Othello Paper

Coralie Casimir
Mr. George
English 10 Honor
02-02-08
Essay
Othello
Since the beginning of time, people have been characterized on based of their gender, race, social class, and their sexual orientation. The Shakespearean tragedy “Othello” takes place in a time where racism was very much alive and people had very harsh stereotypes for blacks. Some of these stereotypes were that they were irrational, passionate, unreasonable, and animalistic. One man, Othello, broke all the stereotypes and became the general of Venice. However, this all changes when Iago put his malicious plan to work. Under Iago’s influence Othello changes from the kind hearted person he was, into an angry and uncontrollable man. Iago cautiously manipulated Othello to become something other than himself, to act with impetuousness and anger, and finally Iago brings Othello to his tragic end.
Othello was perceived as a strong and skillful warrior. The hardship he overcame earlier in his life is what gained him much recognition among the people. He was loved and respected by the people of Venice, especially by the young maiden, Desdemona. In the beginning of the play Othello’s life was going well. He had just married the young Desdemona without her father’s knowledge. When Brabantio becomes aware of this matter, he is infuriated and gathers his men to go after the Moor. Brabantio charges Othello with stealing his daughter from him. Othello he simply goes and answers to Branbantio’s charges against him: “Whither will you that I go/to answer this your charge?” (1.3.83-85). Like the gentleman he truly is, Othello defends himself in front of the council.
Brabantio who use to love Othello and always invited over, quickly turned on him when he heard his daughter married him. Brabantio was no longer Othello’s friend; he was just a typical racism man of the time. Brabantio accused Othello of using witchcraft and that his daughter could not love him: “To fall in love with what she feared to look on!” (1.3.98). Brabantio was alluding to the fact that his daughter could not love in because he is black. Nonetheless, Othello keeps his composure and wins over the council with his words, the same way he won over Desdemona.
Othello and Desdemona move to the outrageous city of Cyprus. In Cyprus, Iago, angered by the fact Othello named Cassio as his lieutenant instead of him, sets out to ruin Othello. He came up with a brilliant idea to make Othello believe that Cassio and his wife are having an affair. His plan was fairly easy, but very destructive. The only thing Iago really had to do was make Cassio look like a dishonorable lieutenant to the Moor and make it appear that Desdemona loves Cassio. While Iago had to always look like an honest man: “Though I hate him as I do hell pain, yet, for necessity of present life, I must show out a flag and sign of love” (2.3.265-270). Then Iago set out on his great mission to become Othello greatest supporter while truly being his worst enemy.
Slowly, Iago was putting awful thoughts into Othello’s mind. He drops hints suggesting that Desdemona has not been faithful to Othello with his friend Cassio. Iago makes reference that his looks may have been a reason for her unfaithfulness. This matter really tormented Othello because he was great at everything and his color is one thing he could not changed about himself. Othello change slowly becomes uncertain of what to do and he is torn between his love for Desdemona and his trust in Iago. Othello tries to refute Iago’s claim by saying, “For she had eyes and choose me” (3.3.189) but unfortunately for Othello, Iago’s bogus claims became too overwhelming for him to ignore.
Iago never had tangible evidence to give to Othello until the handkerchief. Iago made up some evidence, for example, when he created the story about Cassio’s dream with Desdemona. Iago knew that the handkerchief would throw Othello over the edge. He asks Emilia to steal the handkerchief for him, but when she did Iago placed in Cassio’s chamber: “I know not that; but a handkerchief/…I today see Cassio wipe his beard with” (3.3.434-436). When he heard this, Othello lost all reason. It was the icing on the cake he could not take anymore. At this point, Othello turns into this passionate man: “Arise, black vengeance, from the hollow hell! / Yield up, O love, thy crown and throne/ to tyrannous hate!” (3.3.442-445). All the love he had for Desdemona was gone, and he is now left with hatred and vengeance.
Rapidly, Othello changes into a brute. He becomes rough with Desdemona and has no respect what so ever for her. He calls her whore and takes pleasure in insulting her in public. People who knew and loved Othello were shocked to see how he was treating Desdemona. Meanwhile, not knowing what is going with her husband, Desdemona tries not to get in his way. For instance during the incident when Othello slapped her, in front of her cousin and uncle, her respond was: “I will not stay to offend you” (4.1.248). Only a heartless savage has the guts to do what Othello was about to do to Desdemona.
Othello decided to bring Desdemona’s life to an end. He wanted to poison her but Iago advised him to strangle her instead. Iago knows by doing this he will be perceived as savage and animalistic. Most people will not think much of a man who killed his good and virtuous wife. Before he committed this brutal crime, he was thinking of reconsidering what he was about to do. He did love Desdemona and acknowledge the fact that if he kills her, she will never come back. There he was by himself without the influence of Iago. Rethinking what he was about to do: Yet I'll not shed her blood, /nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow/ and smooth as monumental alabaster/ yet she must die, else she'll betray more men” (5.2.3-6). Again he is torn between his love for her and his jealous desire to kill her. With enough courage he finally kills her.
Soon after Othello committed the shameful crime of murder the truth came out. He finally finds out that he was tricked into killing Desdemona. Before his last goodbye Othello want the people to understand that he did love Desdemona and he was not born a jealous man: “then must you speak/of one that loved not wisely but too well;/of one not easily jealous, but being wrought/perplexed in the extreme” (5.2.339-342). Out anger and rage, Othello lost one of the most important things in his life his wife Desdemona. Othello has no more desires to stay on this earth, so he took his life.
Othello is neither a savage nor an animal, but just a man pushed to his breaking point. Othello was not a jealous by man by birth nor was he acted without proper reasoning. He was tricked by Iago into killing Desdemona. Othello did not kill her out of malice or hate, but because he taught it was the right thing to do. Othello brook many stereotypes they had for blacks at that time and was a great general. Unfortunately he was deceived by who he taught was he friend.