Othello: Character Profiles

Introduction

• Othello: Begins as an honourable and successful general in the Venetian army.
• Identity Struggle: Outsider status as a black man in a white society, ex-slave married to a senator's daughter.
• Conflict: Central to both real-world and play’s conflicts, manipulated by Iago who represents racial trauma and European colonization.
• Tragedy: A victim of both Iago's manipulations and his own insecurities within a hierarchical, capitalist society.

Key Characteristics

Beginning of the Play (Acts 1-3)

• Mediator: Level-headed, seeks resolution over conflict.
• Leader: Respected general, prioritizes duty over personal loyalty.
• Doting Husband: Respects Desdemona, values her voice.
• Lover: Optimistic, love strengthens his resolve.
• Gullible Disciple: Trusts Desdemona and Iago, naively blind to Iago’s deceit.
• Rational Thinker: Initially dismissive of jealousy, overconfident in rational thought.

End of the Play (Acts 3-5)

• Tortured Soul: Falls into paranoia, demands physical proof over trust.
• Warrior: Reverts to violence, loses military authority and becomes a pawn to Iago.
• Judge, Jury, Executioner: Takes justice into his own hands, becomes self-reliant and irrational.
• Cuckold: Feels identity stripped by Desdemona’s perceived betrayal, driven by wounded pride and need to reclaim masculinity.

Relationships

• Desdemona: Starts with mutual respect and love, deteriorates due to insecurity and Iago’s manipulation.
• Iago: Sees Iago as a friend, unaware of Iago’s deceit and use of racial prejudice.
• Brabantio: Formerly close, relationship soured by Othello’s marriage to Desdemona.
• Cassio: Friendship jeopardized by duty, becomes a trigger for Othello’s jealousy.
• Emilia: Targets her with misogyny post-transformation, she ultimately reveals Iago's plot.

Key Themes

• Jealousy and Cuckoldry: Othello’s fall from reasoning to jealousy is symbolized through his speech and actions.
• Race and Colonialism: Othello represents the 'Other', struggles with identity and acceptance in a white society.
• Civilization vs. Primitivism: Explores duplicity in society and the conflict of maintaining a civilized facade.

Symbolism

• Light vs. Dark: Othello associated with enlightenment and eventual darkness.
• Heaven vs. Hell: Othello’s view of Desdemona shifts from virtue to deceit.
• Tokens of Love: Handkerchief symbolizes love and fidelity, manipulated to signify betrayal.
• Animals, Beasts, & Monsters: Used to symbolize societal outsider status and primal instincts.
• Witchcraft & Supernatural: Represents Othello's racial outsider status and perceived threat to social order.

Context

• Historical: Examines the treatment of outsiders and women, commenting on race, religion, and social hierarchy.
• Venice: Symbol of civility and capitalism, Othello as a mercenary reflects new social order.
• Cyprus: Represents conflict, chaos, and displacement, aligning with Othello’s inner turmoil.
• Religion: Explores religious conflict, Othello’s internal struggle between Christianity and his Moorish heritage.