Discussion Topic

Analysis of the meaning and figure of speech in Othello's line "Put out the light, and then put out the light."

Summary:

Othello's line "Put out the light, and then put out the light" uses a metaphor. The first "light" refers to extinguishing a candle, symbolizing the literal act. The second "light" signifies taking Desdemona's life, implying extinguishing her existence. This line highlights Othello's internal conflict and the gravity of his impending action.

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In Othello, what does "Put out the light, and then put out the light" mean?

Othello is literally putting out the light of the candle and then poutting out the light of Desdemona's life. The light of Desdemona's life, however, is also an allusion to Prometheus of mythology. Prometheus breathed life into clay figures (giving them the light of life), and he also brought fire from the gods to man. Thus the "light" in reference to Desdemona's life is also an allusion to Prometheus' light.

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In Othello, what does "Put out the light, and then put out the light" mean?

Othello says “Put out the light, then put out the light” to himself in the form of an  imperative sentence. The stage / room is dark. He commands himself to do this while bending over and kissing a sleeping Desdemona.  In preparing to kill her, he puts out the candle (the “flaming minister”) in their bedroom, hiding his actions in darkness out of shame. The “light” also refers to Desdemona, signifying her skin, which is “whiter … than snow” (5.2.4), and her character, which is pure, in contrast to his dark skin and his sins of  jealousy and pride as well as the sin of murder he is about to commit.  The way in which Shakespeare presents Othello in shadows and obscurity in this scene, as well as others, makes us associate him with the night, combining the black shadows of dusk and the colour of his skin to make us more unsure of the man when the scene is set at night. Besides characterizing himself and Desdemona, in these lines Othello is also satisfying his tragic fate by ‘putting out the light’ on her, then later himself. Othello knows and feels the difference:  he realizes that Desdemona is “a pearl richer than all of his tribe ”(5.2.347).  The light of this treasure established his standing in Venetian society, and he now is nothing but the old black ram,” (1.1. 87) “the “circumcised dog” (5.2.355).

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What figure of speech is used in Othello's statement, "Put out the light, and then put out the light?"

The first part of the sentence is literal.  Othello is actually referring to putting out the light of a candle.  The second part is metaphorical. Putting out the light is a metaphor for the killing of Desdemona.  Othello compares the two.  A candle can be relit.  Once Desdemona's light is put out, her life cannot be restored. Killing her is irrevocable.  Othello is quite conscious of the gravity of his action.

But "light" is also a symbol.  Throughout the play, light symbolizes Desdemona and her goodness.   She, for instance, vows by "this heavenly light" that she will not cheat on Othello, while Emilia jokingly declares that she would in the dark.

When Othello chooses to kill Desdesmona, he is in essence destroying the light in his life.  He has joined forces with "hell and night" and fallen into Iago's monstrous trap, and now "chaos has come again."

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What figure of speech is used in Othello's statement, "Put out the light, and then put out the light?"

A few figures of speech could fit this famous line from Othello.  Depending on the translation (I'm assuming it's accurate) and the stage action (the way the line is delivered on stage), it could mean any of the following:

Aposiopesis -- Breaking off as if unable to continue: “The fire surrounds them while—I cannot go on.” Othello is telling Desdemona to put out the light (of her candle and *life*), but he can't bring himself to say it literally and directly, so he just repeats himself metaphorically.

Puns (Paronomasia) -- A pun twists the meaning of words, often to create an ironic, humorous effect.  "Put out the light" could mean to put out the candle and to be extinguished of life.  He seems to direct the first half of the line to Desdemona and the second part to himself, as if to summon up the courage to kill her.

Diacope (also called Epizeuxis)-- Uninterrupted repetition, or repetition with only one or two words between each repeated phrase.  ("The horror!  The horror!")  He's simply repeating it for memorable effect.  The anaphora (of sorts) becomes more dramatic upon repetition.

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What does the line "Put out the light, and then put out the light" from Othello mean?

"Put out the light, and then put out the light" (V.2.7) of Shakespeare's Othello is said as a soliloquy by Othello right before the scene in which he finally takes action and murders Desdemona.

At the beginning of this soliloquy, Othello is comparing Desdemona's life to the flame on a candle. He realizes he can snuff out her life just as he does the flame of a candle. However, he realizes that if he takes this step, he can never get Desdemona back unlike with a candle which he always just relight.

Although Othello seemed resolute in the previous scene, he is again wavering about his decision in these lines. Once she is awakened, all his doubts about killing her seem to disappear immediately. It is as if he sees Desdemona at her most pure and innocent when she is lying unconscious there and wants to preserve that purity by prohibiting her from being conscious anymore.

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