To What Extent Do You Believe That Othello’s Insecurities Are the Cause of His Downfall?

To what extent do you believe that Othello’s insecurities are the cause of his downfall?

Othello’s downfall in Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello is represented as being attributable at least in part to the insecurities he experiences as a result of his age, his ethnicity and his status as an outsider who does not understand the subtle social codes and mores of Venetian society.  His insecurities are further exacerbated by the way Othello clings to familial superstition and by a fundamental naivety in relation to women in general and his wife in particular.  Othello’s naivety about women lies in stark contrast to the Venetian Iago’s cynicism and Florentine Cassio’s courtly attentiveness. Nevertheless, even though an Elizabethan audience would have been fundamentally suspicious of anyone who did not belong, Shakespeare deliberately engenders empathy for Othello in his representation of him to highlight that his downfall may attributed in the greatest part to the very human flaw of jealousy, engendered by deep insecurities rather than any racial or ethnic difference.

Despite Othello’s difference in ethnicity and ignorance of social codes in Venetian culture, he is initially represented by Shakespeare as a noble and honourable gentlemen at the beginning of the play. His self-confidence is first tested by Iago in the opening scene where he attempts to frighten Othello stating “He[Brabantio] will divorce you, or put upon you what restraint and grievance’, but Othello responds calmly and with confidence in his value to Venice asserting “My services which I have done the signiory shall out-tongue his complaints.” Othello’s worthiness is also revealed by Shakespeare in his calm handling of the confrontation with Brabantio and his men as he maintains “My parts, my title, and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly.” However, this also illustrates Othello’s naive worldview whereby he believes people are judged by the evidence of their actions, and foreshadows his failure to recognize the subtle manipulations of less honest men like Iago. Othello’s lack of guile and direct language effectively convinces the Senate and the audience of the genuineness and depth of his feelings for Desdemona “She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity them.” However, Othello’s monologue also reveals the fundamental insecurities as he acknowledges his surprise that Desdemona has fallen in love with “what she feared to look on!” going against “nature” itself to marry him “in spite of...years, of country, credit, everything”. This sensitivity to his shortcomings later leave him vulnerable to Iago’s manipulative tongue.

Iago plays on Othello’s insecurities to bring about his downfall, recognising that Othello is vulnerable because he doesn’t fully understand nor appreciate the subtleties of social interaction between the Venetians. Iago repeatedly alludes to Othello’s position as an outsider throughout the play, damning him for his relationship with Desdemona as he warns Brabantio that ‘an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe.’ Iago thereby not only denigrates the relationship but effectively emphasizes the disparity between the couple’s ages, Othello’s different ethnicity and his lack of physical attractiveness to highlight his unworthiness of Desdemona. Iago’s message goes beyond mere racial slur to imply that Othello’s marriage transgresses the social order of Venetian culture and civilisation.  However, it is Brabantio’s warning to Othello when he wins his case in the Senate that Desdemona “has deceived her father, and may thee” which comes back to haunt him.  Brabantio’s poisonous words fuel his insecurities and thereby his jealousy later in the play.

Iago’s recognition of Othello’s naivety and idealistic worldview enables him to manipulate Othello to his own detriment.  Ironically Iago is referred to as honest no less than 47 times in the play.  However, his ability to use language to manipulate others is evident from the opening scene with Roderigo in which is manipulates Roderigo into giving him money, and into waking Brabantio to apprise him of Desdemona’s marriage. Iago deliberately misrepresents Cassio as unworthy of being Othello’s lieutenant because in terms of battle he is little “More than a spinster—unless the bookish theoric”, but overlooks the fact that Cassio’s “theory” is probably more important than Iago’s battle experience. Jealous of Cassio’s position, Iago takes advantage of Othello’s ignorance in relation to Italian custom to convince his general that Cassio’s courtly behaviour towards Desdemona is tantamount to sexual flirtation in his monologue ‘He[Cassio] takes her[Desdemona] by the palm. Ay, well said, whisper! With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio.” Here he claims this small gesture is evidence of something more. Othello’s naive worldview encompasses ‘a free and open nature’ whereas, ‘men honest that but seem to be so’ provides ‘honest Iago’ with the ability to use Othello’s integrity against him, destroying the ‘world’ he has come to understand.  Whilst initially he angrily refutes Iago’s insinuations about Desdemona “I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove”, Iago has already succeeded in sowing the seeds of doubt, and ironically later warns Othello "O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on;" As the play continues Iago continues to manipulate not only Othello but the people closest