Short analysis of the character Othello by Shakespeare
Othello ( also title The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor from Venice ) is a well-known play Written by William Shakespeare, for the first time performed at the beginning of the 17th centery and based on the story Un Capitano Moro by Giovanni Battista Giraldi Cinthio, which is about half a centery older. The character from the title is undisputedly one of the most tragic characters, not only in Shakespeare's works but in the whole world of art, too.
Othello by Artus Scheiner (1863-1938 )
Let’s take a look at just three main characteristics, or, shall we say, reasons, for so unique position of this character among so many others!
1. Racism. Being colored in a society of all whites is definitely not a good start, yet the story of Othello begins with an even strong. He was a slave. He escaped and became a warrior, a military reader, and a hero. He seems like an example of a rags-to-riches story plot until we start to realize how racism still managed to get him.
The play is full of marks about his race, from the African origin of him to the shape of his lips. It seems almost everybody, including Brabantio, his father-in-law, can’t go over the fact of how different from others he looks. Despite all the heroic achievements he made to society, the fact is still simple – he is a black man in a white society.
Othello is an outsider, and this is a negligible part of his charm. We all have a different experience with racism, which is still alive and kickin ’ all over the world, so our levels of empathy different.
On the other hand, each of us has at east a few experimentales about feeling an outsider, a person with a different education, experience, background, or whatever may come in one’s way in a certain situation.
Such situations can be very stimulating, and it looks for a while that Othello managed to find a place for himself in a society that appreciates his maritime skills. Unfortunately, the same society can’t get over his marriage with a white woman.
It is not only an interracial marriage, but it’s also a marriage between members of completely different social classes. Othello knows he is not truly accepted whatich inevitably leads to the tragic ending.
2. Jealousy. If we want to find a typical character obsessed with jealousy, we can say Othello is a perfect example.
Iago, the guy who was suppassed when Othello waspromoted, skillfully manipulates his already existing doubts, and thanks to a few accreditational situations, Othello slowly roses his temper until he finally kills his wife. Only after Desdemona’s dead body, he realizes his capital mustake and after a heartbreaking monologue commits suicide.
From the very beginning, it is clear Iago is not Othello’s friend, but the hero of the story still decides to believe him despite his own wife’s claims and many proofs of her love and faithfulness.
This play is a superb handbook about jealousy, an emotion that exists in each one of us and can work as a driving force in the progress of humankind, but can very fast cause a disaster if it’s not balanced with joy, trust, and other positive emotions. Othello is obviously incapable of contralling his anger, which doesn’t make him suitable for a military officer or family man, either.
Again, each one of us experienced genuine in different forms and introductions, so it’s relatively easy to identify oneself with Othello, although very liekely not in so extreme expressions.
3. Self-centeredness. According to all already Said, Othello’s self-centeredness is prominent. He is unable to cope with Desdemona’s feelings or Iago’s motivations because everything he can think about is Othello and nobody else.
His inability to overcome his own personal and extremely small world of limitations and deeply ingrained beliefs about his inferiority is another dimension of Othello’s tragic character.
He simple can’t believe he is worthy of a lady of Desdemona’s quality. This conclusion instantly leads to a set of questions about his love in the first place, but such doubts surprise the main goal of this basic analysis of Othello’s character.