Othello Character Essay

Othello Character Essay In the make up, Othello, by William Shakespeare, Othello is a general in the Venetian army, who also happens to be black and of Muslim descent, although he is a converted Christian. From the beginning of the tender, Othello is victimized and characterized as an outcast in Venetian society. Throughout the play, Othello is ill-use and betrayed, despite his vast amount of love and trust for his friends or supposed friends. Othello is obviously the most repeatedly and most brutally victimized in the play by Iago, among others.Right from the first scene of the play he is not given the dignity of a name, rather called by racial slurs such as The Moor (1. i. 63), The Thick Lips (1. i. 72) Black Ram (1. i. 97) and a Barbary Horse (1. i. 125). These blatantly disrespectful terms are used by both Roderigo and Iago, who is considered one of Othellos close acquaintances. This shows the obvious lack of honor and respect shown by his so-called friends. Another example of Iagos and others mistreatment of Othello comes in Act 2 Scene 3 between lines 235 to 261 where Iago lie downs straight to Othellos face about what had transpired.This shows that Iago can and will completely disregard Othellos superiority and honesty and lie about what had happened and about his direct involvement in the fight. This leads to another example of Iagos disregard for Othellos authority and lack of trust in Othellos decisionmaking as he tries to get Cassio to lose his lieutenancy. Another example of Iago victimizing Othello occurs in the very beginning of The Temptation Scene, Act 3, Scene 3. It happens in lines 40-47. Iago subtly plants a seed of doubt in Othellos mind about Desdemona and Cassios relationship, and Cassios attitude towards Othello.This is a very interesting part of the play because it is one of Iagos most obvious observations intended to prod Othellos jealousy. It also shows his ability to intentionally take advantage of his friends weaknesses, in this instance, Othellos ambiguous trust in Iagos word and his jealousy surrounding Desdemona. A different example of Othellos misguided jealousy and mistrust, placed in his psyche by Iago is the majority of Act 3, Scene 4, wherein Othello pressures Desdemona about his handkerchief.This is important because Desdemona unknowingly played right into Iagos plan by semi-ignoring Othellos unrest to movement to talk to him about Cassio, which angers Othello even more and adds to the envious thoughts already brewing in his head. All of these examples are instances of Iagos ability to play on Othellos emotions and feelings, leading to Othello becoming blinded by his own jealousy and rage. Othello is easily the most victimized in the play, tricked and beguiled away from his true thoughts by Iagos lies and deception.