Shakespeare's "Othello," is a controversial play which includes elements of 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 a lingering concern that Othello himself is weak. He is seemingly a fine gentleman on the outside, but he snaps and kills an innocent women. .
Samuel Taylor Coleridge describes Iago's plan as "motive-hunting of a motiveless malignity" (413). Iago seems to be overbearing and tries to hurt Othello. He appears a great deal in the play and is rather unpredictable. Iago is 28 years old in the work and also a Venetian. He has a wife and by all accounts is rather ordinary. Yet, few could call this intriguing character ordinary as he does a variety of things in the context of the work that might be construed as rather extraordinary. He is able to make things happen through manipulation, where others might fail in such attempts.
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 true that Othello's lack of confidence allows this to happen. ... At the same time, Othello experiences more than a lack of confidence. ... They lack self-confidence. ... Yet, the lack of self-confidence experienced by Othello is a bit different. ... Does the character lack self-confidence? ...
What exactly contributes to Othello's tragic heroism? ... Which in turn, distinguishes a "fatal" flaw of his, which was his lack of self esteem; moreover, leading to his downfall. ... Othello's honor also stemmed from him being a solider all throughout the course of his life, as his position of Governor/General alone presents a sense of nobility, courageousness, nobility, confidence, and overall strength. ... People have a good impression of Othello. ... Othello also happened to lack a considerable amount of awareness, particularly towards anybody around him. ...
Could a lack of self-confidence contribute to his believing Iago's lies about Desdemona? Response Othello is a Moor, but he has an extreme self-confidence, because he is a very successful warrior. ... Even Othello seems as if he has self-confidence; he is inside of him not really confident about himself. ... Iago just brings out Othello's inner voice about the self-confidence. ... He seems to have self-confidence but he does not really. ...
He has hatred towards Othello for giving Cassio the lieutenant title instead of him, so he plots revenge to get back at Othello. ... Othello, whose tragic flaw is jealousy that derives from a lack of confidence, meets all the requirements of the Shakespearean tragic hero. ... Hamartia is a fatal flaw that leads Othello to his downfall. In this play, Othello's hamartia is jealousy. ... Since Othello an Iago are watching from afar but are not able to hear what they are saying, he gives Othello the idea that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair. ...
He has complete confidence in himself; so much that he is unrivaled. ... Othello is honest and very trusting. ... Othello has confidence in Iago, unaware that this feature of his character has left him looking foolish. ... He lacks self-esteem, which is the reason for his behavior. ... A major theme in Othello is due to the characteristics and personalities of both Iago and Othello. ...
The central conflict in "Othello" is between husbands and wives. ... In his own marriage he suspects his wife to have been deceitful, and that too with Othello, thus he takes it upon himself to ruin Othello's marriage. ... Iii 99) This quote displays Emilia's realization of being the inferior wife who has no self-confidence. Iago's lack of understanding eventually pushes her even further to betray her friend, Desdemona for the love of her man. ... Women always carry the blame when they cheat on their husband, the possession of low self-confidence is the clue leading them to do ...
Othello is also able to captivate his peers with his speech. ... Iago Possibly the most heinous villain in Shakespeare, Iago is fascinating for his most terrible characteristic: his utter lack of convincing motivation for his actions. ... None of these claims seems to adequately explain Iago's deep hatred of Othello, and either Iago's lack of motivation or inability or unwillingness to express his true motivation makes his actions all the more terrifying. ... She loses her confidence in the face of Othello's strange behavior. ... Cassio truly loves and esteems Othello. ...
Othello's eloquent, poetic language as he claims 'my parts, my title and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly' establishes him as a figure of confidence and loyalty. However Othello begins to believe that Desdemona's disloyalty was due to his lack of the qualities of eligible European suitors such as 'clime, complexion and degree'. ... He is, as critic Christopher Reaske described, an 'egotistical and immediately jealous' (Shakespeare's Othello, 1966) man who paradoxically justifies himself as 'cruel yet merciful' at killing Desde...
His aggression against Othello starts when Othello names Michael Cassio his lieutenant rather than Iago. ... Given also uses Roderigo's lack of self-confidence as an example due to the fact that he never stands up to Iago. ... (Othello, 2.1.300-302) He comes right out and admits that he is jealous of Othello. ... If Iago were not jealous of Othello, he would not be looking for reasons to commit this scheme against Othello. ... This soliloquy exemplifies his lack of feeling that Othello and Cassio really committed adultery with Emilia. ...
