Journal #10 - Insight

In Shakespearean tragedies, the tragic heroes have a moment of insight, where they realize what they have done. Othello’s insight at the end of the play is when he realizes that he has unjustly killed the love of his life. He decides to kill himself because that will make it better for all parties involved. Iago will go to jail, Cassio gets the job he deserves, Othello still has a high standing reputation, and he can be with Desdemona forever. Othello realizes that he has made a major mistake, but is trying to rise above it and make everyone’s lives better.

Journal #9 - Free Will

Using the above definitions, write a paragraph that argues in support of each of the terms. In your paragraphs, use specific examples from Othello to support your ideas.

Free will and determinism are very large aspects of human life and Othello. Free will is when a person chooses freely in their life and is not confined by outside forces. Determinism is that, when people make a decision, there are inevitable consequences that will affect people, not just the one who made the decision, for many years after the decision is made. Desdemona uses free will to choose to be with Othello in the beginning of the play. This has nothing to do with outside forces because not many people actually wanted them to be together to begin with. Othello choosing to marry Desdemona, a woman that he barely knew, so quickly is an example of Determinism because that decision brought on consequences for him, Desdemona, and many other people. This decision resulted in Othello, Desdemona, Emilia, and Roderigo’s death, Cassio being wounded, and Iago’s demise. Free will and determinism were driving points in Othello, and often in everyday life.