Act 5 Scene 2

Othello has hurried from the scene of the fight and found Desdemona asleep in bed. The sight of her beauty almost dissuades him from his purpose, but when she wakes he accuses her of adultery with Cassio and declares his intentions. Despite Desdemona’s pleas, he kills her. Emilia discovers the situation, but when Othello tells her his reasons for the murder she is able to proclaim Desdemona’s innocence and declare Iago’s guilt in slandering her. Iago arrives with the Venetian nobles, and all is revealed. Othello is prevented from attacking Iago, but Iago seizes an opportunity to kill Emilia. The wounded Cassio is brought to the scene and Othello, horrified at the misjudgement he has made, asks Cassio’s pardon. Iago is condemned to torture and Othello is arrested by Lodovico. But before he is taken away, Othello has one last speech to deliver and a final deed to perform. This long last scene is beautifully constructed, intermingling speeches of powerful eloquence with simple straightforward dialogue.
0s.d.	Desdemona in her bed: Desdemona’s bed would probably be in a curtained recess under the balcony# the bed could be pushed forward on to the main stage as the scene starts.
1	It is the cause: Othello believes that he is killing Desdemona for a good reason — sacrificing her to an ideal rather than murdering in vengeful hatred.
2	it: the offence — i.e. adultery.
4	whiter . . . snow: skin which is whiter than snow.
5	monumental alabaster: Statues and figures on tombs were often carved from alabaster, which is a translucent white stone.
6	betray: cause them to commit adultery.
7	the light: i.e. the torch that he is carrying# but the second “light” in this line refers to Desdemona’s life.
8	flaming minister: the useful burning torch.
10	Should . . . me: If I regret what I have done.
11	Othello sees Desdemona as the most cleverly (“cunning’st”) created product of all-excelling nature.
12	Promethean heat: In some Greek legends, Prometheus stole fire from the gods and used it to animate the clay figures he had made, thus creating the first human beings.
13	relume: re-kindle.
14	vital growth: life.
15	needs must: is forced to.
17	Justice . . . sword: Othello sees himself as the agent (or even the personification) of Justice, who is traditionally depicted with a sword.
20	So . . . fatal: Nothing was ever so sweet and so deadly.
21	cruel tears: Othello weeps because he loves Desdemona and because she has (as he thinks) betrayed their love# if he had no cause for tears, he would have no cause to kill her.
21	heavenly . . . love: has a divine nature because it punishes the one it loves, like the God described in the Epistle to the Hebrews: “whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth” (12:6).
28	bethink yourself: remember.
29	Othello refers to the Christian teaching about the confession and forgiveness of sin.
30	Solicit: Pray pardon.
straight: now.
32	by: aside# he will allow privacy for her confession.
33	unprepared spirit: i.e. not prepared for death (by making a full confession).
34	forfend: forbid.
kill thy soul: Othello accepts the orthodox Catholic teaching that those who die without confessing their sins will be damned.
39	fatal: terrible.
40	your eyes roll so: An indication how the part should be played, or was being played. This would be a useful guide on the Jacobean stage# see also line 46.
43	loves: Desdemona is perhaps thinking of the disobedience to her father.
45	It is unnatural to kill someone for loving.
46	nether: bottom.
47	very frame: whole body.
48	portents: bad signs.
49	do not point on: are not directed at.
50	will so: Desdemona controls herself in the space between these two words.
57	Presently: at once.
58	freely: fully.
59	article: item of which she is accused.
60	choke: kill by strangling.
conception: suspicion# the imagery is confirmed in the next line. 
61	groan withal: labour with# Othello’s suspicions of Desdemona are causing pain like birth pangs.
65	general warranty: ordinary permission.
68	stone my heart: turn my heart to stone.
69, 70	Desdemona’s refusal to confess her guilt makes her unfit to be a sacrificial victim, and Othello must now consider himself a murderer.
72	Send . . . hither: Order him to come here.
74	used thee: had some relationship with you.
78	his mouth is stopped: he has been silenced.
79	ta’en order for’t: seen to it.
80	my fear interprets: I am afraid I understand.
81	Had . . . lives: If he had had as many lives as the hairs on his head.
82	stomach: appetite.
83	undone: ruined. Desdemona means that if Cassio is dead, he will not be able to vouch for her innocence# but Othello takes “undone” to be an admission of guilt.
90	Being. . . pause: Now that I have started, I must go on.
91	But: Just.
96	Othello is cruel enough to murder Desdemona, but merciful enough to want to ease the pain.
101	like: likely.
102	high: loud.
107	insupportable: I can’t bear it# Othello has begun to regret his deed.
109	globe: the whole world.
110	yawn: tear itself apart (in an earthquake). Othello is looking for the sort of confusion that might be associated with the end of the world.
alteration: the change brought about by Desdemona’s death.
118	It was believed that the influence of the moon could make people insane.
118	error: wandering.
119	was wont: used to do.
124	out of tune: gone wrong.
126	Desdemona revives for a moment.
138	like a liar: like the liar that she is.
141	folly: sin.
145	top: Othello picks up Iago’s word (3,3,401).
else: if it’s not true.
147	But: Except.
148	extremity: final act.
152	entire: pure.
chrysolite: topaz (a semi-precious stone)# but I think that the word may have been chosen not for its meaning but because of its sound.
157	iterance: repetition.
158	made mocks with: made a fool of.
163	half a grain a day: very, very slowly.
lies to th’heart: completely.
164	too fond of: infatuated with.
most filthy bargain: i.e. the husband for whom she paid such a high price.
167	no more worthy heaven: presumably Emilia means that the deed is damnable.
168	Peace . . . best: You had better shut up.
169	I can endure far more than you are able to inflict upon me.
170	gull: fool.
dolt: idiot.
172	I care . . . sword: i.e. don’t threaten me.
177	lay . . . neck: blame you for their murders.
184	apt: reasonable.
190	charm: hold.
194	set . . . on: caused the murder.
203	Emilia acknowledges the ruling that a wife should obey her husband, but she will not obey Iago now.
205	roar: howl.
208	scarce did know you, uncle: hardly recognized you# Othello speaks to Gratiano, Desdemona’s uncle and therefore (by marriage) his own.
212	match: marriage.
mortal: fatal.
213	Shore . . . twain: Cut the thread of his life in two.
Did he live now: If he were alive now.
214	turn: deed.
215	He would drive away his guardian angel.
216	reprobance: a state of damnation.
218	the act of shame: adultery.
219	a thousand times: the expression is purely rhetorical, intended for emphasis not accuracy.
220	gratify: reward.
amorous works: love-making.
221	recognizance: token.
223	antique: ancient.
224	Shakespeare seems to have forgotten that in Act 3, Scene 4 Othello told Desdemona that the handkerchief was given to his mother by an Egyptian (lines 55–6).
O heavenly God: In the Folio text Emilia calls on the “heavenly Powers”.
225	’Twill out: It [the truth] must come out.
I peace: Must I keep quiet.
226	liberal as the north: as unrestrained as the north wind — a particularly violent and bitterly cold wind.
233	by fortune: by chance.
240	coxcomb: idiot.
241	Are there . . . thunder: Are the only thunderbolts in heaven used for making thunder (and not for striking villains)?
242	Precious: A term used to intensify abuse.
246	notorious: absolute.
247	recovered from: taken away from.
248	without: from the outside.
pass: get away.
250	I . . . neither: Othello has lost the courage even to attack Iago.
251	Any poor little man can take away my sword# but Montano, surely, does not deserve the term “whipster”.
252	honour outlive honesty: reputation last any longer than desert.
253	bode: foretell.
254	play the swan . . . music: Emilia will imitate the swan, a bird which was believed to sing only once in its lifetime — just before it dies# the snatch of song unites Emilia with her mistress.
257	So . . . bliss: May my soul be saved.
260	a sword of Spain: Toledo, in southern Spain, was famous for the manufacture of swords.
the ice-brook’s temper: the steel was “tempered” (= given its toughness) by being plunged into an icy stream.
263	suffer: get hurt.
265	naked: unarmed.
267	sustain: support.
271	stop: arrest.
273	weaponed: armed.
274	Here: Othello means to kill himself.
butt: goal.
275	sea-mark: beacon.
utmost sail: last voyage.
276	’Tis a lost fear: There’s nothing to be afraid of.
277	Man: Aim.
rush: reed.
279	ill-starred: ill-fated.
280	smock: a woman’s under-garment.
at count: on the Day of Judgement.
283	thy chastity: Othello finally admits the truth.
slave: Othello means himself.
284	Othello now images to himself some of the medieval portrayals of hell.
287	steep-down: precipitous.
292	fable: i.e. that a devil has cloven feet.
296	in my sense: as I feel now.
298	practice: trap.
300	Othello speaks with bitter irony.
312	Torments: Torture.
313	thou dost best: you know best.
317	imports: concerns.
322	discontented paper: letter expressing dissatisfaction.
325	belike: probably.
326	satisfied him: stopped his complaints (by killing him).
328	came you . . . by: did you acquire?
330	but even now: only just now.
332	wrought to: suited.
334	upbraids: reproaches.
335	Brave: Challenge.
upon the watch: when I was on guard.
whereon it came: as a result of which.
336	cast: dismissed,
he: i.e. Roderigo.
338	set him on: incited him.
339	forsake: leave.
343	hold him long: make him suffer for a long time.
344	close: confined.
347	Soft you: Wait a minute.
350	unlucky: unfortunate.
351	nothing extenuate: do not make excuses.
352	set down: write.
353	wisely: i.e. moderately.
354	wrought: provoked.
355	Perplexed in the extreme: Completely bewildered.
356	base Indian: The American Indians were well-known for their ignorance about the value of precious stones# the Folio text has “Judean”, which some editors take to be a reference to Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Christ. I suspect, however, that if there is any biblical allusion at all in this line, it is to the “pearl of great price” described in St Matthew’s Gospel (13:46), which is a metaphor for heavenly bliss.
357	subdued: overcome (by grief).
358	melting mood: weeping.
360	gum: myrrh, which oozes from the trees and is used in religious ceremonies of sacrifice and atonement — which makes it medicinable.
363	traduced: insulted.
364	circumcis#aged: i.e. Muhammedan.
366	period: conclusion.
371	Spartan dog: Lodovico turns to Iago# the hounds of Sparta were notoriously savage.
372	fell: cruel.
373	loading: burden.
375	Let it be hid: The bed would now be drawn back into the recess under the balcony, and the curtains drawn.
keep: stay in.
377	succeed: legally descend.
378	censure: sentencing.
380	The slow formality of the rhymed couplet with its sighing alliteration brings the play to a solemn conclusion.