Othello, the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare
One thing I have noticed from the beginning of the play to towards the end is the shift in Othello's character. In the first act, Brabantio, Roderigo, and Iago are questioning Othello and accusing him of drugging and stealing Desdemona. Most men would freak out and be mad and react to these accusations, but Othello is a calm and cool leader. He says simply ask Desdemona and she will tell you what is going on. He trusts her and is confident in their love that she would tell the truth. This parallels the end of the play where Othello is asking pretty much everyone else other than Desdemona about what is going on. He asks even Emilia before he goes to Desdemona. Emilia defends Desdemona saying, "...to wager she is honest, Lay down my soul at stake. If you think other, Remove your thought, it doth abuse your bosom" (IV.ii.12-14). He still doesn't believe even the woman closest to Desdemona. This shows that Iago's tactics have definitely been getting to Othello. He has managed to completely change Othello's way of dealing with rumors and stress. Iago truly is turning out to be a master of deception and one of the greatest villains of all time.
First off: not "drugging" Desdemona, but Iago is mad that Michael Cassio was promoted to Othello's second in command instead of him and Roderigo is mad because he loves Desdemona and wanted to marry her. When he "asks" her, it is during his trial when Brabantio (Desdemona's father) is accusing Othello but Desdemona reveals that she loves hi and is willing to go against her father to love Othello (and the fact that she married him)"To you, preferring you before her father, So much I challenge that I may profess."And actually Iago didn't change Othello's way of dealing with stress, he just manipulated him by making him think that Desdemona was unfaithful.But then again we could say Othello was at fault because in terms of trust, he is quite naive. However, to end this off, Iago doesn't reveal any intentions especially because he keeps switching them (Cassio stole his job, he is in love with Desdemona) when they are just excuses. He does it becuase he can, and he knows he can do it.(And obviously his character shifts, he's been fooled by Iago! Plus this is a tragedy!) As I have read the play and seen the film a number of times all I can say ishats off to Shakespeare and Olivier Parker.
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