Othello

Othello

1. he's a character of contradictions

   • He's a black man but accepted by may of the white venetains
   • He's modest and admits to his insecuristies but also aware of his strengths
   • start of play = self controlled, end = irrational and violent.

2. Part of society, but still an outsider

   • Part of society
     • considered an important member of society cause if his skills as solider. The senate "sent about three several quests" to look for him
     • accepted by the Venetians, and welcomed into their social circle, he says that Brabantino "loved me, oft invited me, / still questioned me the story of my life"
     • Othello involves himself further with society by marrying desdemona, her dad still rejects their love but the duke accepts their marriage, showing he sees othello as part of society
   • An outsider
     • he's a black man in a white society. He adopts the Venetian culture but everyone still sees him as foreign and exotic.
     • He's often described using racial language. Rodrigo and iago call him "the moor", "the thick lips", and "an old black ram" in the first scene ,even before othello appears, rod and iago have condemmed him, they see him as na outsider from the start.
     • Othello reinforces the idea he's an outsider because he's self-concious of his differences. EG - "Haply, for I am black / And have not those soft part sin conversation / that chamberers have

3. his relationship with desdemona is problematic.

   • Most people in that society have preconceptions about interracial marriage, it's seen as being "against all rules of nature"
   • Othello's struggle to be both husband and solider causes tensions, refuses to be distracted from his millitary duties, "tis the soliders life / to have their balmy slumbers waked with strife"
   • Relationship starts to unravel as iago exploites othellos insecurities about their marriage and facts that he doesn't actually know his new wife very well. iago reminds him that des "did decieve her father / marrying you"

4. His downfall is the focus of the play

   • throughout play, othello changes from being noble man to being plagued with "savage madness" - turning point occurs act 3 scene 3
   • jealousy clearly effects othello in aggressive way- loses control boht emotionally and physically, striking des in act 4 scene 1. loses his eloquence and becomes increasingly crude. "fire and brimstone!"
   • Could be argued that reason for othellos downfall is society's treatment of him. - he could've started to believe racist attaks, and starts to behave the way a black man is expected too

5. Struggles to be a lover and a solider

   • his personal life and his professional life is incompatible. millitary career suffers as a result of problems in his marriage. "is this the noble moor whom our full senete / call all in all sufficient?"
   • Othello's murder of des could be seen as an attempt to reassert his millitary identity - talks about importance of "honour" and sees her as a "sacrifice"
   • his suicide finally ends this conflict as the solider within him kills the passionate lover

6. His suicide can be seen as

   • act of redemtion- by taking life he punishes himself for his crimes and regains his nobility
   • attempt to salvage reputation- trying to prove he's a better man than iago and not just common murderer, his death also means he doesn't have to excperiance the inevitable loss of reputation
   • Inevitability- a tragic hero, no choice but to die, "No way but this"