The catastrophe of Othello Othello is a combination of greatness and weakness in his own words “An honorable murderer” (Shakespeare V.ii, 295). He is a general in the venetian defence forces and although a foreigner from Africa, he has won this post by excellence in the field of war. Othello is characterized by his plainspoken, honest (perhaps even naïve) nature, which, together with his status as an outsider, leaves him vulnerable to the plots of his standard-bearer, Iago, to make him suspect his loyal wife, Desdemona, of infidelity. Othello is an outsider who is intelligent and confident in military matters but socially insecure. Many of Othello's insecurities are derived from his race and from the perception that …show more content…
Othello begins with words of respect for the Senate, “ Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors, My very noble and approved good masters” (Shakespeare I. iii, 76-77) and then acknowledges the obvious: He has married Brabantio’s daughter. He declares he is a soldier with no skills in making speeches. This is an extraordinary declaration, appearing as it does within a very dignified and elegantly expressed speech that shows that Othello does indeed know how to express himself. Othello’s elegant speeches come at psychologically important moments in his life: when he is under pressure, he summons up his strength, faces his situation and presents his case in beautifully expressed images. The ability to compose himself and to give a speech under pressure has been a valued quality in a military leader. Othello has courage, intelligence and the skill of command. Thus in the beginning we can portray him as once when he makes any decision, he is a military man decisive in …show more content…
Othello is clearly very much in love with Desdemona and in killing her he denies himself his own happiness; which heightens the tragedy. Iago’s true Machiavellian victory is that he orchestrates Othello having to take responsibility for his own downfall. Othello means to act righteously, but he fails to use his sense of logic reason. He has condemned Desdemona without proof, without reason. He is torn between his love for her and his resolve to accomplish justice. So here we can say that as the act approaches the end, certain changes does take place in Othello in terms of his strong determination. Othello’s insecurities are so close to the surface that a few words of hint and innuendo from Iago can tear the confident exterior and expose his fears, desires and tendency to violence. Othello cannot stand uncertainty; it drives him to destroy his