Death, Death, Death

Othello, the Moor of Venice
William Shakespeare
Act V

Finally, the tragic ending for which we have all been waiting; it does not disappoint. First Roderigo dies, then Desdemona, then Emilia, then Othello, and lastly the sentencing to death of Iago.

One death that contributes to the chaos of the ending is that of Desdemona. The first time that she is stifled, the audience believes that she has been killed. However, Othello does not believe so after hearing the cries from Emilia outside of the room, thus, he tries to smother her again. As Emilia enters the room, Desdemona seemingly springs back to life to utter four more lines before finally dying for good. "A guiltless death I die," proclaims Desdemona, and she also says that her death was her own fault (V.ii.121). Even after admitting that he had killed her, Othello still fails to realize that his wife actually committed adultery against him. The death and subsequent revival of Desdemona contributes to chaotic flow of the following action. Just as the audience is confused as to how the woman is still alive, the characters on the stage are confused as to what exactly is happening on stage. Therefore, both the audience and the characters are connected, feeling the same emotional reactions to the action unfolding before them.

As if that was not a spectacular enough ending, Othello finally learns that he was deceived by Iago all along and his wife truly had been faithful. Yet, it is too late, and like the great Romeo and Juliet, both lovers end up dead. Yay, what a tragic ending!