Throughout the play, Shakespeare presents Othello as a trusting man. Shakespeare uses this attribute of Othello’s character so that he trusts the wrong people and ends up being very credulous. For example, when Othello says; “My friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago”. This quote shows the audience that Othello trusts Iago dearly and thinks of Iago as a true friend. Othello mentions, “Honest Iago” frequently throughout the play and puts the audience under the impression that Othello thinks Iago is honest and that he is on his side. Iago realises that Othello trusts him and uses this to his own advantage to deceive Othello and cause jealousy. For example, when Iago says; “Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poisons. Which at the first are scarce found to distaste, but with a little act upon the blood, burn like the mines of Sulphur”. This quote shows that Iago realises Othello’s weakness of jealousy. Shakespeare uses this soliloquy as a dramatic device which makes the audience now know that Iago has realised Othello’s weakness in character.
Shakespeare wanted to show the audience that Othello is easily manipulated in love. For example, when Othello says; “She loved me for the dangers I had passed and I loved her that she did pity them.” This quote shows that Othello believes she was only in love with him because of his stories and not his morality. Another reference to Othello being easily manipulated is when Othello says; “If thou dost love me, show me thy thought” and Iago replies, “My Lord, you know I love you.” This quote shows how easily Othello is manipulated into thinking Iago is his friend but the truth is that Iago hates Othello.
Othello is also shown as man with no confidence in his race. For example when he says; “Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw the smallest fear or doubt of her revolt; for she had eyes, and chose me”. This shows that Othello is worried about his race and is shocked that Desdemona fell for him even though he was black. He also says; “My name, that was as fresh as Dian's visage, is now begrimed and black as mine own face” and “All my fond love thus do I blow ... 'Tis gone. Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell!” This shows that Shakespeare uses a metaphor in Othello’s language substituting his black race for something disgusting. Othello is shown with him thinking his race is something negative. Othello is a trusting character in the play, a man who is loyal and believing. For example when Othello says,” Come, dear love the purchase made, the fruits are to ensue: the profit’s yet to come ‘tween me and you.” This shows Othello talking about sex as a fruit to enjoy.
Othello’s trust can be taken to his weakness when people use his trustworthiness against him, for example when Othello says, “The fountain from the which my current runs, or else dries up; to be discarded thence! Or keep it as a cistern for foul toads. To knot and gender in!”This quote shows that Othello’s attitude has changed after speaking with Iago and highlights to the audience how manipulative Iago really is. The audience can see how Othello feels about Iago telling him that Desdemona has ruined the relationship by sleeping with other people.
Another weakness of Othello’s character is that he is very ignorant and is not aware of Iago tricking him. For example, when Iago says to Othello; “I swear by Janus”. This means that he is swearing by Janus- the two faced God. This ironically reveals to the audience that he is also being two faced with Othello. This also shows the audience how Othello is also very ignorant and he does not realise how easily he is being manipulated and tricked by Iago.
Shakespeare also constructed Othello’s character as a morally strong person and a man who has many positive attributes but along with these every positive attributes comes a weakness. Shakespeare wanted to show that Othello’s character can easily be manipulated and tricked. He wants to show that Othello is too trusty and is not that observant. He does this well by creating Iago’s character, a man who can manipulate people and is two faced.
