Are Othello's actions justified?

While Lodovico and Gratiano view Othello as a villain, one can confer that Othello's actions were those of an honest, but enraged gentleman, the heat of the moment. While speaking to Lodovico after the death of Desdemona, he says, "an honorable murderer, if you will; for nought I did in hate but all in honor" (142). I believe many readers would believe Othello would not kill Desdemona unless he was thoroughly convinced she had cheated on him. Othello's conversation with Emilia revealed that Othello honestly believed "Cassio did top her[Desdemona]" (134). Othello also gave Desdemona the option to repent her sins before her death, as he did not want to kill her soul, just her body. His final decision to smother her can be reflected in the fact that he was enraged in the heat of the moment. As they exchange their last words, Desdemona "weep'st" for Cassio to "my [Othello's] face" (131). His hatred of Cassio, rather than his hatred of Desdemona may have been a more significant reason for him to actually begin the smothering. At the time of the smothering, Othello truly believed Desdemona's death was justified. After Othello finds out that Cassio and Desdemona never had sexual relations, he was enraged at Desdemona's unnecessary death as a direct result of Iago's villanious plan. These emotions eventually lead him to stab Iago and kill himself. While some readers may not believe Othello was justified in his actions, at the time of the smothering, Othello did in fact feel justified in his actions.