Passion And Reason In Shakespeare's Othello

We are all human. The fact that we are all human implies, by definition, that we are imperfect. We see humanism in all Shakespearean characters. He does not label them but rather gives them each strengths, weaknesses, and flaws. He transforms these figures into complex personalities, allowing them full freedom to falter and fail through their own actions. Othello is characterised by the conflict between passion and reason, and the alienation of those not included in Venetian society. "I think my wife be honest and think she is not. I think thou art just and think thou art not. I'll have some proof" illuminates the complex nature of the tragedy of Othello through the evident conflict between passion and reason.

To understand Othello's predicament, one must appreciate not only his "Africanness" but

Othello's "blackness" is not only a mark of his alienation. The racism towards Othello can be seen in connotations of bestiality and the demonic in "old black ram", "blacker devil", and "most filthy bargain". The use of imagery of blackness, implies the society's moral judgement of Othello as corrupt which later informs Othello's judgement of himself, becoming his weakness. The labelling of Othello as "the Moor", betrays the pervasiveness of his alienation. The difference between Iago's "I hate the Moor" and Desdemona's "the Moor, my lord," implies an awareness of difference. This repetition subtly reminds the audience of the impossibility of Othello's complete assimilation into society. Thus, racial tension of some kind affects Othello's relationships, ranging from Iago's blatant racism to Desdemona's naïve assimilationism. Othello either sees himself as either a convert, capable of complete assimilation or a barbarian, worthy of destruction. His failure to break free of