Character Analysis- Othello

In his play “Othello”, Shakespeare greatly depicts the transformation and transmogrification of the protagonist Othello. Despite the ultimate murder of his beloved Desdemona, Othello’s true motives for his actions are out of honor and nobility. Othello kills Desdemona to protect her own goodness and to prevent her from committing the same “acts” to other men.

In the beginning of the play Othello’s affection and passion for Desdemona could not be contained as exemplified in his statement: “It gives me wonder great as my content to see you here before me. O my soul’s joy.” Prior to Iago poisoning his mind with lies of her disloyalty, Othello’s love for Desdemona seemed to be unparalleled. As Jason Mraz stated: “I won't hesitate no more, no more It cannot wait, I'm yours”, Othello expresses similar loyalty to his spouse.

After Othello becomes entangled by Iago’s deftly woven net of corruption, his sentiments toward Desdemona make a complete 180 degree turn. Othello states, “Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago, if thou but think’st him wronged, and mak’st his ear a stranger to thy thoughts”, as he is at first unable to believe Iago’s accusations. Similar to Family Force Five in their song “Drama Queen”, Othello disapproves of these secrets and considers them a “personal attack.” As Iago provides him with sufficient evidence, Othello easily gives in to the lies. Similar to Mario, Othello asks the questions: “How could you let somebody lay where I layed? How could you give him everything that we made?” As he is set on believing the lies of Desdemona’s betrayal, Othello’s rage continues to build up within him and seep into his every thought and action. As he states “Even so my bloody thoughts with violent pace, shall nev’r look back, nev’r ebb to humble love, till that a capable and wide revenge swallow them up”, his cold and violent words contrast to his initial affection toward Desdemona. Like Omarion in his song “Ice Box”, Othello has an “Ice box where my heart used to be” as ill-will makes him “so cold.” His heart once filled with love now exists as an empty void. As his intentions to kill Desdemona strengthen, Othello becomes more and more transmogrified into a cuckold through the use of bestial imagery. As Iago points out that jealousy is a green-eyed monster, Othello states, “A horned man’s a monster and a beast.” Completely devoid of any shred of his former humane self, Othello becomes engulfed by the image of the beast as rage completely takes him over. Othello’s pent-up anger relates to Rage Against the Machine’s song “Bulls on Parade” as he ultimately unleashes his emotions by killing Desdemona.

Shakespeare expresses that despite Othello’s despicable crime, he exists as a tragic character. Because Othello thought that Iago’s lies were true, he believed his actions were noble and justified.

Othello- Lyrics

“That she with Cassio hath the act of shame
A thousand times committed. Cassio confessed it;
And she did gratify his amorous works”

Mario- “How Could You”
“How could you let somebody lay where I layed?
How could you give him everything that we made?
How could you call him all the names that you used to call me?
How could you how could you just forget bout me?”
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“It gives me wonder great as my content to see you here before me. O my soul’s joy.”

Jason Mraz- “I’m Yours”
And nothing's going to stop me but divine intervention
I reckon it's again my turn to win some or learn some
I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm yours
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“Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago, if thou but think’st him wronged, and mak’st his ear a stranger to thy thoughts.

Family Force Five- “Drama Queen”
“You go and talk behind my back
Don't you know that's whack
It's a personal attack
Oh snap
Some friend you are to me
You’re Miss Personality
Are you blind to see?
You’re such a Drama Queen”
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“If it were now to die, ‘twere now to be most happy; for I fear my soul hath her content so absolute that not another comfort like to this succeeds in unknown fate.”

Celine Dion- “My Heart Will Go On”
“Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart, and
My heart will go on and on.”
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“A horned man’s a monster and a beast.”

Rage Against the Machine- “Bulls on Parade”
Weapons not food, not homes, not shoes
Not need, just feed the war cannibal animal
I walk tha corner to tha rubble that used to be a library line
up to the mind cemetery now
What we don't know keeps tha contracts alive an movin'
They don't gotta burn tha books they just remove 'em
While arms warehouses fill as quick as the cells
They rally round the family! With pockets full of shells!

They rally round the family! With a pocket full of shells!
They rally round the family! With a pocket full of shells
Bulls on parade!
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“Even so my bloody thoughts with violent pace, shall nev’r look back, nev’r ebb to humble love, till that a capable and wide revenge swallow them up.”

Omarion- “Ice Box”
I got this icebox where my heart used to be (but I got this)
I got this icebox where my heart used to be (said I got this)
I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold
I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold