The Foolish Othello

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In the tragedy Othello by Shakespeare there are three characters. Shakespeare used many character traits in this tragedy. There are many character traits in Othello evil, foolish, and pure good. Shakespeare made Othello a naïve fool but a virtuous man.

Othello has always been in love with Desdemona; but he let everything get in the way. Othello says "Rude am I in my speech, And little bless'd with the soft phrase of peace: For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith, Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used Their dearest action in the tented field, And little of this great world can I speak, More than pertains to feats of broil and battle, And therefore little shall I grace my cause In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience, I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver Of my whole course of love" (1.3.81-91). In this quote Othello describes his love for Desdemona; and tells his life story to explain himself. This quote took place in the very beginning when he and Desdemona just got married. Then he let Iago into the picture; and then Othello’s and Desdemona’s pure love was diminished. When Iago comes to tell Othello that Desdemona is being unfaithful he states, “Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof” (3.3.3360). Even though Iago has come and told him that his wife is cheating he wants proof that she is doing that. The reason why is because he loves her so much, and he does not want to just assume that she is being unfaithful. Now Iago kept coming back feeding the fire that he created; by talking to Othello about the “love triangle” between Cassio, Desdemona, and himself. Othello states “Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul But I do love thee! And when I love thee not, Chaos is come again”(3.3.90-2)...

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...t Desdemona. Othello dismisses Iago from the room because this is where you can start to see that Iago’s plan is plan is working. After all of this Othello tells Iago to kill Cassio and he would take care of his wife. When the plan is completed and Iago has got caught he states “Demand me nothing: what you know, you know: From this time forth I never will speak word”. (5.2.11) Othello has ruined his name for good with his people, and his country. Once he realizes this he kills himself because he was not virtuous at this point he was foolish.

One would say that Othello has been played like a fool. But another could say that Othello has done it to himself; because after all he did trust a liar. Othello is a naïve fool but he is a virtuous man.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William, and Jane Coles. Othello. Cambridge, England: Cambridge UP, 1992. Print.

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