How overpowering can human weaknesses become? Are they powerful enough to be responsible for death? Are they innate or are they due to a lack of self-control? Shakespeare explores all of these questions through the two main characters in Othello. He most prominently explores weaknesses through Othello and his shift from dignified to disgraced and ruined. In addition to Othello, Shakespeare creates Iago to show what can come of a person overcome by their flaws. The controversy of the beginnings and roots of their faults is also vastly explored. By the end of the play, readers learn through Othello and Iago the detrimental effects of human weaknesses.
Iago is undoubtedly the most malicious character in Othello, yet the reasons behind his evil …show more content…
At the beginning of the play, Shakespeare introduces Othello to the readers first through Iago and Roderigo describing him as a “lascivious Moor” (I.i.15). These words embody the stereotypes of a Moor in Shakespearian time. The people saw blacks as beast-like, inhumane, and jealous. After Othello is introduced readers get the first impression of who he is. He takes on the very delicate situation with the Duke and Brabantio with a high-held and level head. This displays that even when faced with a difficult situation involving very important, highly-ranked men, he was able to keep his calm disposition. However, later on in the play readers see that he is no longer able to remain level-headed, which makes readers ask why. Can his jealousy be pin-pointed to a certain time in the play? Or has it been inside of him the whole …show more content…
Iago is easily able to get under Othello’s skin thanks to his uncanny ability to mimic real emotion and empathy for Othello. Iago is known to the other characters as “Honest Iago”, which also contributes to how blinded Othello was. He believed Iago to be a man of his word. He is unable to distinguish what’s actually occurring because his head is so clouded with Iago’s enticing words that seem too plausible to be made up. Othello doesn’t stop for a second to consider whether or not Iago’s words are true. For someone who took his “life upon her faith”, he actually has very little faith in Desdemona’s fidelity (I.iii.355). This lack of faith can be attributed to a variety of reasons. One being a reason Othello brings up himself. Othello explains his emotions to Iago about how he feels he is not on the same level as Desdemona. He thinks she is skilled in many different ways, but he is not and he has a lack of outstanding qualities. He undoubtedly knew what everyone else thought of his marriage, which deep down takes a toll on him. He knows people are astonished that a fair, young, high-ranked Venetian woman, such as Desdemona, would marry the older, black Othello. Othello is very aware that Cassio is good looking and flirty. It is also not hard for him to believe that Cassio could be Desdemona’s lover, especially because he already has
Iago is undoubtedly the most malicious character in Othello, yet the reasons behind his evil …show more content…
At the beginning of the play, Shakespeare introduces Othello to the readers first through Iago and Roderigo describing him as a “lascivious Moor” (I.i.15). These words embody the stereotypes of a Moor in Shakespearian time. The people saw blacks as beast-like, inhumane, and jealous. After Othello is introduced readers get the first impression of who he is. He takes on the very delicate situation with the Duke and Brabantio with a high-held and level head. This displays that even when faced with a difficult situation involving very important, highly-ranked men, he was able to keep his calm disposition. However, later on in the play readers see that he is no longer able to remain level-headed, which makes readers ask why. Can his jealousy be pin-pointed to a certain time in the play? Or has it been inside of him the whole …show more content…
Iago is easily able to get under Othello’s skin thanks to his uncanny ability to mimic real emotion and empathy for Othello. Iago is known to the other characters as “Honest Iago”, which also contributes to how blinded Othello was. He believed Iago to be a man of his word. He is unable to distinguish what’s actually occurring because his head is so clouded with Iago’s enticing words that seem too plausible to be made up. Othello doesn’t stop for a second to consider whether or not Iago’s words are true. For someone who took his “life upon her faith”, he actually has very little faith in Desdemona’s fidelity (I.iii.355). This lack of faith can be attributed to a variety of reasons. One being a reason Othello brings up himself. Othello explains his emotions to Iago about how he feels he is not on the same level as Desdemona. He thinks she is skilled in many different ways, but he is not and he has a lack of outstanding qualities. He undoubtedly knew what everyone else thought of his marriage, which deep down takes a toll on him. He knows people are astonished that a fair, young, high-ranked Venetian woman, such as Desdemona, would marry the older, black Othello. Othello is very aware that Cassio is good looking and flirty. It is also not hard for him to believe that Cassio could be Desdemona’s lover, especially because he already has