Othello the Role of Traits

Othello

The Role of Traits and Weaknesses in Othello

Of all of Shakespeare's plays, Othello: The Moor of Venice, may be the one most driven by character development. All of the play's major characters exhibit very extreme traits and weaknesses, and all of these traits are necessary for the tragedy in the play to unfold. In fact, even the traits that could be otherwise considered positive are so extreme that they make the characters vulnerable to the machinations of the play. Othello is characterized by extreme insecurity, and naivete, which make it possible for Iago to make him believe that Desdemona is having an affair. Desdemona is characterized by being too trusting. Cassio depends too much upon the opinion of others, which makes it easy for Iago to manipulate him in a way that makes it seem as if Cassio is having an affair with Desdemona. Emilia's loyalty to her husband gives Iago the opportunity to provide Iago with physical evidence suggesting that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him. Finally, Iago's jealousy of causes him to seek revenge against Cassio, and his habit of lying makes it easy for him to manipulate the play's other characters.

Unlike the heroes in Shakespeare's other dramas, one finds it difficult to describe anything heroic in the way that Othello acts in the play, though descriptions of him hint at way he would have been considered heroic. The first introduction that the audience gets to Othello reveals him to be a boastful and proud man. Iago urges him to hide from Brabantio, Desdemona's father, who is coming to investigate reports that Desdemona and Othello are sleeping together. Rather than hide, Othello states that he will stay there, stating, "My parts, my title and my perfect soul / Shall manifest me rightly." (Othello, I.ii, 35-36). This statement initially gives one the impression that Othello is a confident man, but his later actions reveal that those statements are nothing more than the bluster of an insecure man. Later, he describes talking to Desdemona about his early adventures in his life, and says, "She loved me for the dangers I had pass'd / and I loved her that she did pity them." (Othello, I.iii, 182-183).

While her husband is too insecure, Desdemona is too trusting. Unlike Othello, Desdemona is able to recognize that Iago is a villain. She sees how he treats Emilia, and tells Emilia, "Do not learn / of him, Emilia, though he be thy husband." (Othello, II.i, 175-176). However, even though she has witnessed Iago's ill treatment of his own wife, Desdemona never suspects that Iago is the one convincing Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful. Of course, Desdemona's trust ends up being her fatal flaw. Even though Othello has been very cruel to her in the preceding days, Desdemona obeys his instructions for her to stay in her bed. She seems aware that she may be facing her death. She speaks of her possible death to Emilia and instructs her to use one of her bed sheets as a death shroud. (Othello, IV. iii, 26-27). Despite the fact that she has such a feeling, she still obeys Othello's instructions to wait in their bedroom. In fact, even when Othello enters their bedchamber and talks about killing her, entreating her to pray so that she does not die with a sin on her soul, Desdemona makes no effort to run from Othello, but questions him about why he is upset. (Othello, IV. iii, 45-51).

Cassio's flaw is not as obvious in the beginning part of the play, but plays a major role in the downfall of Othello. Cassio's flaw is that he is too concerned about other people's opinions. Thus, when he begins describing Desdemona to Montano, he does so in glowing terms, despite the fact that he has no romantic interest in Desdemona and appears to have little real knowledge of her. (Othello, II. i, 79-89). Though he knows that he is vulnerable when he drinks alcohol, Cassio allows Iago to goad him into drinking, because he is concerned about Iago's opinion of him. (Othello, II. iii).

Of course, Iago uses this one incident to demonstrate to Montano that Cassio is a drunk, which precedes the fight between Montano and Cassio, and is what puts Cassio in Othello's disfavor.

Emilia has tremendous loyalty for Iago, which he exploits in order to further his plot against Othello. She explains this somewhat when she and Desdemona are discussing women who make cuckolds of their husbands. Desdemona asserts that she could not cheat on Othello for the entire world, but Emilia disagrees. She asks, "why, who would / not make her husband a cuckold to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for't." (Othello, IV.iii, 81-83). In fact, during the play, she does things that she knows are wrong, simply because Iago has asked her to do so. She steals the handkerchief that Iago uses to provide physical proof to Othello that Desdemona is cheating, and she does so without determining why her husband would need that handkerchief.