"I must weep, / But they are cruel tears," says Othello towards the end of his soliloquy in Act Five, Scene Two, just before killing Desdemona. Traditional Shakespearean murderers shed no tears before killing their victim; in Shakespeare's Othello, however, the Moor is an ambivalent man who justifies his actions through a cathartic release of emotions. Shakespeare uses techniques that include clever use of soliloquy, use of repetition in diction, and tangible symbolism that together support his important underlying theme of Othello: preserving the ideal of justice. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The clever use of a soliloquy in Othello's speech creates an intimacy between the reader and Othello; this helps to understand Othello's preservation of the ideal of justice. Since the speaker addresses no one but his soul, we readers play the role of a mirror that reflects his image, but at the same time we take on our own perspective. In this way we feel much closer to him than if he were addressing another interlocutor and the reader was simply looking from an outside perspective. Shakespeare reminds readers that Othello is not happy with his decision, and so when he says, "Let me not tell you, chaste stars" (line 1) he does not want the stars to hear from Othello himself why he wants to commit a crime of type. He feels uncomfortable telling not just any stars, but chaste ones, about Desdemona's alleged infidelity. Here we literally enter his mind. In a very palpable way the reader feels more of this insight into Othello's mind through his determination. When Othello says, “Yet he must die, or else he will betray more men (line 6),” he communicates that he is killing Desdemona for her own good and that by committing this murder, he is giving justice to all those men. to whom she would have been unfaithful. When he says: "Put out the light (line 7)", Othello speaks to himself - obviously as happens in the soliloquies - but also to the reader who is "mirrored". As he orders us to turn off the lights, while he himself will "then put out the light" (line 8) by killing Desdemona, the reader feels a sense of closeness and intimacy between himself and Othello. Othello then goes on to question himself, “Should I repent, (line 10)” from which we as readers feel empathy for him because he expresses remorse. Shakespeare wrote such an important line to convey ambivalence in Othello, whose conflicting feelings of obtaining justice and considering remorse create an image of Othello not as a ruthless beast, but as a human being just like the reader himself. This clever use of soliloquy is almost a heart to heart between Othello and his conscience, a role the reader takes on by default. Because Othello shares his feelings with his conscience and ultimately with the reader, he conveys real emotions that make the reader sympathize with his actions. The reader immediately feels this sympathy for Othello in an even more powerful way. When he states, “I will kill you, / and love you after (lines 18-19),” his love knows no bounds and even Desdemona's own death cannot extinguish his love for her. As he addresses the sleeping Desdemona, he offers a reward for her murder, loving her even after her death. The reader understands how much love Othello has for Desdemona and how much it hurts him to kill her. However, Justice must prevail and his death is certain as Shakespeare implements Othello to preserve Justice. Shakespeare uses repetition in diction to emphasize and stimulate Othello's emotions. As already mentioned, the reader is.