Character Analysis Of Othello

Our antagonist is an astounding piece of work. He pleads indifference yet he dedicates his entire existence for revenge rather than starting over with a clean slate. In addition, he is self-destructive seeing that he allowed racial hatred to consume him and become his undoing. He invents elaborate lies to be in control yet he claims a reputation for honesty. He is impassive and callous then again he is a married man who presumably once loved his wife. He is not only guarded, preferring hiding his inner self to wearing his heart on his sleeve ‘For daws to peck at’, but he is also ready to retaliate against those who have been given preference over him. For instance, he tarnished Cassio’s reputation simply because he coveted his position as Othello's …show more content…
Indeed, he was adept at manipulating his companions through exploiting their weaknesses. He utilized Cassio's alcohol intolerance to discredit him. Furthermore, he toyed with Roderigo’s insatiable desire for Desdemona claiming that she will eventually tire of Othello so he should be present at Cyprus to captivate her. It is obviously an empty promise but it ensured his cooperation in Cassio’s assassination attempt. His wife, Emilia, is his second pliant puppet. He deprives her of affection and she is the subject of his constant mockery. Despite that, she thirsts for his approval. In fact, she stole her mistress’s handkerchief hoping “to please his fantasy". Last but not least, Othello is the prominent figure on his endless list of victims. He planted the seed of doubt into his mind through his poisonous interpretation of Desdemona’s and Cassio’s innocent behavior. Ultimately, it was the protagonist’s insecurities and ‘free and open nature’ which provided him with the opportunity to twist his love into a destructive …show more content…
Despite his several transgressions, he isn’t the only one responsible for the tragedies within this literary piece. For starters, he didn’t murder anyone. He simply set in motion a chain of events that led to their deaths. Our tragic hero is an eloquent and physically powerful figure, respected by everyone. In spite of his elevated status, he allowed himself to be led astray by him. His trusting nature combined with his jealous, self-doubting personality played an essential role in his downfall. As a matter of fact, his insecurities are so close to the surface that a few words of hint and innuendo can tear the confident exterior and expose his fears, desires, and tendency to violence. Therefore, ‘the tragedy may fairly be said to be Othello’s character in action’. Shakespeare has built the complex character of Iago from an idea already existing in the theatrical culture of his time: the Devil in religious morality plays, which developed into the villain in Elizabethan tragedy. Indeed, if you carefully inspect his characterization, you would immediately notice the resemblance. He is a masterful liar who makes grand promises which he has no intention of keeping. In addition, he tells fancy stories in order to trap people and lead them to their destruction. He sees other's greatest vulnerabilities and uses these to