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.