In William Shakespeare's tragic play, Othello, words are more than words, in fact they are instead a means to establish ocular proof. Othello demands “ocular proof” from one of his closest peers, Iago, to solidify Desdemona’s “affair.” Visual proof is placed in high regard from very early on in the play. In Act I, Scene III, before the “affair accusations,” readers see how Othello must prove his love for Desdemona in front of the great counsel. The Duke responds to Brabantio’s crazed accusations of Othello bewitching Desdemona by telling him this: To vouch this is no proof, Without more wider and more overt test Than these thin habits and poor likelihoods Of modern seeming do prefer against him. (I.III.106-109)
This response to Brabantio illustrates, in front of Othello, that visual proof is the only kind of proof that the court considers acceptable; not a crazed speech filled with words falling over each other. This four line response sets the stage for Othello’s understanding of proof. Brabantio did not have visual proof, and that saved Othello from an unfair punishment. Now, in Othello’s mind, visual proof will be the very thing that will “save him” from a lying lover. In
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It’s a scoffing moment for Othello, as he questions how could Iago be that? It’s something that is very difficult to explain, but because Iago is recognizing his own “crazy” thoughts, but what readers also know to be true thoughts, it manages to open the door for Othello to recognize them as well. After Othello recognizes that Iago could not be what he is describing, does Iago perpetrate honesty into absolute solidarity between them. As Iago is creating the illusion of honesty with Othello, he also lays the foundation of the “honest” ocular proof, that he is going to soon give to