The Character of Othello

The Character of Othello

As the play progresses, Othello’s character goes through many changes

which happen as a result of him falling victim to Iago’s evil schemes.

At first he is introduced as an army general who is respected for what

he does but still discriminated against for being black.

Othello is a victim to racism throughout the play. He is often

referred to as “the Moor” even by his beloved Desdemona and is also

called by more offensive terms. Iago uses animal imagery in referring

to Othello as an “old black ram”. The use of animal imagery degrades

Othello and use of the word “black” implies that black people were

thought to be as low as animals. Emilia also calls Othello “the

blacker devil” which is certainly a racist term; however, under the

circumstances in which it was used she had fair reason to insult him.

Furthermore, Brabantio throws harsh abusive accusations and

hypocritical insults at Othello. Othello had often been invited to

Brabantio’s house to speak of his experiences on the battle field;

however, when it comes out that Othello has married has married his

daughter Desdemona he accuses Othello of having “practised on her foul

charms” and that he 2hast enchanted her” in order to seduce her into

his “cunning hell”. This may show Othello as a victim to Brabantio,

but Brabantio was once charmed by Othello.

All through the play, Othello falls victim to Iago. For it was due to

Iago that Othello’s mind had become to work the way it had. Othello

was naïve and Iago played on that by using his trusting nature against

him as he was “of a free and open nature that thinks men honest that

they seem to be so and will ...

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... Othello”

when he is referring to the murder of Desdemona. He wants to be

remembered as the noble warrior Othello, who served the state and

whose fault was loving too much, and who was naïve in love; “Then you

must speak of one that loved not wisely, but too well, of one not

easily jealous”.

If one can be blamed for loving someone, trusting them and seeing the

best in people, then Othello is guilty and the villain, but this is

not a fault and Othello is therefore the victim.

Othello contributed to his own downfall, but it was all instigated by

evil Iago. He used Othello’s trusting nature for his own means. It is

Iago’s fault that many lives were lost and that Othello felt the need

to sacrifice Desdemona. Therefore, I think Othello was more sinned

against than sinning and it was Iago who sinned against him most.