Othello Essay, Research Paper

Othello’s character during the play is first shown as a hero

of war and a man of great pride and courage. The other main

characters in the play all form their own opinions of him and as the

play continues, his character begins to deteriorate and become less

noble. Chronologically through the play Othello’s character changes

from a flawless military leader, to become a murderer. Also as the

play progresses, the other characters in the play change their

opinions of Othello which causes the plot to happen the way it did.

Throughout the first act of the play, Othello was shown as

many different characters depending on who was speaking. Iago

complains of Othello’s pride and “bombast circumstance” and is angered

by the appointment of Cassio, and educated military theoretician of

Florence to lieutenant, instead of himself. Although he knows Othello

is a proud man, his open and trusting nature in the beginning of the

play will be eroded by the conclusion of the plot. As Iago is

speaking to Brabantio about Othello, he uses the term “white ewe” to

represent Desdemona, and “black ram” when referring to Othello. By

using these terms, it shows that he is trying to give a bad impression

of Othello when he is speaking to the royal family in Venice, because

Othello is a Moor or a Negro. Iago shows his black hatred for the

Moor, and his jealousy of Cassio in his first soliloquy and also

reveals his evil intentions. As the act continues and Othello is

being searched for by a group of people, Iago attempts to incite

Othello into anger against Brabantio, but Othello does not take the

bait. He feels that he (Brabantio) may do his worst because Othello

is assured that his military services to the government will outweigh

Brabantio’s complaints of him marrying Desdemona. These answers to

Iago’s persistence show that he is still a character of calmness and

dignity, and he still has the self-assurance suitable to command

armies of men.

When Othello is found by Cassio, he seems to be relieved

because he does not like personal conflict, which would have occurred

if Brabantio had found him instead. After he is found, Othello is

taken to Brabantio where he is interrogated on how he possessed

Desdemona enough in order to make her run off with him. Brabantio

damns Othello and calls him an enchanter, saying that the “tender,

fair, and happy” Desdemona was too shy of marriage, which is why she

shunned all of the suitors sent to her. This entire scene helps to

establish Othello as an alert and composed leader. Later in this act,

Othello offers to explain how he won Desdemona. He chooses not to

contradict or deny that he has used “magic” but when the true meaning

of the “magic” comes to light it is shown that he used the magic of

love and not a conjured magic. Iago also suspects Othello of having

some kind of relationship with his own wife, although he doesn’t know

or even seem to care whether or not his suspicions have any foundation

at all. Again, according to Iago, Othello is an “ass” because he has

a “free and open nature.” This act works as an introduction to the

Othello character and shows how other characters react to his presence

in different ways.

The remaining acts of the play continue to show how the

characters react to Othello’s lifestyle changes. Even though he must

rid Cassio of his lieutenant responsibilities forever, Othello

explains how he still loves him. If it were up to him Othello would

have reinstated Cassio at the first opportunity, but this would be bad

political practice. He wishes to appease Desdemona by doing this but

he realizes that he can’t. These practices show that he is a good

governor and does not wish to arouse hostilities in the city, with an

untimely pardon of Cassio. Desdemona tells Emilia that Othello is not

the jealous type, which Othello believes to be true himself. However,

as the play progresses through Act 3, Othello talks to Iago telling

him that their prior conversation gave him reason to suspect

Desdemona’s motives. As a reader, you can see that Othello’s capacity

for judgement has deteriorated up to this point, not only is his state

of mind changing due to Iago’s constant prodding, but his morals have

also deteriorated along with his character.

As the play winds to a close, the characters continue to show

their own opinions on Othello. Many of the characters have changed

their initial opinions because of Othello’s obvious attitude change,

but Iago is one of the only characters that has kept the same

mindscape, besides Desdemona. Othello continues to disrespect

Desdemona by acting as if she was a prostitute, Emilia was her owner,

and he was a visiting buyer. This is blatant disrespect for his wife

but she does not sway her love and devotion from him. She does

however feel that she is at the lowest point she could possibly be at

and the only way to go is up, because her lover has turned into a

“beast.” The last act of the play allows the characters to express

their last views of Othello, and how he has affected them. The night

where he plans on killing Desdemona is an important scene because he

is still knowing enough to ask if she has prayed to allow her to have

a clean soul when she dies. After hearing this question, she realizes

what he is about to do and pleads with him asking why he is doing it.

Desdemona always had faith in her husband until the bitter end and

this gave no help to her life. She died because Othello was a pawn in

Iago’s game, and she had nothing to do with it.

The conclusion of the play signifies the end of the

frustration for many characters. Each of them has a different view of

Othello’s character and through the duration of the play, many of

these ideas change, however Iago and Desdemona are the only main

characters that do not change. They continue to have the same outlook

upon Othello’s unchanging character changes. Each character looks

upon Othello in his/her own way and that is how much of the plot

unravels as the play moves on.

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