Othello Mini Essay

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St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School Othello Mini-Essay Aneela Chaudhry ENG3U-02 Victoria Bazely Tuesday, July 20, 2021

In William Shakespeare’s play Othello, the depiction of Othello’s character drastically evolves through the course of the story. He was first a noble and honourable character who was later overcome by his insecurities which fueled him into making terrible decisions. Othello was a confident and well-spoken individual who was deeply in love with his wife, Desdemona. He was also an honest man and often innocent in judgement. Othello was portrayed as a calm, collected, rational being at the start of the play, which was demonstrated when he encountered his father in law and treated him respectfully despite Brabanito’s accusations and insults. His confidence was exemplified when he said, “Let him do his spite. / My services which I have done the Signiory / Shall out-tongue his complaints.” (1.2. 18-20). Othello was confident that his abilities would outshine any ill words that he could face. Moreover, Othello basked in the post-marriage bliss that he felt with his wife, Desdemona. This is portrayed when he said, “If it were now to die, / ‘Twere now to be most happy, for I fear / My soul hath her content so absolute, / That not another comfort, like to this absolute, / That not another comfort, like to this / Succeeds in unknown fate” (2.1. 190-194). He was happy and satisfied with his matrimony with the woman of his heart. Othello’s trust in Iago was misplaced as he believed that Iago was a good and honest man. This resulted with Othello foolishly inserting his faith unknowingly as he stated Iago had his best interests at heart. Othello’s opinion on Iago was demonstrated in this simple quote, “I know, Iago / Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter.” (2.3. 209-210). The depiction of Othello’s personality changed throughout the play; he transformed from a loving husband to someone who became suspicious of his wife. He was no longer that good

person he was before. Instead, he was ruled by anger and jealousy, and it was his insecurities and naivety that were vital factors in the transformation of his behaviour. Despite Othello’s love for his wife, he was insecure about himself because of his old age and the colour of his skin, this was illustrated when he stated, “Haply, for I am black / And have not those soft parts of conversation / That chambers have, or for I am declined / Into the vale of years,--yet that’s not much-- / She’s gone” (3.3. 263-267). Othello verbally explains his insecurities which Iago takes into account when planning his schemes. Iago took advantage of this weakness and preyed on Othello’s mind by persuading him that Desdemona was having an affair with his lieutenant Cassio. This was plausible enough as Cassio was a young man with a charismatic nature, and his good looks only added to the misguided idea that he and Desdemona were having an affair. Othello’s out of control behaviour can be demonstrated when he slapped his wife in public and when he consistently insulted his wife, calling her a “whore”. Othello allowed his emotions to bubble up and take control of him, and this was evident when he thought about killing his wife and lieutenant in cold blood. He not only thinks about killing his wife, whom he loved so dearly but goes through with the plan even though he claimed that it pained him. This was illustrated when it is narrated, “Ay, let her rot and perish, and be damned tonight, for she shall not live. No, my heart is turned to stone: I strike it and it hurts my hand.” (4.1. 201-203). This shows the extent to Othello's change as he turns from someone soft hearted to a man as hard as stone. In the end, after Iago had been outed and Othello realized the truth, he was pained that he murdered his innocent wife and acknowledged that he had bad judgement and a weak mind. Othello knows that he had changed from the good and honest man he once was into something twisted and cruel; he stated all this in a long last speech in the play. Before he killed himself, he admitted that he was not wise in believing Iago and said that he was “One who loved not too wisely, but too

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