The Dyer's Hand by W. H. Auden

Author:W. H. Auden [Auden, W. H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780679724841
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: 1990-02-27T16:00:00+00:00

I therefore beg it not To please the palate of my appetite Nor to comply with heat, the young affects In me defunct, and proper satisfaction,

But to be free and bounteous of her mind.

Though the imagery in which he expresses his jealously is sexual—what other kind of images could he use?—Othello’s marriage is important to him less as a sexual relationship than as a symbol of being loved and accepted as a person, a brother in the Venetian community. The monster in his own mind too hideous to be shown is the fear he has so far repressed that he is only valued for his social usefulness to the City. But for his occupation, he would be treated as a black barbarian.

The overcredulous, overgood-natured character which, as Iago tells us, Othello had always displayed is a telltale symptom. He had had to be overcredulous in order to compensate for his repressed suspicions. Both in his happiness at the beginning of the play and in his cosmic despair later, Othello reminds one more of Timon of Athens than of Leontes.

Since what really matters to Othello is that Desdemona should love him as the person he really is, Iago has only to get him to suspect that she does not, to release the repressed fears and resentments of a lifetime, and the question of what she has done or not done is irrelevant.

Iago treats Othello as an analyst treats a patient except that, of course, his intention is to kill not to cure. Everything he says is designed to bring to Othello’s consciousness what he has already guessed is there. Accordingly, he has no need to tell lies. Even his speech, "I lay with Cassio lately,” can be a truthful account of something which actually happened: from what we know of Cassio, he might very well have such a dream as Iago reports. Even when he has worked Othello up to a degree of passion where he would risk nothing by telling a direct lie, his answer is equivocal and its interpretation is left to Othello.

OTHELLO: What hath he said?

iago: Faith that he did—I know not what he did.

OTHELLO: But what?

iago: Lie—

OTHELLO: With her?

iago: With her, on her, what you will.

Nobody can offer Leontes absolute proof that his jealousy is baseless; similarly, as Iago is careful to point out, Othello can have no proof that Desdemona really is the person she seems to be.

Iago makes his first decisive impression when, speaking as a Venetian with firsthand knowledge of civilian life, he draws attention to Desdemona’s hoodwinking of her father.

iago: I would not have your free and noble nature

Out of self-bounty be abused, look to’t:

I know our country disposition well:

In Venice they do let God see the pranks They dare not show their husbands: their best conscience

Is not to leave undone but keep unknown.

Dost thou say so?

OTHELLO:

iago:

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.