The play Othello, by Shakespeare is set in Venice.

Othello has spent the greater part of his life on the battlefield. He is very impulsive, and possesses a childlike simplicity and purity of heart when it comes to worldly issues. He is honest and open, and it is clear that he expects the same honesty from others when he says that, “…men should be as they seem”. Othello consistently refers to Iago as “honest Iago” because he appears to be honest to Othello and therefore believes that he is. However, Iago’s view on honesty is much more cynical, and has said, “pricked to’t by foolish honesty and love”, deeming what are perhaps Othello’s best attributes foolish. The Duke of Venice uses Othello to defend Venice and Cyprus, but would undoubtedly dismiss him once proven useless because in the opening scenes the only reason they dismiss Brabantios accusations is because they’ll need him to defend Cyprus. His exploitation reflects the type of manipulative society Shakespeare is trying to portray and is more obvious in Iago’s exploitation of Othello’s innocence and betrayal of his trust. Iago sees Othello’s honesty and innocence as a weakness, so instead of working to preserve Othello’s trust he seeks to exploit it, he uses it to destroy him. The fact that Othello is uncertain about Venetian culture and even more so in regards to women, Iago lies about Venetian women and their dishonesty and lack of moral values because he knows that Othello has no evidence to disprove his allegations. In this aspect he relies upon “honest Iago” to enlighten him about the true nature of Venetian women in order to make a wise decision in regards to his relationship with Desdemona. However, Iago is not honest and corrupts Othello’s mind with lies, feeding a growing suspicion by saying, “I know our country disposition well; In Venice they do let God see pranks they dare not show their husbands.” (Act III, III, 201- 203)

In Act III, Scene III, Iago urges Othello not to worry and “leave it to time”, however, Iago knows that Othello’s nature forbids it. Othello is an impulsive, decisive man and can not live in doubt or dwell on issues long. Earlier on in the scene Othello says, “I’ll see before I doubt, when I doubt, prove; and on proof, there is no more but this – Away at once with love or jealously.” In this aspect Othello is a cultural outsider because at the time much of Europe was engaged in a scientific quest for knowledge. Venetian culture was based upon civil order, commerce and calculations. Othello’s culture and profession does not permit deep thought; it is not one of explanations and detailed accounts. Othello accepts what he believes to be the truth unquestioningly. In Act III, we can witness Othello’s rather quick deterioration. Due to Iago’s relentless manipulation and deception Othello becomes a victim of deceit and in the end he loses himself. In the beginning of the play, Othello exudes confidence and eloquence in speech. By the end of Act V, he like the Venetians requires “ocular proof” adopting some of the European culture that dominated that period. Iago and the Venetian society gradually eat away at what goodness he possessed. Once a man of fantastic stories, he is eventually reduced to mad rants and seizures.

Othello is essentially the story of a proud, intelligent, heroic, loving and patient outsider who is destroyed by pure evil, personified in Iago. Perhaps Shakespeare’s message is that what little goodness there is within cruel societies can be destroyed. That evil exists in all forms and all societies despite the appearance of order and harmony. I believe that his message is that even though evil within a society can reek havoc upon one’s mind and dictate one’s actions it can not corrupt a pure heart. Evidence to which can be found in Othello’s last words when he returns to his world stories.