Othello

In the passage below, what do othellos analogies contribute to our understanding of his state of mind? How much does he understand about what he has done, and what emotions does he experience?

When you shall these unlucky deeds relate,

Speak of me as I am. Nothing extenuate,

Nor set down aught in malice. Then must you speak

Of one that loved not wisely, but too well.

Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought,

Perplexed in the extreme. Of one whose hand,

Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away

Richer than all his tribe. Of one whose subdued eyes,

Albeit unused to the melting mood,

Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees

Their medicinal gum. Set you down this,

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I think that Othello finally gets it, he's a "dumbass"! Really he understands that he is too intense. He realized he threw his pearl (Desdemona) away over rumour. At the end of Shakespearean tragedies, the protagonist usually comes to some pretty accurate self reflection. His tragic flaw is in full sight. Othello sees that he is rash and absolute in his desires, he neglects to temper his emotions with wisdom or reason.