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Tragedy of Trust Naive, unsophisticated, proud, and strong-willed, although a short list of characteristics it is broad in meaning, almost a paradox in ways. These are the personality traits that are brought out in the character of Othello throughout the play, The Tragedy of Othello. However, only a few of these traits would have been apparent if it had not been for the character of Iago. He instigated all of the wrong- doing that occurred by recognizing the weaknesses of Othello and using them against him. Iago was a better judge of character than most, thus he was able to pull off the scheme that he did by playing everyone off of one another to confuse, irritate, and eventually breakdown and drive Othello to self-destruction. The strength of Othello's character is shown through his title, given by Venetians, as the Moor.
Othello likes to be in control of all situations, such as when Rodrigo antagonized the fight between Casino and Montano; he says: Now, by heaven, My blood begins my safer guides to rule, And passion, having my best judgment collied, Or do but lift this arm, the best of you Shall sink in my rebuke (II, iii, lines 211 - 216). This also displays the respect that he is given by everyone else. Othello is also very confident of who he is, a great warrior. His confidence allows him to stay calm in situations early in the play, such as when Barbantio comes to kill him.
Othello simply says, Hold your hands, both of you of my inclining and the rest. Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it without a prompter (I, ii, lines 95 - 8). His calmness is amazing and can only be displayed by those true warriors who have seen and experienced the worst of battles. Although the battles that Othello has fought and won have given him strength and courage, they have also allowed him to become naive to the corruptness of those that are closest to him, such as Iago.
It is natural, though, for Othello to think that he can trust his soldiers, the men that he goes to war with to defend each others lives. Iago was seen as an honest person by everyone, also, which added to the difficulty for Othello to see through him. Many times Othello expresses his confidence in trusting Iago, such as when he spoke to the Duke, So please your grace, my ancient; A man he is of honesty and trust. To his conveyance I assign my wife, With what else needful your good grace shall think, To be sent after me (I, iii, lines 306 - 10). Othello also put his full trust into Desdemona after knowing her for only a short period of time.
It seems rational enough, though, for him to be able to trust the one to whom he is married. This comes to haunt him later in the play when he realizes, with the influence of Iago of course, how easy he tends to trust people without question. When Iago delivers the news of Desdemona's unfaithfulness, Othello has no choice but to believe him. There is no reason, which Othello can see, why not to believe him, Iago has always been a trustworthy man and he barely knew Desdemona before they were married. This is where Othello begins to question himself and his actions. He comments, She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity them (I, iii, lines 181 - 2).
Othello made this remark early in the play only to find out how true it was, they were not really in love just in love with what each other does. He also remembers the powerful statement made by Desdemona's father earlier in the play, Look to her, Moor, if thou has eyes to see: She has deceived her father, and may thee (I, iii, lines 316 - 18). This is sending Othello's mind in a thousand different directions filling it up with feelings of hatred, denial, and betrayal. He is in a confused state of mind and cannot make much of anything at this point. Needless to say, this is obviously the downward spiral of Othello; Iago's plan is working to perfection.
Other characters are noticing the change in Othello's behavior as well. Desdemona finds out the hard way, when Othello slaps her. She is in the dark about what is going on with Othello; she just does not know what to make of it. Lodovico is there to witness the slap and is surprised at Othello's actions, and right away he questions the stability of their so-called warrior, Is this the noble Moor whom our full Senate Call all in all sufficient? Is this the nature Whom passion could not shake? whose solid virtue The shot of accident nor dart of chance Could neither graze nor pierce (IV, i, lines 299 - 303).
The thoughts that Iago put into Othello's mind are leading him into a jealous rage. The thought of his newly wed wife cheating on him is hurting his pride more than anything, I think. This is probably the first time Othello has been confronted with a situation like this where he feels disrespected by those that are close to him; he has always been the one that people look up to. He does not know what to think of it or how to handle this situation. Overreaction is a killer, as Othello displays. After some time has passed and the thoughts of Desdemona betraying Othello have sufficiently eaten away at his conscience, he decides to visit her one last time.
There is no rational thinking occurring in Othello's mind at this point, it is all reaction to Iago's words and little scenes that were set up by Iago. It is not until after Desdemona is dead that Othello regains his senses and rationalizes everything. This is when he finds out that it was not his wife that was betraying him, but it was his long-time companion Iago. Othello's pride is destroyed here; he is extremely ashamed of his overreacting causing him to lose rational thought. Everything that Othello had gained by serving as a general at war was thrown away; he lost all self-respect and felt the only rational consequence was to do was to die by his own hand.
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