This scene echoes the opening of the play

with Iago and Roderigo conspiring at night to cause great mischief

Emilia continues to be faithful to Desdemona throughout everything

'Ay, ay. O, lay me by my mistress' side.' 'Moor, she was chaste; she loved thee, cruel Moor'

Othello has turned into an unremorseful character filled with violence

'Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge / Had stomach for them all'

Othello says I'm not that strong, if a puny nobody can grab my sword. But why should my reputation for honour last longer than my honour did? Let it all go.

'I am not valiant neither, But ever puny whipster gets my sword. But why should honour outlive honesty? Let it go all'

Roderigo This quote accurately sums up how Iago has manipulated Roderigo throughout the whole play. Iago has had complete control over Roderigo.

'I have no great devotion to the deed, And yet he hath given me satisfying reasons.'

Desdemona objectifies Othello's claims of her infidelities. The fact that Othello cannot see any truth in Desdemona's words proves how succumbed he is to Iago's insinuations and lies.

'I never did/ Offend you in my life - never loved Cassio/ But with such general warranty of heaven/ As I might love. I never gave him token.'

Emilia confidently stands up for herself

'I will not charm my tongue. I am bound to speak. My mistress here lies murdered in her bed.'

Othello thinks he is acting justly by allowing her to pray first.

'I would not kill thy unprepared spirit. No! Heaven forfend! I would not kill thy soul.

Even after Othello has just about killed her, Desdemona asserts her love for Othello as her very last words

'Nobody - I myself. Farewell. Commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell!'

Othello's soliloquy in the beginning of the scene, reveals his inner thoughts before killing Desdemona

'Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow' Still shows some affection to Desdemona. It also symbolizes her purity and innocence. 'Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men' Thinks he is acting justly with his actions 'Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature' Again stating her beauty. He still shows some love towards Desdemona however he is completely being led by his jealousy that this last bit of love doesn't stop him.

Othello is absolutely blinded by Iago's manipulative behaviour. Othello's openness and gullibility is what ultimately led him to where he is

'O brave Iago, honest and just, That hast such noble sense of thy friend's wrong! Thou teachest me'

Othello's wounded pride and need for certainty blinds him to reality and leads him continually to his tragic downfall:

'O brave Iago, honest and just, / That hast such noble sense of thy friend's wrong! / Thou teachest me' and he leaves the scene to murder Desdemona: 'Strumpet, I come! / Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, are blotted: / Thy bed, lust-stained, shall with lust's blood be spotted!' Othello's eyes are truly 'blotted' to both Desdemona's innocence and Iago's villainy.

Lodovico recognizes Othello's change in character, emphasizing that he once was so admirable and now he is frightful

'O thou Othello, thou wert once so good, / Fallen in the practice of a damned slave'

Emilia realises what has happened and begins to panic and become distressed.

'O thou dull Moor! That handkerchief thou speak'st of/ I found by fortune and did give my husband. For often, with a solemn earnestness - More than indeed belonged to such a trifle - He begged of me to steal it'

Finally Othello admits what is bothering him to Desdemona. Perhaps if he had said this to her, before he was absolutely certain on killing her, the death of Desdemona could have been avoided, but it was too late for Desdemona to oppose Othello's accusations.

'That handkerchief which I so loved and gave thee, Thou gavest to Cassio.'

Desdemona states that the only crime she has committed is loving Othello

'They are loves I bear to you'

After Othello realises he has killed his wife he begins to panic

'What wife? I have no wife.'

Lodovico questions where Othello is by calling him rash and unfortunate. This a true summary of the character Othello has become

'Where is this rash and most unfortunate man?'

Through his suffering and tragic fall, Othello grows in wisdom at the end of his life.

He sees the emptiness of his pride and the pointless of resisting fate. Othello dismisses his memories of military triumphs as merely a 'vain boast' and acknowledges the vanity of human endeavour; he asks 'Who can control his fate?' as he prepares for desth. This wisdom is registered in his request that his deeds be reported faithfully and for him to be thought of as 'one that loved not wisely, but too well'.

Iago remains as enigmatic character to the end.

He is unwilling to explain his actions: 'Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. / From this time forth I never will speak word.' This leaves the audience speculating about his motives: jealousy? suspicions about Emilia and Othello? resentment? racism? simple malevolence? Whatever the reason, Iago's cleverness and cruelty conspire to make him a most memorable villain.

This scene explores ideas of justice.

Othello seems to act out of a sense of misguided righteousness, seeing himself as a minister of justice rather than a jealous husband. He considers himself merciful by allowing her to pray: 'I would not kill thy unprepared spirit./ No Heaven forfend! I would not kill thy soul' but is determined to see justice done. Justice is clearly an issue as Othello uses legalistic terminology in his accusations towards Desdemona: 'crime' , 'perjury' , 'O perjured woman'. However, Othello's brand of justice is a corrupted one. Othello acts as judge, jury and executioner, but relies on powerful jealous emotions rather than reason. Desdemona is not afforded a fair hearing and her 'trial' makes a mockery of justice. In Act 1, when Othello was accused of witchcraft by Brabantio, due process was followed in that witnesses were called and Othello was given the right of reply. No such fairness is afforded to Desdemona here, so blinded is Othello by his wounded pride and his need for certainty.

Othello asks to be tortured in hell for his wrongdoing

Whip me, you devils, From the possession of this heavenly sight! Blow me about in winds! Roast me in sulpher! Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire!'

As he grows in wisdom, Othello also recognises that he is the architect of his own downfall

comparing himself to an Indian who foolishly throws away a valuable treasure: 'of one whose hand, / Like the base of Indian, threw a pearl away/ Richer than all his tribe' .