Othello: The Moor Of Venice

The Tragedy of Othello: The Moor of Venice, by English playwright William Shakespeare in 1603, can be read in a multitude of ways. Traditionalist readings of Othello often incorporate themes of jealousy, naivety and deceit. However, traditionalist values only scratch the surface of Shakespeare’s masterpiece. The characters within Othello reveal themselves within a more complex light when examined from a psychoanalytical standpoint. By analysing the drama piece in accordance with Freudian principles, it can be argued that the play is in fact, chiefly an insight into the human psyche, especially concerning motivations and desires.

Othello was written during the Elizabethan Era, a period of great social and political change. Feudalism was being

Psychoanalytically however, Othello can be examined as a narcissistic character, who is chiefly concerned with his image within Venetian society. Throughout the play, when asserting himself, Othello brings up his heroic deeds. For example, when explaining himself regarding the claims against him to the Venetian court, he mentions “... the story of my life from year to year – the battles, sieges, fortunes that I have passed.” Or at the end of the play, “.” Psychologically, Othello’s need to remind others around him of his deeds is reminiscent of narcissistic tendencies and implies that Othello may have suffered from an inferiority complex. Othello, despite being highly respected by the other characters who often call him “noble,” is marginalised and treated as ‘other’. This is emphasised through the repetition of the other characters calling him “[the] Moor,” and although his name being at the forefront of the title of the play, it is rarely used by the other characters whether they are directly addressing him or not. Othello is subjected to some form of racism, or at the very least, racial distinction, at various parts of the play. For example, in the opening scene of the play, Iago taunts Brabantio: “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe,” “...you'll have your daughter

Traditional readings describe him as an ‘evil’ character, however this is an oversimplification, and does not fully explore his character much past face value. Psychoanalytically, Iago is a much more complex character. He appeared to have one desire: to become Othello’s lieutenant. This is an important point, as it is Iago’s only desire throughout the whole play, aside from the desire to see Othello’s downfall, which is derived from not being chosen as Othello’s lieutenant. This is important because it is a characteristic of sociopaths to be manipulative and fixated on something to subsequently act on it to the point of absurdity, as Iago did. Iago did not initially become Othello’s lieutenant, so he devised a Machiavellian plot which lead to the death of Othello, Desdemona and Emilia. Iago’s motivations are much more of a mystery in the play, and only really appear to reveal themselves when analysed psychoanalytically. Iago gives a few reasons for his hatred of Othello. Firstly, Cassio was chosen over Iago to be Othello’s lieutenant, however the lengths that Iago went to actualise his plot does not seem like a rational response to this. Secondly, Othello had supposedly “done his office,” although this is very unlikely given that Othello would not have ‘benefitted’ in the same way as he did from marrying Desdemona. Thirdly, Iago says in his first soliloquy: “But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor.” This is a much more