When the character Othello in Shakespeare’s Othello confronts Desdemona of her infidelity, he is challenging her honor and furthermore, their marriage and relationship. In regards of their history, Desdemona previously deceived her father to pursue her relationship with Othello. Therefore, the notion of deceiving Othello becomes a realistic possibility provided the manipulation of Iago. Throughout the text, Othello makes numerous referrals to religious beliefs and contrasts between heaven and hell with reference to Desdemona’s alleged actions. He implies a belief through his words that Desdemona is his possession and her actions have inflicted the gods upon him. Furthermore, the examples he conjures of Desdemona are inhumanly, referring to
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The phrase double damned is describing the concept of one being denied by both heaven and hell. Othello exclaims this in support of his argument, claiming Desdemona is “lest being like one of heaven, the devils themselves should fear to seize thee; therefore, be double damn’d” (Shakespeare 4.2.). In this context, Othello exclaims that by denying her infidelity, Desdemona claims to be a being of heaven and therefore will be double damned and denied by both heaven and hell in the afterlife. Furthermore, the contrast of the use of the religious extreme opposites is present in the line “heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell” (Shakespeare 4.2.). Although the context implies hell as false, using heaven and hell together stresses Othello’s argument by relating Desdemona’s preach to heaven with an unholy place. The denial of the truth further proves the downfall of Othello’s character and displays the latching effect of Iago’s manipulative …show more content…
He first signifies Desdemona as a fountain and then a cistern in lines... A fountain is “a spring or source of water issuing from the earth and collecting in a basin” (“fountain, n.” def. 1a) Furthermore, it is referred to with use of baptism. Relating to religion, since the context the analogy is applied to is referring to reproduction, the fountain may be considered holy water used in baptism, considered pure like Desdemona. In addition, Othello claims his current runs from her fountain. Although a current is generally flowing, it also refers to a circulation, such as the circulation of Othello’s lineage, which would explain his discomfort. Essentially, his children would be born where other men have been rather than a pure and clean woman. Othello references to Desdemona as a cistern when discussing the adultery. Opposite to the natural and pure reference, a cistern is “an artificial reservoir for the storage of water” (“cistern, n.” def. 1) Comparing the two, fountain is used to describe Desdemona’s initial purity, where cistern relates to her infidelity, unnatural and artificial. In lines ______, Othello uses a personification, describing his wife as a piece of meat. In the context of the play, the word “shamble” means a butcher’s slaughterhouse. Othello claims that his wife is a piece of meat “that [quickens] even with blowing.” Relating to the infidelity, the flies represent the men she
The phrase double damned is describing the concept of one being denied by both heaven and hell. Othello exclaims this in support of his argument, claiming Desdemona is “lest being like one of heaven, the devils themselves should fear to seize thee; therefore, be double damn’d” (Shakespeare 4.2.). In this context, Othello exclaims that by denying her infidelity, Desdemona claims to be a being of heaven and therefore will be double damned and denied by both heaven and hell in the afterlife. Furthermore, the contrast of the use of the religious extreme opposites is present in the line “heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell” (Shakespeare 4.2.). Although the context implies hell as false, using heaven and hell together stresses Othello’s argument by relating Desdemona’s preach to heaven with an unholy place. The denial of the truth further proves the downfall of Othello’s character and displays the latching effect of Iago’s manipulative …show more content…
He first signifies Desdemona as a fountain and then a cistern in lines... A fountain is “a spring or source of water issuing from the earth and collecting in a basin” (“fountain, n.” def. 1a) Furthermore, it is referred to with use of baptism. Relating to religion, since the context the analogy is applied to is referring to reproduction, the fountain may be considered holy water used in baptism, considered pure like Desdemona. In addition, Othello claims his current runs from her fountain. Although a current is generally flowing, it also refers to a circulation, such as the circulation of Othello’s lineage, which would explain his discomfort. Essentially, his children would be born where other men have been rather than a pure and clean woman. Othello references to Desdemona as a cistern when discussing the adultery. Opposite to the natural and pure reference, a cistern is “an artificial reservoir for the storage of water” (“cistern, n.” def. 1) Comparing the two, fountain is used to describe Desdemona’s initial purity, where cistern relates to her infidelity, unnatural and artificial. In lines ______, Othello uses a personification, describing his wife as a piece of meat. In the context of the play, the word “shamble” means a butcher’s slaughterhouse. Othello claims that his wife is a piece of meat “that [quickens] even with blowing.” Relating to the infidelity, the flies represent the men she