A Change In Character

A Change in Character

Joseph Addison once said, "Jealousy lives upon doubts. It becomes madness or ceases entirely as soon as we pass from doubt to certainty." Doubts, the cause of jealousy, will cause madness in a person as long as that person is in doubt. This madness is put to rest once all doubts are ceased. In the Tragedy of Othello, our main character, Othello, proves this quote to be true as he lets his jealousy become madness due to the uncertainty of his wife's fidelity, ultimately allowing it to deteriorate his character. Othello is a highly esteemed general in the city of Venice. Iago is Othello's ambitious friend, as well as his lowest ranking officer. Othello promotes Michael Cassio to the position of personal lieutenant and Iago is jealous to the point of hating Othello. Iago begins an evil and malicious campaign against Othello in attempts to ruin his life. Othello marries his long-time love Desdemona but Iago starts to plot against them, due to his newfound hate against Othello. Othello becomes jealous and suspicious of Desdemona, and decides to take his revenge out in the most unsettling manner. Othello transforms from a noble general, who once radiated great amounts of confidence, to a man whose morals and character have deteriorated.

Othello displays the greatest amount of confidence and intelligence of any character in Act I of The Tragedy of Othello, by William Shakespeare. Othello displays confidence in his self, as well as in his relationship with his wife Desdemona. Othello and Desdemona’s relationship was unveiled at this time by Iago and Roderigo in desperate attempts to ruin their marriage. They run to Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, and notify him of his daughter’s relationship. Soon after, Brabantio confronts Othello but Othello stays calm and composed. During the confrontation, a fight between Othello, Roderigo, Iago, and Brabantio seems imminent. However, Othello tells everyone to put up their swords in order to prevent any irrational actions by either side. Othello said, “Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust/ them./ Good signior, you shall more command with years/ Than with your weapons” (1.2.76-79). This shows his intelligence, as he is willing to talk things out rather than to use weapons as an immediate solution to a problem. Being a general, I am certain he would not have had a problem against Brabantio, who is in fact an older man, but he decides to be more rational than the rest and refuses to fight. Othello says, “Not I, I must be found/ My parts, my title, my perfect soul/ Shall manifest me rightly,” (1.2.35-37) claiming that his title of General and his guiltless soul will make his qualities evident. He knows his own qualities and he is completely aware of his title, which is something he is not willing to harm due to an irrational action such as fighting. Othello knows that his position, title, and his personal qualities are worth much more. He will not make any irrational decisions like Brabantio, Iago, and Roderigo were on the verge of making. Luckily for Othello, they were wise enough to be suppressed by his intelligence, holding them back from a potentially dangerous decision that would not solve much. His tone throughout this act shows his confidence in himself, and exposes us to his intelligence, as he is not quick to draw his sword. Othello proves to be calm and rational even when being confronted by a group of men, who all seemingly wish the worst for him.

In Act II of Othello, our main character, Othello displays several uncharacteristic traits, becoming increasingly angry and disappointed after finding out that Cassio had gotten drunk on the job and started a fight with Roderigo. While in Cyprus, Othello finds out that Cassio had gotten drunk, unbeknownst to the fact that Iago had initiated the drinking. Incredibly disappointed, he makes a quick decision and fires Cassio. “I know, Iago,/ Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter,/Making it light to Cassio. Cassio, I love thee/ But never more be an officer of mine” (2.3.262-265). Othello asked Cassio to stand guard one night so he could have sex with Desdemona, and warned him not to drink. He knew that Cassio cannot hold his liquor, and for this exact reason specifically warned him to stay away from alcohol. When Cassio neglected his requests, Othello was forced to let him go from his position. Othello entrusted Cassio, and although he claimed he loved him, was too angry to let him keep his job. Othello transformed from very calm and confident to very angry and disappointed, which is something unseen until this act.

In Act III of Othello, particularly Scene III, Othello shows a rare state of denial and an unseen lack of confidence. Iago, in attempts to bring Cassio down, begins to fabricate lies about an alleged affair between Cassio and Othello’s wife Desdemona. He is angered by the supposed facts that Iago has told him, making it seem almost certain that Desdemona is cheating. Iago makes a sincere effort to convince Othello, but he refuses to believe it. Othello says, “Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore,
 /Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof:” (3.3.411-412). In response to his request, Iago already has an answer. Iago claims that he saw Cassio wiping his beard with Desdemona’s handkerchief. This particularly angers Othello as the handkerchief was a gift passed on from his mother, and it was his first gift to Desdemona. It was said that as long as the wife possessed the handkerchief, her husband would love her. However, if she lost it or gave it away, he would fall out of love with her. Othello still doesn’t want to believe this, and claims he needs to see it. Even in total denial of her affair, he realizes that what Iago is telling him might be true. Iago also claims that while he was up with a toothache, Cassio was laying next to him, dreaming about Desdemona, going even as far as to claim that Cassio tried kissing him, thinking it was Desdemona. With these comments, Othello begins to question himself and shows a sudden decrease in confidence. He is slowly becoming more self-conscious, wondering why anyone would cheat on him. Othello ponders, and is convinced he has found out why Desdemona is вЂ?cheating’. “To prey at fortune. Haply, for I am black/ And have not those soft parts of conversation/ That chamberers have, or for I am declined/ Into the vale of years,” (3.3.304-307). Due to Iago’s accusations of Desdemona’s affair, Othello believes that he is at fault for this. In this quote, he claims that he is worthless. Othello supposes that the fact that he is old, black, and cannot speak well is the reason