The Pitiful Characters of Othello :: Othello essays

The Pitiful Char transactioners of Othello In Othello, no good love exists between any of the characters. Shakespeare creates a weave of romantic and platonic couples whose affection is weak and unsustainable. Iago, not Othello, is master of this play he establishes either the action. There is an underlying weakness and depravity in all the characters, or Iago would never have been able to ruin so many lives. But Iago is unswayed by the external his black heart is his only guide. When Iago tells Roderigo to wake Brabantio and set the wheels of distrust in motion, he is loud and boisterous, even vulgar. He says, Rouse him...Do, with like timorous accent and dire yell as when by night and negligence, the fire is spied... (1.1 75, 82-84). Iago is interested only in the act of alarm. We imagine him lurking around the canals, sticking his bony finger into every soul to testing their limits and act accordingly. He has no conscience. For Iago, there is nothing bigger than he to temper his need to destroy. Iagos bad behavior sets the tone for all other interactions in the play. He has no need for honesty or affiliation he uses his wife to further his plot, betrays Roderigo, cares nothing for Cassio, and loathes Othello. He is a foil for characters who may know counterbalance from wrong but are not passionately committed to acting for good or evil. Shakespeare mirrors this noxious model in other characters relationships. Desdemona rebels against her father the Duke takes Othellos case Roderigo is so lovesick that he will stoop to any level to win Desdemona. Even in the primary romantic relationship, Othellos and Desdemonas, the love is flimsy and substantially broken. Neither Desdemona nor Othello gush about the heavenly course their love has taken - never do they claim to be star-crossed lovers. The origin of their love lies in the myths that Othello has make from his travels and conquests, not in common interests or a compatibility o f spirit. Desdemona can only imagine what Othellos life is like she is too passive to ever truly live. though some may argue that this love is mature and doesnt need Romeo-style proclamation, it is clear that Shakespeare has built their relationship on sand.