Use of Proper Judgment in Othello

A central tenet of Othello is the concept of proper judgment, and

to always use it when making decisions. The renaissance definition of proper

judgment can be illustrated by the "hierarchy of proper

judgment." Governing all is reason, which includes understanding and will.

Below reason are common sense, memory, and imagination. Finally, at the

bottom are the 5 senses, emotions, and passions. In order to judge properly,

it was believed that reason had to govern all else. Proper judgment could

never occur if only one item was relied upon to make the decision. In

Othello, Shakespeare uses this concept to demonstrate how proper judgment

occurs, and the consequences when it does not.

The first scene in which proper judgment is used is when the Duke

makes a decision as to what should be done about the expected Turkish

invasion. He does not immediately act on the information he receives,

instead, he thinks out the steps logically. When he states, "I do not so

secure me in the error, but the main article I do approve in the fearful

sense (I 3 12-14)," he is showing that he will not rely solely on the

information he is receiving, but also use common sense, memory, and

understanding, and therefore judge properly. Only after Proper judgment was

used did he take action, and therefore avoid disaster. The Duke is a model

of Proper judgment who can be compared to other characters in the play to

show their weaknesses and shortcomings.

In the same scene, proper judgment is demonstrated again by the

Duke, when he is faced with the mater of Othello marrying Desdemona.

Initially, the Duke rejects wise judgment by promising to allow Brabantio

to sentence whoever had done this to whatever punishment he saw fit,

without analyzing the situation further, and without even knowing who that

man was. However, upon assessing the situation more, he realizes the

consequences of not using Proper judgment, and, after hearing all sides of

the story, tell Brabantio to "Take up this mangled matter at best. Men do

their broken weapons rather use than their bare hands (I 3 199-201)." Later

on, he gives Brabantio wise advice when he tells him that "to mourn a

mischief that is past and gone is the next way to draw new mischief in (I 3