How Does Othello Die? - Ivypanda

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Othello dies at the end of the play by committing suicide. The character stabs himself with a knife out of an immense feeling of guilt. The reason for his death is jealousy and, as a result, a faulty murder of his wife, Desdemona.

Detailed answer:

Othello and Desdemona’s death are two significant events of act 5 of Shakespeare’s Othello. The main character undergoes a journey of doubt and suspicion. Being influenced by Iago’s rumors, he assumes that Desdemona is secretly involved with Cassio. This eventually leads to jealousy overtaking his logical sense. As a result, Othello kills Desdemona, only to find out that the suspicions were false. Unable to take on the responsibility for his actions, Othello commits suicide. He stabs himself and dies pronouncing the following words:

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“I kiss’d thee ere I kill’d thee: no way but this; Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.” (Othello, Act 5, scene 2)

There are three reasons for Othello’s demise:

• Lack of trust
• Naivety
• Inability to listen to reason

Being unconfident about Desdemona’s loyalty, Othello starts suspecting her. Instead of asking for a direct answer, the main character creates an unlikely scenario. This mistake of distrust makes him vulnerable to Iago’s harmful manipulation. Finally, Othello’s tragic flaw makes him act irresponsibly and murder Desdemona.

Before stabbing himself with a knife, Othello is overwhelmed with the emotion of immense guilt and self-pity. As a final remark, he pronounces a closing speech that is often titled “Othello’s Speech“. During the emotional monologue, the main character expresses a wish to be remembered:

“Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate, Nor set down aught in malice: then must you speak Of one that loved not wisely but too well; Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought Perplex’d in the extreme” (Act 5, scene 2)

Then, Othello stabs himself, giving an end to Shakespeare’s tragic tale of jealousy.

Answer's rating: Answered by IvyPanda® One of our experts with a specialization in literature has kindly provided an answer to this question. Feel free to rate the answer and let us know if you liked it. Updated: Nov 6th, 2024 Cite Related Questions What is the significance of the Willow Song in Othello? Is Othello a Bad Guy? What is the significance of the handkerchief in Othello? What are the examples of racism in Othello? Was Othello black? Did it cause conflict? Who is Brabantio, and what News Do Roderigo and Iago Bring Him? Ask your question Ask your Question Name Email(We won’t publish it) Pick subject Pick a subjectArtBusinessCultureDesignDiet & NutritionEconomicsEducationEntertainment & MediaEnvironmentFamily, Life & ExperiencesHealth & MedicineHistoryLawLinguisticsLiteraturePhilosophyPolitics & GovernmentPsychologyReligionSciencesSociologySportsTech & EngineeringTourismTransportationWarfare Please leave this field empty. Submit question Sending... By clicking "Submit question" you agree to IvyPanda’s Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions and want to receive electronic communications from us. Othello Study Guide Menu

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