Othello is one of the play’s central figures, possessing distinct qualities but changing in the course of events. At the beginning of the play, this character is distinguished only by his positive traits, describing him as a brave and respected general. The main expressive features of this character are calmness, courage, and straightforwardness. While these traits are positive, they play an essential role in the character’s evolution, which results in his downfall. Othello’s strong character leads to the emergence of jealousy in the course of the play. In addition, straightforwardness made the character’s changes possible since it allowed another character to commit a cruel deception. Given the play’s tragic ending, a significant aspect of the plot is the evolution of Othello that led to the tragedy.
In the first acts of the tragedy, Othello is portrayed as a renowned general with a strong character. Others view the character as an illustrious and fearless person. Despite his origins, Othello’s merits allow him to feel confident in the Venetian community without fear of conflict with other influential personalities. The nature of the character is shown even before he appears in the tragedy in Iago’s lines: “But he, as loving his own pride and purposes, / Evades them, with a bombast circumstance” (Shakespeare 1.1. 12-13).
It is clear from these words that Othello is characterized by impartiality and a willingness to make decisions that he considers correct. The character is equally calm towards slander, so he does not give in to provocation. In general, this character at the beginning of the play has the characteristics of a brave warrior who does not express the slightest signs of cunning or meanness.
Changes in Othello began when he became suspicious of his beloved Desdemona’s infidelity as a result of Iago’s intrigues. This evolution starts when Desdemona asks Othello to return the rank to Cassio, who has lost it due to Iago’s treachery. The Moor was displeased by such a display of Desdemona’s attention to another man, and jealousy arose in him. Iago makes a decisive contribution to the beginning of Othello’s change, forcing the Moor to think seriously about Desdemona’s fidelity. In his deception, Iago does not use gossip, but specific facts: “She did deceive her father, marrying you; / And when she seem’d to shake and fear your looks, / She loved them most.” (Shakespeare 3.3. 206-208).
Othello cannot expose such a cunning deception, so his mind ignites jealousy, which leads to further changes. Furthermore, in this case, the typical warrior and commander’s rationality and pride only exacerbated the problem, forcing the character to act to check his concerns. Thus, Othello’s character features turned against him in this instance, allowing Iago to carry out deception by making the Moor doubt his past beliefs.
At the end of the tragedy, Othello is a person filled with jealousy and a desire for revenge. He is no longer the brave general and loving husband of Desdemona. Letting himself be deceived, Othello gradually loses all his positive traits, which leads to tragedy in the aftermath. Unable to bear his grief, the Moor kills himself, thus ending his journey. The changes throughout the play show Othello’s journey from a glorious warrior to the murderer of his wife. Othello’s perception by others can be traced in Emilia’s lines: “Moor, she was chaste; she loved thee, cruel Moor; / So come my soul to bliss, as I speak true” (Shakespeare 5.2. 249-250).
Hence, others now see only the murderer, not forgetting to point out Othello’s origins. At the very end, Othello feels desperation and makes the decision that he considers to be the right one: “I kiss’d thee ere I kill’d thee: no way but this; / Killing myself, to die upon a kiss” (Shakespeare 5.2. 358-359). Having a strong personality and an indomitable will at the story’s beginning, the Moor fails to recognize Iago’s deception, which leads to his sorrowful end.
Othello gradually comes to the changes that eventually ruin his life. An important reason for these changes was that the Moor believed his adversary, even though he had previously been able to expose lies and slander. In this regard, the straightforwardness of his character allowed him to believe Iago, who used other people and reasonable arguments in his deception. As the plot develops, the character’s mind quickly acquires negative traits, which, combined with the initial features, only accelerate the tragic events.
The character goes from simple jealousy to murdering Desdemona, thus destroying his beloved’s life and his own. These changes are crucial to the play as they are the background of the tragedy and establish a high level of drama. In addition, without this evolution, it would have been impossible to implement the plot since the critical events of the end of the tragedy are built on the changes in Othello’s character.
Work Cited
Shakespeare, William. Othello. Hamlet. Ed. Philip Weller. Othello Navigator. Shakespeare-Navigators. 2022. Web.
