She then offers her own view of Desdemona’s character, saying she would “lay down my soul at stake” that she is “honest”. She responds with the unequivocal “never”. He asks her if she has ever seen the two lovers “whisper” or was sent away to “fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask” so they could be alone. His subsequent refusal to change his mind is a great demonstration of the character’s hubris.įor example, in (IV.ii), he remains resolute despite Emilia’s firm defence of Desdemona. The protagonist wants to appear powerful, especially as an outsider in this white society, but her affair reduces his status to a disgraced “cuckold”.Īfter witnessing Cassio’s bravado and seeing the “ocular proof” of the handkerchief in (IV.i), Othello’s pride has been broken and he wants to “chop” Desdemona “into messes”. When Iago alleges Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio, it hurts Othello’s pride because his marriage to the Venetian lady satisfied his ego and provided him with the respect he believed he deserved. This reckless rejection of the warning signs is a very useful definition of hubris. Since pride is an excessive feeling of self-worth and confidence in your own abilities, you might become contemptuous of any advice or criticism that contradicts your beliefs, leading to impulsive and destructive behaviour. Instead of praising her “sweet” and “fair” qualities, he refers to her “greedy ear” and the attention she gave him. If there was one moment which foreshadows his excessive pride, it is how he describes his love for Desdemona in (I.iii): “She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity them”. His behaviour is commendable, especially the way he controls a very tense confrontation, but Shakespeare’s provides the audience with enough doubt in the dialogue to hint at the tragic hero’s hubris. Throughout the scene, Othello remains calm and dignified. The image could certainly be seen as arrogant or a measured response to the nobleman’s attempts at intimidation. This theatre metaphor reduces Brabantio to a stage hand while comparing the protagonist to an actor who does not forget their lines and movement.
WITHOUT A PROMPTER OTHELLO FULL
His response is full of confidence: “Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it / Without a prompter”. Brabantio is incredibly aggressive and threatens Othello if he “resists”. Perhaps the best example of this ambiguity in the second scene occurs towards the end. Alternatively, the images simply reinforce his greatness and the audience will admire his strength and conviction. There is self-approval in these lines which could be interpreted as arrogant. He also mentions his illustrious heritage and noble character: “I fetch my life and being / From men of royal siege”. He is unconcerned because of his strong sense of self-worth. When the General learns Brabantio is coming to arrest him in (I.ii), he dismisses the threat and boasts about how his “services” for the “signiory” will “out-tongue” any “complaints” and accusations.
However, the audience will be quick to question Iago’s own motivation for such scornful remarks.Ĭynics might consider Othello’s behaviour in the first scenes to be hubristic. The ancient’s indignant tone and the alliteration of /p/ in “pride” and “purposes” emphasise that arrogance. It seems Othello made the decision to satisfy his own ego. The theme of extravagant pride is introduced at the very start of the play when Iago accuses Othello of “loving his own pride and purposes” because the General has foolishly promoted the “arithmetician” Cassio, who can “prattle” about war despite lacking any “practise” on the battlefield. His lack of humility is a crucial element in his transformation from the “valiant” General to the jealous husband who murders his innocent wife. An excellent example of this character arc is Othello. Modern definitions of hubris focus on this foolish “pride” and how a character’s arrogance will result in their inevitable “destruction”. “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” It is a reminder that we should always act with grace and understand our own flaws and fallibility. The King James Version of the Bible offers a good translation of the line from the Book of Proverbs (18): The proverb is a warning against excessive confidence because it will lead to terrible failure and shame. Most people have heard the phrase “pride comes before a fall”.
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