Personal Circumstance In Shakespeare's Othello

Improved Essays
Every animal found on our planet reacts when they are faced circumstances that affect them in some way. Predators will stalk their prey in order to feed their hunger. Prey will try to survive from their predators by running and hiding. Both predators and prey respond to their own circumstances in order to survive. Likewise humans also react to their personal circumstances. One could be facing debt because they have just bought a new home. He will react in a way that will satisfy the conflict by working harder at his job. This way he will be able to pay back the bank and resolve the situation. Not everyone will react the same to their circumstances. Each and every person will acknowledge their personal conditions differently. Maybe similar, …show more content…
He had a beautiful, loving wife, he was a commander of a great army and he had friends whom he could trust. Or so he thought. In the third act of the play, Iago’s plan had begun to kick off. He slowly began to plant the idea in Othello’s head that his wife was having an affair with Cassio. At first when faced with this circumstance, Othello denied that such a thing were true by saying, “No, not much moved. I do not think but Desdemona’s honest” (3.3.117-151). Othello doesn’t think much about what he was told. However he begins to think about it more and more, making him not at ease. Because of this situation, Othello confronts Iago angrily mentioning that if Iago were lying he would have him killed. He also requested that he wanted proof of such accusations. This is Othello’s way of trying to solve the circumstance he has been faced with. He let false allegations get into his head and now he is trying to deny it by threatening his friend. Iago then swore to Othello saying that he wouldn’t dare lie to him. He continued to make claims that Desdemona was cheating on Othello. Othello also witnesses what he thinks is Iago and Cassio talking about Desdemona. To top it all off, he notices that Cassio had given Desdemona’s handkerchief to the island prostitute Bianca. Given the infuriating circumstance, Othello decided that action needed to done in order to solve his inner conflict. A rumor can go a long ways, far enough to ruin a man 's trust

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    When Iago first tells his lies about Desdemona cheating Othello, Othello opposed Iago's accusations. At this point he still loves Desdemona and chooses to believe her instead of the deceitful soldier Iago. " By the world, I think my wife be honest and think she is not. I think thou art just and thou art not . I'll have some proof. "…

    • 1421 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Iago's Reverse Psychology

    • 1329 Words
    • 6 Pages

    he tells Othello enough truth to hide the lies and then walks his words back, “I am to pray you not to strain my speech / To grosser issues nor to larger reach / Than to suspicion” (Act 3 Scene 3). Iago suggests Othello not take his words more seriously than they ought to be taken, but this seemingly humble demeanor leads Othello to do the opposite, believe the…

    • 1329 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    I hope you will consider what is spoke/ comes from my love” (III.iii.220-222). The use of Ethos and his language is able to make Othello believe that Iago is doing this only for his love for him and his trust, which makes Othello believe that Desdemona is cheating on him without any doubt he is lying. Othello’s mind is already convinced that Desdemona is unfaithful to him because Iago uses Othello’s weakness of trusting people to his advantage. Iago is able to build his reputation as an honest person so well he can make Othello believe in anything he says.…

    • 827 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Iago questions Othello about Cassio’s nature (III. ii.). Othello grows vary of Desdemona’s character. Iago plants seeds of hatred in Othello’s heart for Desdemona. This leads to his impulsive actions. Othello refers to Iago as ‘honest’ countless times throughout the play and trusts Iago.…

    • 1109 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    A “tragic flaw” represents a shortcoming or defect in a character that ultimately leads to the destruction and downfall of themselves or those around them (Anand, 76). In an instant, a character can be taken from their peak to their lowest low. A character can also possess a flaw in which another may exploit and manipulate; such is the case in Shakespeare’s Othello. In Othello, the primary villain and character who drives the plot forward due to his skillful and ingenuous manipulation is Iago, who tears apart the marriage of Othello and his wife Desdemona. Iago, however, is simply a catalyst for their marriage to turn sour.…

    • 1407 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    From declaring their undying love in court to murder after a second trial a few short days later, Desdemona and Othello are redefining love and how quickly it can change. Through two different trial scenes, Shakespeare’s Othello demonstrates the changes in Othello and Desdemona’s love by employing the shifts in who portrays the judge, the reason for each trial, and even though the situations have greatly changed what the similarities are between each trial. Because the judge of a trial or court case should have an open mind and not be personally involved in the case, the Duke is the ideal judge during the first trial scene. During the first trial Desdemona and Othello must declare their love for each other in front of the Duke and Desdemona’s…

    • 958 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The tragedy of Othello was highly influenced by Iago’s manipulation of perception. This was illustrated, when Iago exploited Rodrigo’s unrealistic and self-serving love for Desdemona. Also, including when Iago willfully misled Cassio’s judgement by utilizing his fixation with class. And notably demonstrated, with Iago as he precisely disoriented Othello’s reassurance in his wife, Desdemona’s faithfulness. Othello was fused to the idea of an uncertain reality that was deliberately deceived by Iago.…

    • 1007 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Iago continues to play mind game with Othello by making him doubt Desdemona's innocence, "Look at your wife; observe her well…

    • 2395 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Machiavelli’s Prince seeks to recruit and educate a ruler in the art of ruling. His ideal rulers are founders, men who created a fatherland and were not afraid to sacrifice lives and their self-interests for the common good. Machiavelli stresses that a ruler needs to appear virtuous while using vices when necessary to achieve positive results. Machiavelli teaches the ruler to divide his self. “It is essential, therefore, for a Prince […] to have learned how to be other than good, and to use or not use his goodness as necessity requires” (Machiavelli, 40).…

    • 1300 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Shakespeare uses sticks and stones to break his characters bones, but his use of language sometimes proves to be more deadly. Quite a far cry from the modern day action movies and dramas where gunfire often lasts longer than the human dialogue; deception and manipulation often play a greater role in his works than knives or swords. The plays, Much Ado About Nothing and Othello, are similar in that a villain uses speech to mislead unsuspecting individuals to their doom rather than directly harm them and an innocent woman is falsely accused, but they differ in conclusion. Firstly, and most obviously, Much Ado About Nothing and Othello are similar in that a sharp, self-aware villains that only differ from each other in ability and strategic intelligence (Fleury).…

    • 648 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Othello, by William Shakespeare, Othello is swift to change his opinion about Desdemona when fed lies by Iago, a man who Othello respects and trusts. When Iago and Othello see Desdemona chatting with Cassio, Iago begins to raise concern to the two conversing. Othello realizes that Iago is hiding something from him. Othello admires Iago’s honesty, so he becomes concerned from Iago’s disapproval. Iago warns Othello to, “Watch your wife; observe her carefully when she’s with Cassio, just keep your eyes open…”(3.3.221-222).…

    • 1533 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    But I do see you’re moved. I am to pray you not to strain my speech to grosser issues nor to larger reach than to suspicion” (3.3. 215-220). In this passage, Iago is pretending to regret revealing his suspicions regarding Desdemona and Cassio’s relationship to Othello when he appears to be upset by the news. However, it is clear that he is intending to hurt Othello indirectly by making him think that Desdemona is cheating on him. Therefore, Iago is undoubtedly a master of deception and manipulation, which are…

    • 1695 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Othello may be a hero but he gets fooled like a villain. In Othello, Othello is what you would call a "tragic hero. " What I mean by that is he may be seen as something that brings hope and goodness but his challenges and his own jealousy bring him at his fall. One of his many challenges is not something but someone. The one and only manipulative Iago.…

    • 553 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Othello, Shakespeare introduces two female characters, Desdemona and Emilia to the audience. First, Desdemona is an inspiring character for women. Second, Emilia is most practical example of how women act. Lastly, Desdemona and Emilia are similar to each other. Desdemona is a good example of an inspiring character, while Emilia is a good example of a practical character in many ways.…

    • 508 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Iago sets up a talk with Cassio in front of Othello to talk about Bianca, but make it as if they are talking about Desdemona. Bianca later on walks in setting up Iago’s plan further by questioning Cassio about Desdemona’s handkerchief. Iago’s quick thinking leads him to be one step ahead to manipulate and plot schemes so, upon hearing this Iago tells Othello “Yours, by his hand. And to see how he prizes the foolish woman your wife; she gave it to him, and he hath given it his whore” (4.1.171-173). Iago is exploiting Othello and Desdemona’s relationship, while playing on Othello’s fears and composing a web of lies.…

    • 1005 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays