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Othello's Lack of Self-Confidence

 

            Shakespeare's "Othello" is a rather controversial play in that it includes subjects such as racism, hate and murder. In the play, Iago plays on Othello's emotions and lies to him, prompting him to murder his lover. Some blame Iago for the events, but there is really no doubt that Othello is a weak man. On the outside, he's a fine gentleman, but on the inside, he's capable of killing an innocent woman. .
             Samuel Taylor Coleridge describes Iago's plan as "motive-hunting of a motiveless malignity" (413). Iago is overbearing and tries to hurt Othello. He appears a great deal in the play and is rather unpredictable. Iago, a 28 year old Venetian man is, by all accounts, quite ordinary. Yet, beyond his "normalcy", he's an intriguing character, able to make things happen through manipulation.
             Many have seen this character as evil, but what is Iago's motivation? It could in fact be that he is envious of Othello. Yet, he seems to be somewhat proud and enamored of himself. Iago is not the most honest individual, but he is able to get along with people and no one really knows what he is up to. At the same time, in reviewing the events of the play, one can distinguish what his true motivation really is. He is vengeful and wants a particular job he did not get. He feels dispossessed and even cheated (Weimann 109). While Iago has been behind it all, as he has had it in for Cassio from the beginning, it seems as if Othello is also out of control. It is Desdemona who ends up dead, and one cannot discount Othello's role in that outcome. It is by his hand that she is killed. Some of course do at least in part blame Desdemona for some of what goes on. Hunt writes: "Unfortunately her interest in her own self-worth and marital influence over Othello supersedes her concern for Cassio" (346).
             It is rather troubling that Othello kills his true love simply because of something that is said. Why would he do such a thing? Why he is so quick to believe a lie? There does not seem to be anything in his character that would suggest that he would do something so terrible.


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