Brandon Stone

English 339

2 – 2 – 05

Dr. Marx

Othello’s Pride

William Shakespeare’s famous character Othello is a proud man. He is a Moor who has managed to climb to the top of the Italian army to become general and has married the beautiful and much sought after Desdemona. Through all of his accomplishments he has risen to the top of society [SM1] despite being a victim of racism. In all of his success it is no wonder that he has become so proud. Yet, pride can be costly. Iago, Othello’s villain, schemes against the Moor and ultimately destroys him. Though Iago is responsible for Othello’s demise, Iago exploits Othello’s pride to bring him down.

Othello has an especially confident air about him during the first two acts. He takes control of every situation with poise and sometimes even arrogance. Though the arrogance only shines through on occasion it is without a doubt present.[SM2] For example, in a confrontation with Brabantio in act 1 scene 2, where Brabantio tells Othello that he should go to jail for marrying his daughter Othello replies, “How may the Duke be therewith satisfied, whose messengers are here about my side upon some present business of the state to bring me to him?” (lines 87 – 89). Othello knows that he will not go to jail and displays a pompous and overconfident attitude when informing Brabantio that the Duke needs him. He makes it seem like he doesn’t have enough time to deal with Brabantio, a high ranking city official, and that he is too important to be bothered with this quarrel[SM3] . It is this self pride that Iago exploits to destroy Othello. Iago makes Othello believe that Desdemona is having an affair, but he does not make Othello murder her. Iago never even recommends that Othello kill his wife. Othello’s pride drives him to murder, “I’ll chop her into messes! Cuckold me!” (Act 4 scene 1 line 202[SM4] ).

Othello does not want to kill Desdemona. In fact, he is still in love with her despite believing she has been disloyal, “I must weep, but they are cruel tears. This sorrow’s heavenly; it strikes where it doth love.” (Act 5 scene 2 lines 20 – 22). Yet, even after she innocently pleads for her life Othello kills her to preserve his reputation and dignity. Othello is not a man to put love in front of his reputation[SM5] . His honor is more important to him than his own wife. He calls himself “an honorable murderer, if you will; for naught I did in hate, but all in honor.” (Act 5 scene 2 lines 289 – 293). Othello admits that he kills Desdemona to preserve his honor. Iago simply plants the seed of doubt in Othello’s head and Othello’s pride waters the seed to ultimately destroy him. Though Iago is the villain, Othello’s pride leads to his downfall[SM6] .

I watched the Lawrence Fishburne version of Othello. The first thing that I noticed was the tattoos on Othello’s head. They made him seem more like an outsider. It made him scarier in a way and most likely would have made him less appealing to women (especially in his time period). I enjoyed the scene of Michael Cassio getting drunk. Seeing him drunk made the scene more vivid than in the text. Probably the movie scene that added the most to the story was Othello’s facial expressions after he is told Desdemona may not be faithful. In the text he seems like he still has it together and does not believe the lies; however, in the movie when he looks as if he is going to be sick it shows that he is actually losing it[SM7] .