Since Shakespeare never shows Othello in any military
situation (most of the scenes in the play would be considered domestic), we must take
what others say about him as our textual proof that Othello is or is not "a heroic
soldier."
In Act I, scene iii, when Othello enters the
signiory, the Duke of Venice greets him with:
Valiant Othello, we must straight employ
you,
Against the general enemy
Ottoman...
suggesting that,
first, he considers Othello valiant and, second, though Othello is not a Venetian, the
duke considers him the only man for the job of fighting the Turks on behalf of Venice.
And later, the Duke all but tells Othello that he must not consider taking a honeymoon
with Desdemona, because:
The Turks with most mighty preparation makes for
Cyprus: Othello, the fortitude of the place is best known to you, and though we have
there a substitute of most allowed sufficiency, yet opinion, a sovereign
mistress of effects, throws a more safer voice on
you...
And
with these lines, the Duke, a disinterested voice in the play (and the most exalted)
pronounces that he, along with the voice of "opinion" considers Othello the most
qualified and best man to face the Turks. And true to the Duke's faith, Othello earns
an easy victory in Cyprus, further cementing him as a noble and heroic
soldier.
It is also important for the tragic progression of
the play that Othello be seen as a "heroic soldier" in the beginning of the play. His
demise as the tragic hero of the play is much more pitiful and heart-wrenching, two
important criteria in a classic Tragedy, if he begins from a very high place, falling
from his position of power and authority because of his tragic
flaw.
So, based upon the word of the Duke of Venice and the
requirements of a classically Tragic plot, yes, I agree. "Shakespeare presents Othello
as a heroic solider."
No comments:
Post a Comment