The bedroom scene, the final scene of the play, presents one of the most intense and dramatic moments in literature. Othello has come to murder Desdemona, to smother her in her bed. Because the audience knows that Desdemona is innocent and that Othello has been fooled by Iago, the horror of the scene is increased and fills the audience with anxiety. The audience is shocked and dismayed even though they know that Othello intends to kill his wife. The members of the audience may even want to warn Othello or stop him. The suspense is astonishing. Very few scenes in drama reach the emotional intensity of this one.
When Othello first enters the bedchamber, Desdemona is asleep. Othello is somewhat hesitant to carry out the murder, and he presents a speech in which he convinces himself to do the dreaded deed.
The speech begins with the following lines:
It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul.
Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars.
(1-2)
Some critics suggest that the word cause is meant in the sense of “cause of justice.” Othello does think that he is acting justly. But a simpler interpretation might work even better here. The word cause also can mean reason, and the pronoun it refers to infidelity. Thus, the line indicates that Desdemona’s infidelity is the reason why Othello intends to kill her. That the word it refers to infidelity is made clear in the second line. Infidelity is a serious sin that is in direct contrast to chastity, and infidelity is a word that Othello does not wish to say aloud. But Othello is attempting to justify his actions, to explain his reason for murdering Desdemona.
In his speech Othello also mentions two kinds of light: “Put out the light, and then put out the light” (7). The first light refers to a candle or lamp that is burning next to Desdemona’s bed. But the second light metaphorically refers to the light of
Desdemona’s life. It is referring to her life energy. Othello stops to think about his actions. If he puts out the light of a candle (referred to as “flaming minister” in line 8), he can easily relight that candle. But if he puts out the light of Desdemona’s life, he can never relight that one. Only a god, such as the Greek creation god Prometheus (alluded to in line 12), has that kind of ability. Othello stares upon Desdemona and views her as one of Nature’s most excellent creations (line 11). And he realizes that he is about to destroy that creation. This is not something that he can do easily.
Othello also uses a second metaphor to describe Desdemona and his intended action. Othello compares Desdemona to a beautiful and delicate rose (line 13). Killing Desdemona is like plucking the rose from the bush. The rose will wither and die. Its beauty will be gone forever.