Topic > Patience and its representation in Othello

In a play of jealousies and passions, patience, as a virtue, is presented as an obstacle to the “furious movements” seen in many characters. There are two aspects of patience in Othello, demonstrated firstly by suspending intellectual judgment and repressing instinctive emotional responses until they can be validated and grounded in logic and truth, and secondly by resisting emotional pain and upholding one's integrity despite the tragedies that may have happened. . The Duke, the voice of rationality, observes: "What cannot be preserved when fortune takes, / Patience, its harm becomes a mockery." Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Shakespeare features this lack of patience in the titular character of Othello, who, as a result, plummets to tragic depths. Initially rational, Othello is capable of choosing patient reason over passion or aggression. He tells an enraged Brabantio, "Keep your swords shining, for the dew will rust them," thus demonstrating his control over his emotions – which appears all the more noble when juxtaposed with Brabantio's passionate and reckless aggression. The Moor in this scene emerges as the more rational and composed of the two, while Brabantio continues to make absurd accusations of witchcraft against Othello and chooses to seek immediate emotional gratification through revenge, following his own imperfect sense of justice, which is, as rightly underlined by the Duke, based only on "poor habits and poor probabilities". Othello even manages to subtly rebuke the impulsive Brabantio by suggesting "Good sir, you will command more with years / Than with your weapons." This moment speaks to Othello's control over both the situation and his emotions. Later in the play, afflicted by Iago's evil manipulations, Othello regresses into the state of a stereotypical Moor: emotional, impulsive and irrational. Othello's regression is first seen when he asks Iago for "satisfaction" instead of "proof" regarding Desdemona's behavior. fidelity. Iago establishes before this that "it is impossible that you should see [Desdemona and Cassio in the act of adultery]." He further frustrates Othello by denying him knowledge of his thoughts: "You cannot [know my thoughts, even] if my heart were in your hands." Othello, however, as a soldier accustomed to "tented camps" and the simple clarity of the military world, where good and bad are easily dichotomized between Venetians and invaders, is unable to content himself with uncertainty and patiently abstain from judgment until no evidence is provided. found. The certainty that Desdemona is loyal would solve the problem but unfortunately it is impossible to logically demonstrate loyalty, on the contrary, it would require only a single act would enable and vindicate the action, and Othello, in trying to save his pride and calm his simmering emotions, he demonstrates an affinity for action while making the logical leap: “To be once in doubt is to be once resolved.” Instead of patiently seeking evidence, holding back unfounded emotions, and restraining rash actions, he laments “if I were satisfied” and accepts Iago's flimsy suggestions as “satisfaction” – which is less logical proof than intellectual numbness and emotional pacification. refers to Othello Cassio's supposed dream with minute attention to detail, dramatically setting the scene in Othello's mind of Cassio and Desdemona reveling in lustful sex. Othello, unable to adopt the attitude of patience, succumbs to the peremptory emotional demands of his imaginative reality and abandons. Instead ofaccepting Iago's warning that "this was but a dream", Othello states that it denoted a "foregone conclusion". Othello, in his need for certainty, clings to a “foregone conclusion,” collapsing the timeline in favor of emotional “satisfaction.” The flimsy evidence Iagole offers then simply becomes convenient items to appease his intellect, while a stronger and more primitive need for decision and action takes over. Such action takes the form of revenge and murder - not much different from Brabantio's previous attack. Othello's decision to do so is another episode of frustrated patience: he is unable to bear the humiliation that Desdemona's alleged infidelity brings to his public name, as well as the emotional pain he must endure. Iago ostentatiously warns a furious Othello: “Patience, I say; your mind maybe could change. However, as Iago predicts, Othello rejects this advice completely, declaring implacable resolve and refusing to consider the value of patiently experiencing his sense of humiliation, pain and injustice: Never Iago... my bloody thoughts with violent rhythm Will never look Back, never look back on humble love, Till capable and wide vengeance swallow them up. The accumulation of enjambment and unyielding energy coupled with magnificent maritime imagery illustrate Othello's inexorable rush towards the extremity of revenge. Unable to heed the Duke's advice (that "patience makes his wound a mockery"), Othello dives straight into the comfort of action and resolution, forming a conviction for Desdemona's murder, the "cause " which he, deliriously, identifies as "justice". .”A major part of his emotional turmoil can be attributed to his innate propensity to confuse the public with the private. Regarding Desdemona's supposed infidelity, her initial reaction is to lament that "Othello's occupation is over" after enumerating her farewells to various aspects of her public life ("neighing steed," "feathered troops" , "great wars", etc.). As a Moor within Venetian society, Othello is acutely aware of his status as “other.” The public consequences he sees as a result of Desdemona's alleged adultery cause him to experience emotional pain even more acutely. Once again, he allows Patience to dissolve into oblivion – unable to live as “A fixed figure for the time of contempt / At which to point his slow and motionless finger,” Othello mistakenly concludes – “either I must live, or bear not life." .” He explicitly repudiates the value of patience by referring to the symbolic gesture of Patience personified, "turning her complexion there... [to] look grim as hell." This preference for immediate satisfaction also foreshadows his later decision to end his life by suicide rather than suffer the torment of living in guilt – "For, in my sense, to die is happiness." Other minor characters such as Cassius also demonstrate the consequences of a lack of patience. Iago attributes Cassio's aggressive attacks in the drunken brawl to "some strange humiliation, / Which patience could not overcome." Cassius's subsequent reactions to his dismissal as lieutenant were also characteristically impatient. Although Emilia assures that Othello “needs no other suitor but his tastes/ To seize the surest opportunity at the front/ To bring you (Cassio) back again,” Cassio adamantly insists on seeing Desdemona, fearing “That I am absent and my place provided, / My general will forget my love and my service. patience." Unbeknownst to Desdemona, her impatience for Cassio's reinstatement.