Humanity and Reason in Othello Essays -- Othello essays

Humanity and Reason in Othello In Othello Shakespe are probes deeply into the human build by creating characters, who, by their inability to think rationally, surrender what sets them above animals. out front he succumbs to Iagos poisonous innuendoes, Othello himself expresses his clear understanding of this role of the human intellect. He initially refuses to listen to Iagos suggestions that Desdemona cannot be trusted, Exchange me for a goat/When I shall turn the business of my soul/To such exsufflicate and blown surmises (3.3.194-96). Othello feels that he would be acting like an animal if he became irrationally jealous because person would say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company (3.3.198). He tells Iago that he will not wilely fall into jealousy, especially when he never has had close to risible Desdemona, Ill see before I doubt when I doubt, prove/And on the proof, there is no more but this--/Away at at one time with love or jealousy (3.3.205-07). Othello is at this point a footsure man, both in his wifes faithfulness, and in his ability to think rationally. However, Shakespeare shows that this confidence is very much not enough. In his Sonnet 129, Shakespeare describes disposition as another repulse that destroys the ability to reason effectively. The poet depicts lust as desire that is Past reason hunted, and no sooner had,Past reason hated as a swallowed baitOn purpose laid to make the taker mad... totally this world well knows, yet none knows wellTo shun the heaven that leads men to this hell.(7-8,15-16) In his sonnet, Shakespeare laments that even when we know that lust is dangerously irrational, well-nigh people cannot resist falling under its spell. Othello finds the same to be received ab... ...mplete Works of Shakespeare . Ed. David Bevington. 4th ed. NY Longman, 1997. Soellner, Rolf. Shakespeares Patterns of Self-Knowledge . N.p. Ohio State UP, 1972. OUTLINE Thesis rumor When the characters in Othello cease to use reaso n they lose their humanity and are associated with animal imagery. Roderigo Irrationally in love with Desdemona Wants to drown himself like cats and blind puppies Iago calls him a snipe Iago Irrationally jealous of Othello and Cassio Equates love with animalistic lust Encourages others to be a man A man is decisive A man looks out for himself A man loves himself Roderigo calls him an inhuman dog, Lodovico a Spartan dog Emilia implores him to tell the truth if thou best a man Othello Irrationally jealous of Desdemona and Cassio Equates lack of reason with animals Refers to himself as a dog.