Othello Analysis

Professor Bradley described Othello as ‘a tragedy of a good and nobleman’ and although Othello’s final speech does contextualize this tragedy to some extent it does not take into account the role his hamartia and the impact other characters played in the tragedy. Othello, one of Shakespheres most well known plays, is an account of a noble man who lived honorably up to the moment when everything he understood about life changed catastrophically. Othello’s summation of the tragedy was accurate in the aspect he was a fool a fool who thre away a precious pearl with his own hand and he was tricken and manipulated and worked himself into a frenzy but his inclusion that he was a good but not wise lover and was not easily made jealous was imprecise.

Bradley’s description of Iago as, ‘wickedness incarnate’ reflects Othello’s own recount of Iago’s role in the trgady which caused Othello to be ‘perplexed in the extreme’ and brought about a sence of wrought and anguish.

Othello placed complete trust and faith in Iago, recognizing this Iago manipulated the Moor who was, “of a free and open nature that thinks men honest and but seem to be so, and will as tenderly be led by th’nose as asses are” Othello is tricked and manipulated by “honest Iago” the very comrade that he trusts the most. Othello was made frail and was “perplexed in the extreme”, he lost his ability to make clear judgments and decisions. Bradley asserted that Iago was able to manipulate Othello because he had little experience in the “corrupt profit of civilized life”. Leo Kirchbaum agrees with Bradley and denounced Othello as a “romantic idealist who considers human nature superior to what it actually is”. Iago subtly plays on Othello’s inexperience with human nature and the trust that he puts on him. When Iago delicately questions Casio’s integrity “I think that he is honest”, the logical response would be for Othello to ignore the implications and investigate the accusations. Instead Othello willingly accepts to circumstantial, falsified and non-conclusive evidence put before him by

The Moor’s obsession with his reputation as a ‘valiant’ and leader and a respected and proven defender of the Venetian state and the importance he placed on public image, blinded his decision-making. His sentiment “speak of me as I am’ reveals that Othello to the very end is fixated on how he is perceived and he tries to convince the audience that he should be remembered as a noble, loyal and brave gentleman “an honorable murderer”, “for naught did I in hate, but all in honour”. When faces with the prospect that his reputation may be tarnished by his wifes infidelity and Cassios betrayal he professes that for the sake of his and his wives reputation Cassio and Desdemona must be killed. Othello is also “obtusely and brutally” egoistical (leavis), that despite the situation he always sees himself as the captain of men. This becomes obvious when, faced with being captured by Brabantio’ and his men he calmly orders the men to “keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust