William Shakespeares Othello Essay -- William Shakespeare Othello Ess

William Shakespeares OthelloA significant moment in Othello demonstrates the theme of binaries questioned in many of Shakespeares works. Addressing the Duke and senators, Othello saysLet her have your voice.Vouch with me promised land, I therefore beg it notTo please the palate of my appetite,Nor to comply with heat--the young affectsIn me defunct--and proper satisfaction,But to be free and bounteous to her mindAnd heaven defend your good souls that you thinkI will your serious and great business scantWhen she is with me. No, when light-winged toysOf feathered Cupid seel with wanton dullnessMy speculative and officed instrumentsThat my disports deprave and taint my business,Let housewives make a skillet of my helm, And both indign and base adversititiesMake head against my estimation.This speech occurs in Othello 1.3.259-273. Desdemona has just requested to accompany her economize to Cyprus and Othello seconds her request. He swears not to be distracted from his military duties i f Desdemona comes along. To convince his listeners, he claims he cannot be distracted by sex because he lacks the desire for it. As he puts it, the young affects are in me defunct (262-263). Further stressing his commitment to the military, he boldly declares that if he indeed neglects his duties for the state, let housewives make a skillet of my helm, and all indign and base adversities make head against my estimation (271-273). In other words, if his sexual pleasure (disports) gets in the way of his work (business), he does not merit to be called a man and should be emasculated by allowing housewives to cook with his helmet. Furthermore, his enemies good reputation should be razed.Line 271 (Let house... ...od a place as any to start.Works CitedAppetite. Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. 1987.Greenblatt, Stephen. Introduction. The Norton Shakespeare. New York W.W. Norton & Co., 1997.Helm. Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. 1987.McDonald, Russ. The Bedford Companion to Shakespare . 2nd ed. New York Bedford/St. Martins, 2001.Palate. Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. 1987.Shakespeare, William. The tragedy of Coriolanus. The Norton Shakespeare. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt. New York W.W. Norton & Co., 1997. 2793-2872.---. The Tragedy of Othello the Moor of Venice. The Norton Shakespeare. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt. New York W.W. Norton & Co., 1997. 2100-2174.---. Troilus and Cressida. The Norton Shakespeare. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt. New York W.W. Norton & Co., 1997. 1835-1913.Skillet. Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. 1987.