Shakespeare's Othello

Othello's speech (as he explains to Brabantio how he came to woo and win Desdemona's heart) comes at a point in the play when his hasty elopement with Desdemona has been discovered and he explains to Brabantio and the nobleman how he came to win Desdemona's heart. The assumption on Brabantio's part comes from his belief that only witchcraft could have beguiled his daughter to marry the Moor. Othello tries to set matters straight. But this speech also offers a window into Othello's soul and also provides the audience with a glimpse into the trajectory the play's tragic conclusion will take place. Like all tragedies, Othello's downfall is his own tragic failings. Through the use of metaphors, antitheses, meter, and symbol, Shakespeare is able to reveal Othello's flaws. Another aspect in this speech is the overall meaning it expresses about Othello's "foreign-ness" and how his failings play into how he is seen by others in the play and the role he plays in society.