Othello Character Analysis

Even though Iago did not become lieutenant he still believes he is worth more than what others believe his is. This shows that Iago has a growth mindset and still believe he can be better than Cassio. For example, Carol Dweck states, “When they are not coping with failure, they feel just as worthy and optimistic - and bright and attractive - as people with the growth mindset”(Dweck 53).This shows that Iago is a very determined antagonist in the story and won 't give up until he gets what he feels he deserves. He also proves he has a growth mindset in act one scene one. In act one scene one Iago continues to talk to Roderigo about the lieutenant situation. Iago then states, “O, sir, content you. I follow him to serve my turn upon him. We cannot be truly followed. You shall mark Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave That, doting on his own obsequious bondage, Wears out his time, much like his master’s ass, For naught but provender; and when he’s old, cashiered”(Act one scene one). Iago states that he is only working with Othello to take advantage of him. Iago plans on working under Othello until he is able to use him to become someone far more bigger than he is.

You have told me she hath received them, and returned me expectations and comfort of sudden respect and acquaintance; but I find none” (IV, ii, 186-190). Roderigo started to see that Iago is cheating on him, but Iago is smart enough, and Roderigo is dumb enough for Iago to confuse him. In the second act during the party after the defeat over the Turks, Cassio becomes very drunk and easily taken advantage of. He then runs into the room where everyone is and attacks Roderigo. Montano intervenes and is then wounded by Cassio; Othello is forced to demote Cassio from his position of Lieutenant. With Cassio devastated he asks for advice from Iago, he then informs Cassio the only way to gain his position back is to talk to Desdemona. Cassio then leaves “good night, Honest Iago” (II, iii, 306). Shakespeare put in those two extra words on purpose; he is trying to show how Iago is already able to play with people’s minds and how manipulative he can be. Us, the audience knowing what Iago really wants to do, but Cassio puts trust into Iago with his position and future. The last person to believe Iago is honest and to trust him is Othello. Iago started to tell Othello of how Desdemona might be sleeping with Cassio, and how she is cheating on him. Othello does not believe him as there is no proof, “I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; and on the proof there is no more but this” (III, iii, 190-191). Othello knows

He is clever in his diction to avoid confrontation that can easily erupt. An example of Iago’s manipulation is when he and Roderigo confront Brabanzio about his daughter. Brabanzio does not believe what the two say about Desdemona, calling it ridiculous, and he becomes angry because he has been woken up in the middle of the night. Roderigo immediately starts to explain, which only angers Brabanzio even more. Iago, on the other hand, responds by actually complimenting Brabanzio. Brabanzio yells, “Thou art a villain” to which Iago responds, “You are a senator”. The father is taken aback by this surprising comment and it causes him to step back and re-examine the situation, which eases his anger and causes him to believe the two storytellers, especially when he finds Desdemona missing from her bed chamber

She tells him a flat out lie, but again, with good intentions. Desdemona loves Othello and did not want him to get angry. She thought she had just misplaced the handkerchief, and that she would soon find it, but if she told Othello she had lost it, he would become furious.

Desdemona is considered a sincere, kind, -and above all-, an honest wife and woman in general. She is like a model of the perfect woman of that time. We can find proof in her honesty when she and Emilia are talking about infidelity, and Desdemona's words are "Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong

Regardless of the tender relationship between Othello and Desdemona, Iago uses Roderigo to seep his lies into Brabantio’s mind and furthermore wreaking havoc among him and his impression of Othello. Dissimilar to this, Iago is supportive and social when it comes to being around Othello and the ones who he stabs behind their backs. Additional to the first instance of Iago’s scheming, he also releases his plans to alter Othello’s marriage and by doing so ruining Cassio’s chance of regaining lieutenancy. After the fight between Montano and drunk Cassio, Iago converses briefly with Cassio who eventually leaves Iago alone in the streets. Once he is gone Iago explains: “And out of her own goodness make the net that shall enmesh them all”(2.3.375-80). From this statement it is clear how Iago has no care towards helping Cassio who needs Desdemona to get his position back, and also for innocent Desdemona who will soon be wrongfully accused of Iago’s bluffs. This is obvious since Iago yearns to create a “net” using Desdemona’s simplicity, and more importantly taking control of everyone’s life with it. Unfortunately the ones who are around him fail to recognize his actions, and without knowing are slowly fooled into their own misery which is all part of Iago’s

Iago is not the same when he is with Othello but Iago’s character totally changes when he is not with Othello. When Iago finds out that Othello appointed Cassio as his lieutenant, Iago is extremely envious and he plots a plan against Othello by deceiving the trust that they both carry. “I’ll put this pestilence into his ear.” (II.iii.334). This refers to Iago plotting to say his lies to Othello which demonstrates Iago being overwhelmed by jealousy. Iago puts all the falsehood into the general’s ear which becomes easier for him to do as Othello puts his full trust on the rival. Iago is a harsh and a coldblooded man that wants revenge through his master by plotting an atrocious plan and putting all falsehood into his ear just to obtain the higher position.

Iago is one of the most misunderstood villains in Shakespeare literature. We side with Othello from the start because his name is on the cover of our paperback, we read Othello when learning about heroes, so we expect Iago to be a villain, a ruthless manipulator. We don’t know why, he doesn’t state it plainly or in simple English, so we assume that he’s evil, that he’s just a disgruntled sociopath out to exact his exaggerated revenge on good and noble Othello. Iago’s misunderstood reputation is a result of not truly examining his character, and answering the “why” factor behind his actions. After all, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. His goal in the play was not just to destroy Othello for the fun of it. His objective,

Othello, not knowing that Cassio was in fact speaking with Desdemona in hopes of being reinstated as Lieutenant, mistakenly believes that the two are having an affair and that Desdemona has lost her chastity. Iago skillfully capitalizes on the situation by developing his attack further: "She did deceive her father, marrying you" (3.3.220). Othello begins to see Iago's reasoning: if she could deceive her father, she could just as easily deceive her new husband. Once Othello's bliss has been decimated, Iago concentrates on weakening Othello's perception of himself; Iago very carefully and very tactfully chooses words and metaphors that subconsciously pit Othello against the Venetians. Othello begins to perceive himself as an outsider in his own country, "a malignant and turbaned Turk" (5.2.365). A fruitful marriage with a Venetian woman becomes out of the question in Othello's mind. Iago's successful manipulation takes a self-confidant man and reduces him to one at ends with himself and with the woman he loved.

Desdemona's reported sympathy and interest for Othello's tales of bravery paint a picture of an ordinary, kind young woman. When she is summoned to support Othello's story, she realises that her loyalties are divided. Her consideration for her father's anger is shown by the way she asks not to live with him. Her reasoning is that he would then not be angered by her presence.

"For whiles this honest fool (Cassio) Plies for Desdemona to repair his fortune, And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor, I'll pour this pestilence into his ear: That she repeals him for her body's lust; And by how much she strives to do him good, She shall undo her credit with the Moor. So will I turn her virtue into pitch, And out of her own goodness make the net That shall enmesh them all." Othello Act II. iii. 373-382.

Cassio, upon not being notified of any change in his fired status, returns to ply Desdemona with a second request for her intercession with the Moor. And indeed she in her goodness pursues this until her dying day. Meanwhile, Iago plants the stolen kerchief in Cassio’s room, and he innocently bestows it upon Bianca, a prostitute who wishes to marry him. Cassio’s innocent act, plus the ancient’s pathological stream of lies regarding Cassio and Desdemona, unhinge Othello emotionally so that he seeks the death of his wife and former officer.

In her final moments, Desdemona chooses not to blame Othello for her death because she saw that the honor of their love was more important than honesty. After Othello was convinced that Desdemona was cheating on him, Othello had started to show his disappointment with her. He had even gone as far as hitting her (4.1 134). Despite this, Desdemona continued to stay true to Othello. Othello, though, decides to kill her. Desdemona senses a change in Othello and she has a feeling that she will die soon due to the hands of Othello. This does not stop her, though, from continuing to care for Othello. Even when Desdemona was found after Othello strangles her, she still believed that her death was not the fault of Othello. Emilia comes into the couple’s bedroom after Othello smothers Desdemona, but hears Desdemona cry out. Seeing her dying, Emilia asks who would do this. Desdemona replies that it was her fault: “Nobody – I myself. Farewell / Commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell!” (5. 2. 125-126). Not only does she try to protect Othello’s reputation by blaming herself, Desdemona tells Emilia to remind Othello about her showing that she stills respects Othello. By trying to hide the fact that Othello had murdered her, Desdemona has chosen to put the honor of their love above honesty.

Iago’s story of Desdemona and Cassio has the power to turn a man in love into a man full of hatred. Othello’s attitude, during the first discussion with Iago, is one of clear denial. He claims that he would simply "whistle her off, and let her down the wind", or divorce her in other words (Vanita 3). As time goes on, the accusations that Iago has made, against Cassio and Desdemona, begins to churn in Othello’s mind. He tries hard to forget the claims but when Iago offers him proof, he begins to break down and cries out "I’ll tear her to pieces" (Oth. 3.3.631). One would normally ignore this remark, assuming that he was simply speaking in anger, if it were not for his call for "revenge" shortly after (Oth. 3.3.631). The true evil in Othello begins to show when he commands Iago to kill Cassio by saying "Within these three days let me hear thee say / That Cassio’s not alive" (Oth. 3.3.632). What makes this directive so evil is that Othello has not yet seen any proof. He has only heard the accusations from one person (Iago), and yet he

Iago is angry that Othello promoted Cassio instead of him because he believes he is better suited for the position. He says that “nothing can or shall content my soul till I am evened with him” (2.1320-321), implying that Iago will stop at nothing to get revenge on Othello. Iago wants Othello to “thank [him], love [him], and reward [him], for making him egregiously an ass” (2.1.330-331) as a result of his revenge. This also shows how self-centered Iago is as he wants Othello to treat him as if he is higher in rank than him. In Iago’s plan to seek revenge on Othello, he plans to “undo [Desdemona's] credit with the Moor”(2.3.379), implying that he plans to manipulate Desdemona into not being faithful towards her husband Othello.