Home > Q&A by Experts > Literature >
Q

How does Othello die?

A

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:

“I kiss’d thee ere I kill’d thee: no way but this;
Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.”
(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:
Updated:
Ask your Question
(We won’t publish it)
Cite This page
You're welcome to use this expert's answer in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2024, August 21). How does Othello die? https://ivypanda.com/q/how-does-othello-die/

Work Cited

"How does Othello die?" IvyPanda, 21 Aug. 2024, ivypanda.com/q/how-does-othello-die/.

References

IvyPanda. (2024) 'How does Othello die'. 21 August.

References

IvyPanda. 2024. "How does Othello die?" August 21, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/q/how-does-othello-die/.

1. IvyPanda. "How does Othello die?" August 21, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/q/how-does-othello-die/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "How does Othello die?" August 21, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/q/how-does-othello-die/.

Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.