Critical Response to Othello

Use the following two passages, Act 1 Scene 3 and act 3 Scene 3, as the starting point for a discussion of the change in Othello's character during the course of the play. Your discussion should involve comparison of the passages AND some consideration of the play as a whole.

In the Shakespearian tragedy Othello, one of the main happenings is the change in main character Othello's character during the course of the play. At the beginning, Othello is described as a prince who has done service to the state as the general in command of the military power, despite being a foreigner in Venice. He is held in high esteem by the Duke of Venice, "Valiant Othello", and is seemingly fully in control of himself and the situations he is presented with. As testimony to his ranking and high regard in Venetian society, he was deployed to lead the fight against the Turks at Cyprus, and to hold Cyprus safe from further attack. Othello is painted to be the hero that everyone wants the main character to be, seemingly untouched by the wrong-doings of others and incapable of wrong-doings himself.

In passage 1, an excerpt from Act 1 scene iii, Othello's great strength of character is highlighted in his first major speech. His opening address, "Most potent, grave, and revered signiors," shows his ability with speech and confidence among men of great esteem in society. This shows us that he must be used to holding such high ranking company. He portrays an inner confidence when around high ranking nobles, a rare thing for a soldier which only makes him all the more impressive in his opening speech. Along with this confidence we are shown a glimpse of a sort of arrogant modesty, "Rude am I in my speech, And little blest with the soft phrase of peace." His attempt to make himself appear below the others in the room was hidden in the end by excellent speaking abilities, mostly in verse. What at first seemed to be a touch of humility towards his betters, ended up being a show of arrogant confidence as he delivered a faultless speech which left everyone admiring him all the more. "What drugs, what charms, What conjuration, and what might magic, for such proceedings am I charg'd withal, I won his daughter" also shows an inner confidence that could only be known by a great leader. He is reproachfully yet respectfully reducing the claims of Brabantio, Desdemona's father, and building himself up at the same time. In this first speech by Othello we are introduced to an incredibly confident man with a touch of arrogant humility, a man who displays the speaking ability of a high ranking noble rather than the soldier that he is. Altogether he seems a very impressive man.

The cause of any change to Othello's character is down to the manipulative nature of Iago, his right hand man. While in Othello's presence he is a supportive follower and yet when separate he is plotting his downfall. "I hate the Moor", Iago is a two faced traitor whose mission is to ruin Othello and take his place as General. Iago found Othello's weakness, as a simple soldier he had no experience with love before his secret marriage to Desdemona and Iago used this lack of experience to plant the false seed of jealousy in Othello's heart. Iago made up the scenario that Desdemona had a secret lover and planted the evidence to support it, driving Othello to take action against his wife and her lover. Iago is on his own schedule, "In following him, I follow but myself," out of hatred and jealousy