The play’s protagonist and hero. Othello is the highly respected general of the armies of Venice, although he is not a native of Venice but rather a Moor, or North African. He is an eloquent and powerful figure, Othello shows to be a fearless soldier and general. and has been in the army for many years. He is used to the work of military life. Making hard decisions fast and precisely is a valiant trait possessed by this noble character who gives his all to any task. His leadership ability is so admired by the Venetian state that he is appointed general of Cyprus when it is under threat of invasion by the Turks – an achievement when one considers that he is Moorish and not Venetian. Othello has also fought in several wars in various parts of the world, and most of the high politicians recognize his abilities including his closest worker, Iago.
Brabantio also admired Othello greatly and this is what prompts him to invite Othello to his home so that he can listen to stories of his adventures in different parts of the world. Desdemona, daughter to senator Brabantio has spurned the advances of eligible young Venetian men, but is captivated by Othello chiefly because of his harsh experiences. We first come
…show more content…
At the beginning he remains at a distance from much of the action that concerns and affects him. Othello not speaking up on things concerning him shows that he is afraid to speak up for himself and worried about what others think. When Othello comes back from Cyprus he stands apart from Cassio, Iago, and Desdemona’s discussion. Othello not including himself in the discussion shows that he doesn’t feel comfortable around the others because he is so insecure about the differences between them. Othello goes off and secretly marries Desdemona at the beginning of the play. Othello secretly marries Desdemona without telling anyone because he is afraid of the reactions he might get from the
Othello’s skill at being a soldier and his background as a mercenary leads him to becoming a general for the Venice military and a greatly admired leader of the city. In the play, when Othello and Brabantio ran into the Duke’s chamber, the Duke ecstatically told Othello,"Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you against the general enemy Ottoman (I.iii 50-51)," showing how much the Duke appreciates Othello’s bravery to send him on another mission. Also, the Duke gave Othello the job to defend Cyprus from the turkish fleet because he felt like Othello was the right person for that job. For this, the Duke
Othello’s jealousy, like Iago’s determination, results in his own downfall. For most of the play Othello appears to be an extremely well composed general who remains calm in the face of disaster. However once Iago confides in Othello that he believes Desdemona is cheating on him, Othello transforms into an entirely different person. Believing her to be unfaithful, Othello heartlessly suffocates Desdemona in her bed despite her denying being involved in any affair up until her final breath. Othello’s jealousy causes him to jump to conclusions and not doing his due diligence in investigating Desdemona’s possible infidelity himself.
In fact, it is these precise attributes that have allowed him to ascend to his current top-ranking role in the Venetian army and respected position in Venetian society, in spite of his ethnicity. Yet, as Othello is ready to assume the worst of himself at every turn, placing Iago in a in a state of utmost power over Othello, in a cruelly ironic twist it is also these precise attributes that are slowly warped and exaggerated to become his foremost deficiencies. Take, for instance, Othello’s sincere nature. As a soldier, Othello is conditioned to retain the utmost faith in his comrades’ truthfulness and expect the same in return. This trait is most clearly seen in Othello’s frequent referrals to Iago as “honest.”
Othello’s Demise Othello, the lead character in William Shakespeare’s play Othello, is done in by the same character attributes, which propelled him to become a great military leader. He has accomplished great victories in battle to the likes, of no others. He is held in high regard throughout the nations as one of the greatest military leaders and is called upon to fight in the most challenging battles successfully. There is no deterrence, by Othello even though his is not of the same race or from the same country, whom he defends.
Othello is one of William Shakespeare’s classic plays which centres on two main characters, the villainous and manipulative Iago, and the powerful yet insecure Othello. Throughout the play, it is Iago’s goal to ruin Othello’s life which turns in to a constant battle for him. In the play, Othello is blinded by the manipulation of Iago, thus showing Othello’s jealousy and Iago’s manipulation, then causing him to commit a series of wrong acts. It is evident that throughout the play Iago uses his persuasive powers and figurative language to effect Othello’s mood and personality. It all started when Iago was hopeful to get the title of Lieutenant from Othello, who he graciously looked up to.
Desdemona is a white, Venetian debutante that chooses to marry a black man, a Moor, over the wishes of her father. At the beginning of the play, merely six hours after being married, Desdemona’s father attempts to stop her from accompanying Othello on military duty. He relents when Desdemona pledges her allegiance to Othello by telling her father, “But here’s my husband, And so much duty as my mother showed to you, preferring you before her father, so much I challenge that I may profess due to the Moor my Lord”
First of all, the character Othello’s love for his wife Desdemona is soiled by Iago putting false images into Othello’s head that his wife is being unfaithful to him which ultimately leads him to kill his own wife because of his vulnerability and insecurity towards the pure love he had for her. Othello starts to feel things that he has never felt before towards his wife, “I had rather be a toad/And live upon the vapor of a dungeon /Than keep a corner in the thing I love/ For others' uses. Yet 'tis the plague of great ones” (3.3.311-14).
This encounter takes place earlier in the play, right after Iago and Roderigo have convinced Brabantio into believing the scandalous and provocative gossip they have fed him. Othello speaks these words in an attempt to placate Brabantio, who has just stormed into the Duke’s council, agitated by Iago’s claims concerning his daughter. Additionally, his monologue is addressed to everyone present in the chamber so that he may prove his innocence more widely. He confirms that he has married Desdemona, but denies the allegations that he has won her through trickery and that this is the extent of his “crime.”
Though there are many characters in the play, it is only necessary to hone in on five: Othello, Iago, Desdemona, Cassio, and Emilia. As mentioned before, Othello is the black army general, and he starts off the play being the undisputable protagonist.
Prior to Othello’s speech, Brabantio expresses his concerns about Desdemona to the Duke of Venice. Brabantio’s main argument is that Desdemona could not have possibly fallen for Othello since he is dark-skinned and further accuses him of sorcery. Initially, the Duke agrees to support Brabantio’s request for the arrest of Desdemona’s alleged lover, but quickly changes his mind after learning that Desdemona plans to marry the admirable general, Othello. He then immediately confers power to the General and asks him to command the Venetian Army at Cyprus. Othello is aware that he is admired by the people of Venice, but still performs a lengthy speech to further gain support of his marriage to Desdemona.
Joy flitted between Othello and Desdemona, but one problem had still remained. Othello would be sent to the front of the war, but Brabantio did not wish to live with his daughter- a suggestion turned down by both Othello and Desdemona. Instead, Desdemona said “The rites for why… [Desdemona] love him are bereft... a heavy interim shall support by his dear absence. Let… [her] go with him”. The council agrees to this, as do Brabantio and Othello, officially starting a prosperous and long lasting love.
The death of the tragic hero is brought about by a conflict between him and some powerful force whether it is fate, God or established authority which limits his hope and ambition and destroys him at the end of the play. Othello begins as a respected warrior and hero but ends up as an irrational husband who murders his wife because of his insane jealousy after Iago deceives him and convinces him that his wife was having an affair with his lieutenant, Cassio. Othello is a Moor who has his own insecurities that he thinks of himself as an outsider in the Venetians ' society,
Othello’s life transforms the second he steps into Cyprus. Iago’s motives are devastating as he plan’s to take Othello’s position, regardless of the cost. Iago plants the seed of deceit and unfaithfulness when he hints of an affair involving Othello’s love, Desdemona and Cassio. An overwhelming feeling of jealously takes a hold in Othello’s life. Othello is no longer the well spoken, and respected army general that everyone knew him to be, but instead a short tempered man with little respect for
In “The Tragedy of Othello” by William Shakespeare, the play follows the life of Othello, a noble Moor, in Venice during the 16th century. In Scene 1, the scene follows Roderigo and Iago arguing over Desdemona’s marriage with Othello. They awake Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, and tell him about Othello and Desdemona. In Scene 2, Iago is discussing with Othello about Roderigo and Brabantio’s plans to sabotage him. Then, Cassio enters and tells Othello that the duke in Cyprus wishes to speak with him.
With the introduction of each character in the beginning of Shakespeare’s play focus begins on their place in the play’s world. Othello is initially perceived as a ‘Moor,’ meaning from North Africa, but he is in an unusual position of power despite this. However, people, such as Iago, who is Othello's trusted ensign, but is traitorous and jealous; saying he hates Othello on more than one occasion. His reasons for this hatred are that Othello made Cassio lieutenant over him, and also, he suspects Othello is ‘intrigued’ by Emilia, who is Iago's wife and Desdemona's maidservant. He also suspects Cassio, the soldier who was promoted over him of the very same grievance.