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Othello Character Analysis and Themes

May 4, 2025

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.