ENG 211 Othello Character Analysis PDF

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Roberta N. SaintLouis

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Professor L. Kuziw English 211 25 April 2013 Character Analaysis of Othello, The Moor In the play The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice the protagonist Othello, begins the play as a confident, reassuring, romantic, nonviolent general of Venice. Also who happens to be a respected war hero who happens to find love in a foreign place. Despite differences in many factors such as race, age, social status, and origin, Othello and Desdemona attempt to pursue a life together. A marriage which is considered “unnatural” due to the circumstances of the two lovers. A life that eventually gets sabotaged due to Othello’s flaws, as well as the antagonist Iago (Othello’s ancient), manipulation of The Moor and the other characters in this remarkable tragedy. Although Othello is respected and have gain the trust of many people in Venice because of his reputation, it does not make other characters color blind: they still perceive him as a black outsider from a foreign place, which evidently contributes to his demise in this tragedy. One of the hero’s flaws was assuming that he was accepted fully in the Venetian society. At this point in the play in Act I, Scene II, Iago after conjuring up a plan with Roderigo, an rich gullible henchmen to convince Brabantio (Desdemona’s father) that his daughter has been stolen away from him, Iago decides to warn Othello that Brabantio seeks him. As Othello states his first words of the play, he’s seen as this confident, nonviolent, secure, individual whose presence can out shine anyone else’s

SaintLouis 2 reputation or status in a room. He remains calm, humble, and collective and responds to Iago with these words: Let him do his spite; My services which I have done the signiory Shall out-tongue his complaints. 'Tis yet to know,— At this point you see how well secure Othello remains to be, very confident that he has done no harm to anyone. Not bothered by the fact that Brabantio seeks him. He sees there isn’t any harm in marrying the person that you love, and remains in a humble manner. He is well aware that everyone is aware of his role as general, as well as what he’s done for Venice. Also hinting out that he considers himself accepted in Venice because of the duties he’s performed during combat. This contributes to the “harmatia,” of the play. Being quite confident that his environment accepts him regardless of his race, and foreign origin because he is considered a hero. This also leaves Othello to become vulnerable, and unable to defend himself against the racist comments made about him, and without his presence. In several lines later Othello states, “Not I; I must be found/ My parts, my title and my perfect soul/ Shall manifest me rightly” (I. ii. 30-32). Othello knows he is a good person, and have done no wrong. The couple of words first stated by Othello illustrate his character as a self confident, reassuring, nonviolent individual. The famous critic, A.C Bradley states his view of Othello: “So he comes before us, dark and grand, with a light upon him from the sun where he was born; but no longer young, and now grave, self-controlled, steeled by the experience of countless perils, hardships and vicissitudes, at once simple and stately in bearing and in speech, a great

SaintLouis 3 man naturally modest but fully conscious of his worth, proud of his services to the state, unawed by dignitaries and unelated by honours, secure, it would seem, against all dangers from without and all rebellion from within. And he comes to have his life crowned with the final glory of love, a love as strange, adventurous and romantic as any passage of his eventful history (Shakespearean Tragedy). . .” Othello wears his personality on his sleeve. His pride of being a war hero is seen through his character. His public affection towards Desdemona is for the world to see. “And this, and this the greatest discords to be/ That e’er our hearts shall make” (II.i.191-192). As well as his love for her, foreshadows and contributes to the events that will eventually unfold. Besides Othello’s love for Desdemona, as well as him assuming that he is accepted in a foreign place, another flaw of his that contributed to his destruction was him being too trust worthy of Iago. On the contrary, although Iago had a reputation throughout Venice of being an “honest fellow,” Othello should have questioned his motives. Wondered why he going so much out of his way to prove adultery. One would wonder why didn’t the Moor simply just asked his wife, if she has been committing adultery. Iago realizes that Desdemona holds the key to his heart and use that as a way to destroy the respected hero of Venice. He uses Desdemona, as well as Michael Cassio (knowing that he is a flirtatious) as pawns to manipulate the Moor into thinking that they’re together. As well as preying on Othello’s love for Desdemona, and twisting it into a destructive, powerful jealousy. The most vital trait that everyone has installed in Iago, as well as repeated throughout the play is “trust.” Unlike Iago, Othello values time. He uses words such as “never,” “forever,” and “now.” He seems to live in the moment.

SaintLouis 4 Especially seen in Act I and Act II, when he speaks of Desdemona as well as when he is conversation with her. Derek Traversi states “" This precious moment of happiness will never find its fellow, for the temporal process is . . . one of dissolution and decay, only death can come between this temporary communion and its eclipse; but death, of course, implies the annihilation of personality and the end of love." As Acts and Scenes go by, Othello becomes more infuriated with Desdemona, and her way of acting “innocent.” He decides to kill her in order to forgive her and feels the need to do so, so she will not have the opportunity to cheat on men that would “supposedly” come after him. Iago has manipulated Othello so well, that strategic General of Venice didn’t seem to notice until it was too late. Othello’s love for Desdemona was one of the main keys to his downfall. As well as him being too trustworthy of Iago, and never questioning his motives, sources, of voice of reason. Iago manipulated him to the point where Othello reveals insecurities of himself, which the audience was not aware of, or knew, even existed. Iago played with Othello’s sight, making him see things that truly did not exist. In this tragedy, we see how love does not triumph over evil. Which without a doubt, causes this play to become a tragedy and not a happy ending.

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Works Cited

Bradley, A. C. Shakespearean Tragedy: Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth. 2nd ed. London: Macmillan, 1905. Wells, Orson. Shakespeare Survery, Volume 39. New York: Cambridge University Press. 1986....