Othello

OTHELLO Othello is a universal play because it is very adaptable to new historical and cultural circumstances. It provides the responder with a diversity of interpretations and understanding but because of this much of its intended meaning was lost. It seems to me that othering, marginalization and racism have become a popular focal point of Othello. But this idea is flawed once we take into account the context of the era. Although there were many signs of racism, sexism and marginalization in Othello, we have to bear in mind the zeitgeist of Elizabethan era where sexism and racism were the prevailing attitudes adopted by a patriarchal and mono-cultural society. Shakespeare’s intention was not to address issues of racism and othering but target something more universal. That is, humanities flaws and mankind’s hubris. The most conspicuous aspect of Othello was not the difference in race or gender it was in fact the differences in the characters themselves. All the characters represent different social positions in a opportunistic society, they all have opposing personalities and serve as foils to each other. Othello and Iago are two almost completely different characters. Othello is a northern African general who is of “Free and open nature that thinks men honest”. He is a well respected and trusts everyone. And then we have Iago who has duplicity about him which he has managed to conceal for years “I’ am not what I am”. So much so that he is referred to by everyone as “honest Iago”. But in fact, never has evil been portrayed with such mastery than Iago. Iago despises humanity and seeks to find the worst in everyone. His constant use of animal imagery when describing people “as prime as goats as hot as monkeys as salt as wolves in pride” betrays his contempt for them. But Iago is not the villain that he is bluntly portrayed in theatre, he is the face of mankind. He represents the evil that exist within everyone. Iago is devoid of feelings, so weakly affected by it that he is able to dismiss it. Unlike Othello, Iago is not ruled by his emotions. Othello has an extremity about his emotions which makes him very outgoing, and not very bright. His emotions once aroused can overwhelm his capacity for reason. He isn't observant and “can tenderly be led by the nose as asses are”. Iago’ ability to know everyone’s characters and flaws “with a learned spirit of human dealings” contrasts with Othello naivety. Iago uses Cassio as a medium to expose Othello’s jealousy. Cassio is physically the opposite of Othello he is Italian, young polished and courteous someone who has “a daily beauty in his life” an “a smooth dispose” His role in the character was not to point out racial and cultural differences but to emphasize the insecurities such as appearance within Othello. “Haply for I am black . . . not have those soft parts of conversation . . . I am declining into the vale of years.” By manipulating Othello’s insecurities through Cassio, Iago exposes Othello’s“Jealousy, the green eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on” The root of Othello’s jealousy and naivety is pride. The Venetian society’s obsession with rank and “Reputation . . . the immortal part of myself” is instrumental in Iago’s manipulation of Othello. Othello is defensively proud of himself and his achievements, and especially proud of the honorable appearance he presents “My parts, my title, my perfect soul” this is shown through the use of iambic pentameter often spoken from noble characters. The allegations of Desdemona's affair hurt his pride even more than they inflame his vanity and jealousy; he wants to appear powerful, accomplished, and moral at every possible instance, and when this is almost denied to him, his wounded pride becomes especially powerful. Initially we see that Othello is an authoritative figure and a man of power evident by his line “Good, Iago go to the bay and disembark my coeffers” which essentially means to go get his bags. But as the Story progresses Othello gradually loses control to Iago who unlike Othello; who relies on his rank and reputation for power, believes that “Power and corrigible authority lies in our will” As Iago takes control he manipulates Othello and targets his naivety and insecurities that are linked to the love of his wife Desdemona. By using Desdemona’s false infidelity to play on his weaknesses Iago exposes Othello’s preoccupation with pride and reputation. IN contrast to Othello, Desdemona is indifferent to reputation and partially free of vanity, jealousy and competitiveness. Othello’s actions were influenced by his insatiable need for control which he felt was slipping away. By comparing Othello’s to Desdemona his hubris is made more apparent And this seems to point out that social success is founded upon lies and flattery and society’s preoccupation with rank and reputation have rendered it incapable of friendships. To survive in the Elizabethan era it was necessary to behave in the way Iago does. Some may argue that Iago met his fate in the end. But I view it differently, Iago survived, and his torture is symbolic of the inner turmoil and the psychological torture most would experience living a life of lies. Mans inquisitive nature and hubris can ultimately destroy himself seems to be the message Shakespeare tries to convey in this story and perhaps he was right. Iago’s famous last words “what you know you know” can be interpreted as a final condemnation of Othello, pointing out to that Othello that he himself is to blame. The role of Iago in the play was not to show us the racist, patriarchal, Machiavellian society of Venice but to use him and other characters to serve as a foil to expose the Hubris and Hamartia of mankind by using him as a catalyst to destroy a hero.