Othello’s ill-perceived image of himself stems from his status as an outsider from the perspective of the Venetian community. Othello’s origin is far inferior to Desdemona’s. Whereas Desdemona is a noble Venetian, Othello is “sold to slavery” (I.iii.141) and eventually rises through the ranks of the military despite being a Moor. When a human being is subjected to a hard life and is rejected by society their unconscious mind is “motivated, even driven, by desires, fears, needs, and conflicts of which they are unaware” (Tyson 14-15). Othello perceives himself to be a well respected general but his repressed fear of rejection causes him to protect his pride incessantly. “His marriage to Desdemona symbolizes his entry into the highest level of
