...Desdemona's treachery, the black protagonist of this tragedy cries out in self -referential despair: "Her name, that was as fresh / As Dian's visage, is now begrim'd and black / As mine own face" (III.iii.386-388). In must be said, though, that most of the negative connotations of black in English...

...lack of faithfulness, Othello desires to end the ongoing inner debate about Desdemona's love for him: By the world, I think my wife be honest, and think she is not, I think that thou are just, and think though are not; I'll have some proof... (Ill, iii, 389-92)13 12 The remark in parentheses...

...honest. ' I should be wise; for honesty's a fool And loses the confidence that honesty should inspire. By the world, I think my wife be honest, and think she is not; I think that thou are just, and think thou art not. I'll have some proof. If there be cords, or knives, Poison, or fire,...

...him here. A black actor once told me that, for him, Othello's lines "My ["Her" in the Second Quarto] name, that was as fresh / As Dian's visage, is now begrim'd and black / As mine own face" (3.3.386-388) were the saddest moment in the play. Othello now associates blackness, his blackness,...