Othello started talking to Lodovico. “I have done the state some service” – this line implies that Othello reminded them who he was back in the past, how he made the state proud of him and his reputation. He commanded Lodovico to record his story faithfully. “I pray you in your letters” the word pray could mean that he is begging Lodovico to do what Othello says. “Then you must speak Of one that loved not wisely, but too well; Of one, not easily jealous, but being wrought Perplexed in the extreme…” With these lines, Othello reviews the play’s dramatic arc. It’s brings back how Othello used to be in the beginning of the play, before the whole incident occurred. At the beginning of the play, he is a hero, proud, and dignified. His downfall was due to someone which he could not really control – Iago. “Like base Indian, threw the pearl away” This was referring to Othello himself as he was a black just like an Indian. ‘Base Indian’ could be the American Indian who did not value precious stones. Othello referred himself to an Indian because he did not recognize Desdemona’s true value.
Othello then breaks down into tears, something which he is not used to. “Albeit unused to the melting mood” He allows himself to express sadness at his own fate. “Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees” This indicated that Othello is having a real heartfelt break down, as he emphasizes that tears were coming down faster than normal, despite that he probably never broke down and cried before. Othello told Lodovico to record his tears, tells him how he once came upon a Turk beating a Venetian and violently killed him. There is a bit of contradictory here. In the beginning of the play, Othello was “far more than black” but now he has turned “Turk” and become a true racial outsider. In line 351, “the circumcised dog” – these words sounds ultimately wrong to describe Othello. He could mean himself being betrayed, being a fool, being too gullible, being dumb – all these words being put together. He then killed himself: “And smote him, thus.” It was the same way as the Turk being killed, as mentioned above.
In this passage, there were also some words of racism such as ‘Indian’, ‘Arabian’ and ‘turbaned Turk.’ All these words were being referred to Othello himself when he made his speech. His final words summarized his position at the end of the play, regaining his composure. He started from a noble figure and dies as a murderer. His last speech emphasizes the tragedy of his downfall and perfectly encapsulates the themes of the play.
Gratiano indicates that Othello’s speech was something unexpected, something which he would never expect to hear coming out from Othello’s mouth: “All that’s spoke is marred.” This was probably because Gratiano never expects Othello to be in that state where he gives everything up. As he is dying, he says that he kissed Desdemona before he killed her with regret and sadness. This suggests that perhaps his love for her flickered briefly within his dark soul before he murdered her. He reminds himself that perhaps he was not wholly corrupt, but he dies knowing that his soul is lost.
Lodovico speaks to Iago with harsh words. He called him a “Spartan dog” which meant savagery. “More fell that anguish, hunger, or the sea” He said that Iago was crueller than anguish, hunger and the sea. They are 3 totally different words that Lodovico that is used to compare Iago’s cruelty. This emphasizes that Iago is inhuman, being crueller than anything else. “The object poisons sight; Let it be hid.” He referred to the sight of Othello slumped against Desdemona on bed as an object as they are already dead. The word ‘poisons’ could also be referring to Iago’s cruelty and unfaithfulness. He wants it not to be seen as not to let anyone be reminded of Iago. He also told Gratiano to grab hold of Othello’s possession. “As they succeed on you.” He thinks Gratiano is the most capable one. Lastly, he told Cassio to decide what to do with Iago, which he referred to as the “hellish villain,” again emphasizing his cruelty. The next few lines of Lodovico’s speech were sad words that ended this whole tragedy. He said he must return to Venice and “with heavy heart” relates “this heavy act”. He described both the heart and act ‘heavy’ indicating the disaster Iago had caused.
The speeches made at the last part of the play were all miserable. Othello made his last speech in that way because he wanted the audience to know who he really is before he dies. He speaks about his past service to the Venetian state and he describes himself not as a barbarous foreigner but as one who “loved not wisely but too well”, as one who was preyed upon and as one “perplexed in the extreme. He has accepted what has happened and is willing to punish himself for it.
