Othello Character Analysis Othello is a play that, in my mind; is a calling to everyone that has ever felt like an outsider, but always sticks their hand out to help someone in need. Othello is constantly trying to remind himself, and others that he is needed in their society. Although Othello is an outsider, he also has a weakness that will inevitably be the cause of his suicide. Othello struggles with trust and Iago uses this quality to his advantage. Soon, the death of Othello is the ending of the play and the ending of the life of one of the best characters Shakespeare ever created. Starting at the very first of the play, Othello is seen as an outsider in Venice, he possesses skills that the state needs, and he is a necessary part of the society. Cassio states that the senate sends out three search parties for Othello, which lets the reader know how important he is to society. The government trusts Othello enough to put him in charge of Cyprus, and even in Othello’s dying speech he makes sure the Venetians remember the “service” he has done for them. Othello presents himself as an outsider for one of two reasons: either because he knows his exotic qualities, or because of his insecurities about being different from the other Venetians. In Act I, scene III, Othello states, “Rude am I in my speech, / And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace.” Although Othello is hardly ever rude, he does lose his articulacy as he is always facing the plots of Iago. Even in his final words, Othello very eloquently, he regains his composure and woos the audience with his words one final time. The lines that are spoken before his suicide are words that could persuade almost anyone, and it is hard to tell if its Othello’s self-tormenting, or Iago’s use of him as a ridiculous puppet drove him to committing suicide. Even though Othello is a strong man, his need to be accepted, which we as human beings all have; is ultimately what caused his death. Iago is a brutally manipulative man and plays on people’s weaknesses. He plays on Othello’s most fatal trait, which is trust. The worst feeling to a human being is a broken heart. It’s so terrible that you can even die from stress-induced cardiomyopathy, which is caused by broken heart strings from emotional trauma. Iago convinces Othello that Desdemona is sexually involved with Cassio. Iago even goes far enough that he steals Desdemona’s handkerchief and plant it on Cassio. In reaction to this, Othello kills the woman he loves, and eventually kills himself. Although suicide is looked down upon by society, the reader is led to feel like this is a noble death because of the gracefulness of Othello’s dying speech. Shakespeare was a brilliant writer, and still today is one of the most celebrated writers of all time. Although Othello takes his own life, the drama and lies throughout this play make it one of Shakespeare’s best works. Othello is one of the most studied works of art in high school and college, and obviously for good reason.