Topic > The Inevitable Destruction of Othello in Shakespeare's Play

The tragedy of Othello, written by William Shakespeare, introduces the central character Othello, as a very honorable and dignified person who charmed adventures and achieved excellent military results . However, his insecurities make Othello easy to exploit and manipulate by others in Venice. His character dynamic transforms significantly throughout the play. The contrast is especially evident when one goes from being very calm to acts of uncontrolled fury. Overall, Othello's motive in life is to be love for his wife Desdemona, which ultimately ends up being his downfall. The central character Iago tricks Othello, the Moor of Venice, into suspecting his wife, Desdemona, of adultery; thus creating a tragedy of sexual jealousy. Othello becomes a victim of deception because he is resented by others due to his background from the land of the mysterious Venetians, he has experienced unique adventures and has achieved outstanding military achievements. However, the greatest resentment towards Othello that bothers him as he is considered an outsider is being a black man in white Venice. Othello, the tragic hero, falls victim to his own uncertainties regarding his race, as evidenced by conflicting emotions and feelings of betrayal, which ultimately lead to the inevitable destruction of character. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The characters throughout the play often feel jealousy, fear, or simple hatred towards Othello and whenever this happens they give vent to their feelings by using racially abusive words. An Iago character says: “Even now, now, right now, an old black ram is taking your white sheep. Get up, get up! Wake up the snorting citizens with the bell, otherwise the devil will make you a grandfather. Get up, I say!. Iago uses racial slurs when he wakes Brabantio with the news that his daughter, Desdemona (a white Venetian), has eloped with Othello (an older black man). When Iago says that an "old black ram" (Othello) is "tupping" (sleeping with) Brabantio's "white sheep" (Desdemona), he plays with the Elizabethan idea that black men have an animalistic hypersexuality. This seems aimed at manipulating Brabantio's fears about miscegenation (when a couple "mixes races" through marriage and/or sex). For much of the play, Othello resists, ignores, or seems indifferent to the racism that haunts him. But he ultimately internalizes Iago and the others' idea that his blackness makes him barbaric. This belief, as well as the belief in Desdemona's guilt, allows Othello to kill his wife. When he turns the weapon of race against himself, he condemns both himself and Desdemona. Characters throughout the play often feel jealousy, fear, or hatred towards Othello, and whenever they feel this way the characters vent their feelings by using racial slurs. Iago, who commonly deceives people, says: “Even now, now, even now, an old black ram / Is pummeling your white sheep. Get up, get up!/ Wake up the snorting citizens with the bell,/ Otherwise the devil will make you a grandfather.” Iago uses racial slurs when he wakes Brabantio with the news that his daughter Desdemona has eloped with Othello, which was hard for him to accept. For much of the play, Othello resists, ignores, or seems indifferent to the racism that bothers him. But he ultimately internalizes Iago's and other people's idea that his black color makes him barbaric. This belief turns the weapon of the race against himself, as he condemns himself and Desdemona subsequently inevitably destroying their lives. While Othello is.