At the beginning of the play Othello does not appear to be jealous. We believe that Othello is an intelligent solider. It does not go into action without a good reason. He stops a number of fights in his early appearance.
“Keep up your bright swords for dew will rust them ……” (Act 1 Scene 2 59).
Here Othello stops Barbantia from attacking him. This proves Othello doesn’t fall straight in to battle. He takes over the conflict.
As a husband, Othello is shown to be a loving and trusting partner to Desdamona. In his early appearance Othello is shown his love to Desdamona but he also trust Desdamona.
“I do beseech you, send for the lady to the saggitary ...”
(Act 1, scene 3, 144-115).
Othello is trying to prove that he won Desdamona fairly just by telling her stories:
“She wished she had not heard it, yet she wished that heaven had made her such a man. She thanked me.” (Act I, scene 3, 161-162).
Othello is represented to be a loyal friend. This factor leads him to be deceived by Iago. He believed a lot in Iago, and rusted him too well. Throughout the play Othello shows how much he trusts Iago:
“Honest Iago” (act I, scene 3, 290).
This shows that Iago’s plan at first was to build up Othello’s trust for him. This way Iago was able to manipulate Othello s mind without Othello questioning Iago as much.
At the beginning of the play mostly everybody knows Othello as “the moor.” If Othello was white the Brabantio would not have been as angry when Othello run away with his daughter. In other words there was a large amount of racism at the beginning of the play towards Othello but it then decreases as Othello gains more respect from everyone. Iago made Othello feel like a foreigner, he told Othello that he didn’t know anything about the Venicians way of life:
“In Venice they do let god see their pranks they dare not show their husbands.”
(Act III, scene 3, 203-204.)
Shakespeare shows Othello as a bad and a good leader. We know that Othello has to be a good leader because he’s a general and has a lot of experience. We know that a lot of people rely on Othello’s leadership to defend Venice. We see Othello’s good leadership when Cassio loses his position as lieutenant when Cassio gets drunk and becomes violent. Although Othello decision was made on the spot he was willing to investigate Cassio another chance:
Desdemona: “… good love, call him back.”
Othello: “not now sweet Desdamon; some other time.” (Act III, scene 3, 54-55).
Shakespeare shows Othello as a good character by making it clear that he believes in an honest person. Iago takes advantage of this and makes it look as if he is an honest person:
“…As honest as I am.” (Act II, scene I, 192)
We see Othello puts trust in to other people from the beginning. The first time he does this is to Desdemona. He trusted her to tell Brabantio the truth about their relationship. Iago made himself look trusting because when something happens Iago always makes sure Othello is the first to know. This makes Iago look trusting and innocent. This was iago’s plan, to stay close to Othello make them be good friends.
As the play progresses Othello becomes confused and doesn’t know who to trust, this is because Iago manipulates his mind in to thinking that he is a foreigner and that he doesn’t the Venicians way of life; therefore Iago is able to make Othello think that Desdemona is unfaithful. This proves not only that Othello does not know who to trust but that he has an open imagination; Othello’s opinion is easily changed. Once Iago started to spend time with Othello that was when othello’s imagination was being played. For example; Iago gives little hints about Desdemona and then backs away making Othello very suspicious. Iago gives little sneaky hints to Othello which almost tells Othello what to think such as when Cassio is talking to Desdemona and then leaves, Iago makes it look like he was running away from Othello:
“… That he would steal away so guilty like.” (Act III, scene III, 38.)
Iago toys with othello’s mind by questioning him; this makes builds up Othello’s suspicious. Iago questions Cassio when he accompanied Othello in courting Desdemona:
“Did Michael Cassio, when you wooed my lady, know of your love?” (Act III, scene III, 93-94.)
This makes Othello suspicious, and immediately after he replies to Iago’s question he quickly asks “why dost thou ask.” Iago backs away saying it was just out of thought.
Another way Iago does to make Othello jealous is by using repetition, such as this conversation:
Iago: “ Indeed ?
Othello:” Indeed? ay indeed
……
Iago: Honest my lord
Othello: Honest? Ay honest
…
Iago: Think my lord
Othello: Think my lord!”
(Act III, scene III, 100-107)
Iago uses repeated phrases to provoke Othello’s imagination. Iago also suggests that he has concern but he cannot share it with Othello for fear of it being wrong:
“Utter my thoughts! Why, say they are vile and false?” (Act III, scene III, 167).
This makes Othello look innocent and honest. The Iago speaks of jealousy:
“O, beware my lord of jealousy” (Act III, scene III, 167).
This makes Othello angry but this is exactly how Iago wants him to feel. Iago then makes Othello feel uncomfortable when he says that Desdemona deceived her father:
“To seal her father’s eyes up as oak.” (Act III, scene III, 212).
Straight after Iago ask for pardon and pretends to regrets having spoken:
“I humbly do beseech you of your ….. Pardon too much loving you.” (Act III, Scene III, 270).
Once Iago leaves Othello is left on his own with his thoughts. We can see that he is fustrated and that Iago has corrupted his mind:
“O, curse of marriage” (Act III, scene III, 270).
