Othello’s Confliction Between Characters, Essay Example

Shakespeare’s “Othello” draws from concern over Ottoman aggression and turns this idea into a larger theme of moral uncertainty. The largest fear that Shakespeare’s audience felt when watching “Othello” was that of losing identity, much as Othello himself does. Fanning this fear was the already unstable political world at the time of “Othello.”

At the start of the play, the audience learns that Iago hates Othello because Othello didn’t choose Iago as his lieutenant, even though he feels he deserves that position. Iago and Roderigo decide to wake up Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, in the middle of the night. Desdemona had been secretly married to Othello, which Brabantio didn’t know. Brabantio assumes that Othello forced Desdemona to marry him. The supposed theft of Desdemona by Othello relates to the Turks trying to steal Cyprus. Vitkus states that, “[Brabantio’s]…fear that ‘Bondslaves and pagans’ might beguile their way to power…reflects a real concern about the growing strength of Islamic sea power…” When Othello is brought in to speak with Brabantio, Iago tells Othello that he didn’t want to listen to all the terrible things Brabantio said about Othello, even though in reality Iago and Roderigo sparked the entire problem.

In Act 1 Scene 3, the Othello’s military thinks that a Turkish fleet is approaching Cyprus, but in reality the fleet is approaching Rhodes. The First Senator believes this is a trick to confuse them, much as Iago tried to confuse Othello by pretending to side with him and against Brabantio. The Italian military realize that Cyprus is more important to the Turks than Rhodes is, as well as more easily captured. They find out that the Turks joined a second fleet in Rhodes and go on their way to Cyprus. This relates to the tricks that Iago continues to play on Othello by acting one way but feeling another.

When Desdemona confirms that she wanted to marry Othello, Brabantio is angered even further and the Duke tries to ease the situation by telling Brabantio to not get upset over something that he cannot change. The Duke says:

Let me speak like yourself and lay a sentence

Which, as a grise or step, may help these lovers.

When remedies are past, the griefs are ended

By seeing the worst, which late on hopes

depended (Shakespeare 1.3.200-2004).

In a tongue-in-cheek way, Brabantio tells the Duke that this must mean that if the Turks steal Cyprus, they should all just keep smiling, by saying, “So let the Turk of Cyprus us beguile, we lost it not, so long as we can smile” (Shakespeare 1.3.210-211). Brabantio continues on to say that, in the current situation, simply trying to make the best of the situation won’t work.

Iago also says that since Othello likes Iago, it’ll help his revenge. Further, Iago wants to find a way to make Cassio hurt Othello as well. He decides to tell Othello that Cassio has become intimate with Desdemona. He feels that Othello will be easily manipulated because he is straightforward and honest, and thus expects every man to be the same. Iago says:

After some time, to abuse Othello’s ear

That he is too familiar with his wife.

He hath a person and a smooth dispose

To be suspected, framed to make women false.

The Moor is of a free and open nature

That thinks men honest that but seem to be so,

And will as tenderly be led by th’ nose

As asses are (Shakespeare 1.3.333-339).

In Act 2 Scene 1, Montano, the previous governor of Cyprus, is looking out on the ocean, contemplating the impending battle between Italy and the Turks. Montano says, “What ribs of oak, when mountains melt on them, can hold the mortise? What shall we hear of this?” (Shakespeare 2.1.8-9). Montano’s questioning of the war’s outcome mimics the audience’s wonderment at what will happen in Othello’s personal life. Montao guesses that “If that the Turkish fleet be not ensheltered and embayed, they are drowned. It is impossible they bear it out” (Shakespeare 2.1.18-21). As Montano expected, a gentleman reports that the storm “banged” the Turks (Shakespeare 2.1.22) and shipwrecked most of the Turks’ fleet.

Iago tries to get Cassio drunk so that a fight will break out. Iago says, “If I can fasten but one cup upon him, with that which he hath drunk tonight already, he’ll be as full of quarrel and offense as my young mistress’ dog (Shakespeare 2.3.30-33). Iago tells Montano that Cassio drinks nightly, which is a lie. Montano feels that Othello should know about this. As planned, Cassio does get into a fight with Roderigo.

At this point, Othello enters and says, “From whence ariseth this? Are we turned Turks? And to ourselves do that which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites?” (Shakespeare 2.3.132-134). Vitkus feels that “these words imply, first, that ‘heaven’ has providentially intervened on the side of the Venetian navy, preserving their ships while dispersing and perhaps destroying the Turkish fleet…” Othello asks how the fight started and Montano urges Iago to tell the truth, blaming it on Cassio, even though Iago is supposedly close with Cassio. To this, Iago responds, “I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth than it should do offense to Michael Cassio” (Shakespeare 2.3.184-185). Iago then went on to create a story that would put Cassio in a bad light and Othello evoked Cassio’s position as lieutenant. Iago then encourages Cassio to speak with Desdemona in the hopes of changing Othello’s mind. Iago hopes that if Desdemona helps Cassio, Othello will start losing faith in her. Iago says:

And by how much she strives to do him good

She shall undo her credit with the Moor.

So will I turn her virtue into pitch

And out of her own goodness make the net

That shall enmesh them all (Shakespeare 2.3.267-271).

Desdemona promises Cassio that she will be constantly speaking to Othello about reinstating his military position as lieutenant. Desdemona tells Cassio, “My lord shall never rest, I’ll watch him tame and talk him out of patience…I’ll intermingle everything he does with Cassio’s suit”  (Shakespeare 3.3.22-26). When Othello sees Cassio leaving his conversation with Desdemona, Iago fuels the fire by saying that Cassio looked guilty. Desdemona then encourages Othello to make up with Cassio.

Iago continues to trip up Othello by acting like he doesn’t want to express his true opinion of Cassio. Iago tells Othello that he loves him, and Othello responds, “I think thou dost. And for I know thou ‘rt full of love and honesty…Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more” (Shakespeare 3.3.122-126). Iago then warns Othello to watch Desdemona’s friendship with Cassio, saying, “Look to your wife, observe her well with Cassio. Wear your eyes thus, not jealous nor secure” (Shakespeare 3.3.202-203). Iago furthers his case by reminding Othello that Desdemona lied to her own father to marry him and suggesting that she may want to be with an Italian in the future instead of Othello.

Othello begins to question Desdemona’s loyalty, saying:

If I do prove her haggard,

Though that her jesses were my dear heartstrings,

I’d whistle her off and let her down the wind

To pretty at fortune…

She’s gone, I am abused, and my relief

Must be to loathe her. Oh, curse of marriage

That we can call these delicate creatures ours

And not their appetites! (Shakespeare 3.3.265-275).

When Othello ceases to understand Desdemona, he no longer thinks of her as saintly. According to Vitkus, “Othello’s loss of identity is caused by his misidentification of Iago, Cassio, and Desdemona.” Othello’s new fear of females links to the racial fears of the era. Europeans were scared that they would all be forced to become Turkish as Ottoman power grew.

Othello is angry at Iago for bringing Desdemona’s unfaithfulness to his attention, saying that he would have remained happy in his marriage if he didn’t know about any of this. Othello begins to question everyone’s character since his viewpoint on the people in his life keeps changing. Othello tells Iago, “I think my wife honest and think she is not. I think thou art just and think thou art not” (Shakespeare 3.3.394-395). Othello eventually believes that Desdemona is cheating on him and says:

Now do I see ‘tis true. Look here, Iago,

All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven.

‘Tis gone.

Arise, black vengeance, from the hollow hell!

Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne

To tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with thy fraught,

For ‘tis of aspcis’ tongues! (Shakespeare 3.3.454-460)

Othello then demands that Iago kill Cassio and also says that he wants Desdemona dead as well. Othello continues to speak of Desdemona as having “turned,” and according to Vitkus, “Othello seems to be thinking of a physical turning of her body taking place in the imaginary bed [that she shared with Cassio].”

“Othello” continually relates its characters’ struggles to the conflict between the Turks and Othello’s regiment. The overall theme of uncertainty in self and in the intent of others’ parallels the way the Turkish conflict made Othello and his military feel about the state of Cyrpus. Eventually, Othello loses all sense of identity, resulting in tragedy. Furthermore, Iago’s overall trickery and manipulation mirrors traditional military strategy.