“ Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow.”
Here, we the audience are about to witness a distressing incident where Othello is intending to kill the women he loves so dearly. And by saying these words Shakespeare is purposely conveying Desdemona as an angelic and almost saintly figure, this is emphasised in the words “white” and “snow”. And so Othello is seen as a villain even before he has committed the crime, although he shows sings of sympathy he still precedes.
Therefore, I would have Othello dressed in black, to symbolise his wicked intention in this part. As well as being dark, I feel his clothing should also be ethnic, this to emphasise his “otherness,” this was effectively in Oliver Parkers production (although he was dressed in white). Othello’s race is a controversial issue in the play, as the play is set in a time when Venice had not even attempted to colonize Asia or Africa. Therefore some saw the play as unrealistic and even hysterical, for example Thomas Rymer who quoted that the play was:
“ A caution to all maidens of quality how, without their parents consent, they run away with Blackamoors.”
Here, it is evident that its not just because Othello is black that makes him an outsider but also the fact that he holds the position of a moor. The position of a moor puts Othello up onto a grand level of social class as well as the fact he is married to an upper class white Venetian. This concept upset many and Thomas Rymer is a prime example. Although some saw the storyline as unrealistic, it is infact what keeps the audience interested; particularly in plays it is important for the plot to be intriguing so that the audience is kept focused and this is what Shakespeare has done in Othello.
In this scene there are two important actions that symbolise Othello’s disorientation within. All through the play it is evident to the audience how calm, controlled and in order Othello is, for example (Act2 Scene2):
“Let’s teach ourselves that honourable stop, Not to out sport discretion.”
This reminds us of Othello’s good traits and shows him to be a rational man. However, due to Iago’s manipulation Othello’s character gradually changes and this is most evident in the last scene where he is not in control of his emotions. He goes in to kill Desdemona but his poetic words show he still loves her deeply despite what he may believe. This is conveyed where it says:
“So sweet was ne’er so fatal. I must weep.”
Even though he is intending to kill her, he is not in rage and uncontrollable anger, however in Trevor Nunn’s production of Othello the killing of Desdemona is extremely violent and looks as if Othello is being sexual in some way. In my production I want to focus on the two vital actions, (these being the kiss and the killing) and attempt to represent them showing the contradicting sides of Othello, the kiss will present Othello’s calm, sensitive and controlled side and therefore should be soft and gradual, whereas the killing is presenting Othello’s dark side and so should be sudden and painful. These two actions show the two extremes of Othello’s character and how he can transform. His transformation is richly evident here as he changes from personal Othello (the gentleman and husband) to public Othello (the moor). From saying poetic words to her from his heart he starts to convince himself that by killing her he is performing his public duty, this is portrayed when he says:
“Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men.”
It is as if he is performing a public ritual, as if he is sacrificing his love for the goodness and safety of mankind. A.C Bradley believed that Othello’s motives to kill Desdemona are valid and rightful, this is shown where he says:
“He is to save Desdemona from herself, not in hate but in honour; in honour , and also in love.”
A.C Bradley saw Othello’s character as being ever more noble even after the “sacrifice” but others (as I) saw the death of Desdemona as brutal murder and Othello not to be a noble hero. F.R Leavis saw Othello as being a “self dramatising” and “sentimentalising” character. And this is perhaps most obvious in his last speech. I see Othello as being an extremely dramatic and unpredictable character who may seem to be inflexible in attitude but is infact naïve and gulliable. Proceeding the death of Desdemona I wish to have Othelleo richly clense himself as he did in Oliver Parker’s production, this would emphasise how he feels that his killing Desdemona is a sacrifice. Also, the weapon used to kill her should be something sharp that inflicts sudden pain instantly, a sword or a dagger would be most suitable for this and the wound should be straight to the heart as it is his love that he is sacrificing.
