Bassani​ ​1

Vianna​ ​Bassani

Mr.​ ​Bless

English​ ​Foundations​ ​II​ ​Honors

16​ ​May​ ​2017

Challenging​ ​Human​ ​Nature

In​ ​Shakespeare’s​ ​tragedy​ ​Othello​,​ ​human​ ​nature​ ​is​ ​challenged​ ​by​ ​the​ ​contrasting

personalities​ ​of​ ​characters,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​Othello,​ ​Desdemona,​ ​Iago,​ ​and​ ​Emilia.​ ​Othello​ ​faces​ ​the

cultural​ ​struggle​ ​of​ ​being​ ​a​ ​black​ ​Moor​ ​in​ ​a​ ​white​ ​Venetian​ ​dominated​ ​society.​ ​His​ ​marriage​ ​to

Desdemona,​ ​who​ ​is​ ​seen​ ​as​ ​pure,​ ​becomes​ ​juxtaposed​ ​to​ ​his​ ​insanity.​ ​Iago​ ​and​ ​Emilia​ ​both​ ​share

a​ ​hidden​ ​motive,​ ​that​ ​drives​ ​them​ ​to​ ​manipulate​ ​and​ ​act​ ​cunningly​ ​in​ ​the​ ​eyes​ ​of​ ​Othello​ ​and

Desdemona.​ ​Each​ ​character​ ​is​ ​confronted​ ​with​ ​the​ ​challenge​ ​of​ ​accepting​ ​their​ ​place​ ​in​ ​society,

or​ ​creating​ ​a​ ​new​ ​role​ ​for​ ​themselves,​ ​dependent​ ​on​ ​their​ ​desires.​ ​Othello,​ ​Desdemona,​ ​Iago,​ ​and

Emilia,​ ​face​ ​an​ ​inner​ ​conflict​ ​with​ ​themselves,​ ​that​ ​is​ ​inherent​ ​in​ ​their​ ​actions​ ​and​ ​thoughts,​ ​that

drives​ ​them​ ​to​ ​act​ ​in​ ​a​ ​way​ ​that​ ​challenges​ ​human​ ​nature​ ​and​ ​morals.

Othello’s​ ​attempt​ ​to​ ​maintain​ ​high​ ​social​ ​standing,​ ​being​ ​a​ ​black​ ​Moor​ ​in​ ​Venice,​ ​creates

pressure​ ​that​ ​drives​ ​him​ ​to​ ​insanity.​ ​When​ ​Othello​ ​marries​ ​Desdemona,​ ​he​ ​is​ ​chastised​ ​by

Brabantio,​ ​a​ ​high​ ​ranked​ ​senator​ ​and​ ​Desdemona’s​ ​father,​ ​because​ ​of​ ​the​ ​biracial​ ​marriage.​ ​He

explains​ ​to​ ​Brabantio​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Duke​ ​that​ ​“of​ ​[his]​ ​whole​ ​course​ ​of​ ​love─what​ ​drugs,​ ​what

charms,​ ​what​ ​conjuration,​ ​and​ ​what​ ​mighty​ ​magic...[he]​ ​won​ ​[his]​ ​daughter”​ ​(1.3.93-96).​ ​Othello

would​ ​easily​ ​be​ ​subjugated​ ​to​ ​prejudice​ ​due​ ​to​ ​his​ ​race​ ​in​ ​the​ ​society,​ ​and​ ​he​ ​tries​ ​to​ ​display​ ​how

he​ ​seamlessly​ ​fell​ ​in​ ​love​ ​with​ ​Desdemona,​ ​ ​and​ ​did​ ​not​ ​influence​ ​her​ ​decision​ ​in​ ​their​ ​marriage.

Once​ ​Brabantio​ ​accepts​ ​their​ ​marriage,​ ​Othello​ ​rises​ ​to​ ​another​ ​level​ ​in​ ​society,​ ​not​ ​just​ ​being​ ​a
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high​ ​ranked​ ​military​ ​officer,​ ​but​ ​also​ ​the​ ​husband​ ​of​ ​the​ ​highly​ ​respected​ ​Desdemona.​ ​Since

Desdemona​ ​is​ ​idealized​ ​in​ ​the​ ​play,​ ​Othello​ ​is​ ​able​ ​to​ ​be​ ​manipulated​ ​into​ ​thinking​ ​that​ ​she​ ​is

cheating​ ​on​ ​him​ ​with​ ​Cassio.​ ​Iago​ ​creates​ ​a​ ​sense​ ​of​ ​jealousy​ ​within​ ​Othello,​ ​and​ ​causes​ ​him​ ​to

question​ ​his​ ​relationship.​ ​However,​ ​Othello​ ​becomes​ ​controlled​ ​by​ ​Iago’s​ ​manipulation,​ ​and​ ​this

leads​ ​him​ ​to​ ​challenge​ ​his​ ​true​ ​love​ ​for​ ​Desdemona.​ ​At​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​drama,​ ​Othello​ ​is

conflicted​ ​with​ ​his​ ​feelings,​ ​as​ ​he​ ​wants​ ​to​ ​“kill​ ​thee”,​ ​but​ ​also​ ​“love[s]​ ​thee”​ ​(5.2.18-19).​ ​This

uncertainty​ ​is​ ​embedded​ ​in​ ​human​ ​nature,​ ​since​ ​Othello​ ​still​ ​loves​ ​Desdemona,​ ​but​ ​wants​ ​to​ ​act

on​ ​instinct​ ​and​ ​out​ ​of​ ​anger​ ​to​ ​get​ ​revenge.​ ​He​ ​feels​ ​like​ ​he​ ​finally​ ​is​ ​able​ ​to​ ​be​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​Venetian

society,​ ​and​ ​for​ ​Desdemona​ ​to​ ​“cuckold”​ ​him,​ ​would​ ​be​ ​a​ ​blow​ ​to​ ​his​ ​stance.​ ​His​ ​decision​ ​to​ ​kill

Desdemona​ ​is​ ​ultimately​ ​an​ ​exploitation​ ​of​ ​his​ ​thoughts,​ ​which​ ​are​ ​influenced​ ​by​ ​Iago,​ ​and​ ​it

reduces​ ​his​ ​morals​ ​of​ ​being​ ​human,​ ​to​ ​being​ ​an​ ​uncivilized​ ​person,​ ​similar​ ​to​ ​how​ ​people​ ​view

him​ ​before​ ​his​ ​rise​ ​in​ ​society.

In​ ​contrast,​ ​Desdemona,​ ​after​ ​betraying​ ​her​ ​father,​ ​is​ ​seen​ ​as​ ​an​ ​icon​ ​in​ ​the​ ​tragedy,​ ​using

her​ ​inner​ ​beauty​ ​to​ ​find​ ​the​ ​best​ ​in​ ​people.​ ​Desdemona​ ​is​ ​believed​ ​to​ ​be​ ​loyal​ ​to​ ​her​ ​father,​ ​since

they​ ​live​ ​in​ ​a​ ​patriarchal​ ​society.​ ​However,​ ​once​ ​she​ ​elopes,​ ​Brabantio​ ​warns​ ​Othello​ ​that​ ​“she

has​ ​deceived​ ​her​ ​father,​ ​and​ ​may​ ​thee”​ ​(1.3.296).​ ​This​ ​immediately​ ​challenges​ ​Desdemona’s

sincerity​ ​from​ ​the​ ​beginning,​ ​putting​ ​a​ ​strain​ ​on​ ​how​ ​much​ ​people​ ​can​ ​actually​ ​trust​ ​her.

Throughout​ ​the​ ​play,​ ​she​ ​is​ ​seen​ ​to​ ​genuinely​ ​care​ ​about​ ​Othello,​ ​and​ ​listens​ ​to​ ​what​ ​he​ ​has​ ​to

say,​ ​reviving​ ​the​ ​loyalty​ ​she​ ​lost​ ​with​ ​her​ ​father.​ ​As​ ​Iago​ ​manipulates​ ​Othello’s​ ​thoughts,

Desdemona​ ​is​ ​not​ ​aware​ ​of​ ​the​ ​whole​ ​plot​ ​being​ ​created​ ​against​ ​her.​ ​Othello,​ ​along​ ​with​ ​many

other​ ​characters,​ ​believe​ ​that​ ​she​ ​is​ ​an​ ​honest​ ​woman,​ ​who​ ​would​ ​never​ ​do​ ​anything​ ​to

undermine​ ​their​ ​character.​ ​She​ ​is​ ​perceived​ ​like​ ​this,​ ​however​ ​Othello​ ​believes​ ​that​ ​she​ ​is
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becoming​ ​more​ ​and​ ​more​ ​evil.​ ​At​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​tragedy,​ ​when​ ​Desdemona​ ​finds​ ​out​ ​about​ ​her

soon​ ​to​ ​be​ ​death,​ ​she​ ​begs​ ​Othello​ ​to​ ​“kill​ ​[her]​ ​tomorrow”​ ​and​ ​“let​ ​[her]​ ​live​ ​tonight”​ ​(5.2.83).

Although​ ​Desdemona​ ​has​ ​no​ ​real​ ​understanding​ ​of​ ​why​ ​she​ ​is​ ​being​ ​killed,​ ​she​ ​is​ ​willing​ ​to​ ​be​ ​a

martyr​ ​for​ ​their​ ​love.​ ​Her​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​first​ ​stand​ ​up​ ​to​ ​her​ ​father​ ​at​ ​the​ ​beginning​ ​of​ ​their​ ​love​ ​story,

and​ ​then​ ​become​ ​more​ ​and​ ​more​ ​naive​ ​as​ ​the​ ​plot​ ​progresses,​ ​challenges​ ​her​ ​true​ ​morals​ ​and

nature​ ​as​ ​a​ ​human​ ​being.

Iago’s​ ​anger​ ​of​ ​not​ ​obtaining​ ​his​ ​desired​ ​military​ ​rank​ ​drives​ ​him​ ​to​ ​hysteria,​ ​which

makes​ ​him​ ​influence​ ​the​ ​thoughts​ ​of​ ​others​ ​to​ ​gain​ ​attention.​ ​Iago​ ​hates​ ​Cassio​ ​before​ ​the​ ​play

even​ ​starts,​ ​because​ ​Cassio​ ​is​ ​chosen​ ​to​ ​be​ ​Othello’s​ ​lieutenant.​ ​He​ ​first​ ​tries​ ​to​ ​set​ ​up​ ​Cassio,​ ​by

encouraging​ ​him​ ​to​ ​drink,​ ​in​ ​which​ ​he​ ​gets​ ​drunk.​ ​Iago​ ​responds​ ​to​ ​Cassio’s​ ​worries​ ​about​ ​his

reputation,​ ​that​ ​“reputation​ ​is​ ​an​ ​idle​ ​and​ ​most​ ​false​ ​imposition”​ ​(2.3.262-623).​ ​This​ ​foreshadows

Iago’s​ ​intentions​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​story,​ ​because​ ​he​ ​twists​ ​Desdemona’s​ ​pure​ ​reputation​ ​to​ ​make

Othello​ ​believe​ ​she​ ​is​ ​cheating.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​also​ ​a​ ​response​ ​to​ ​Iago​ ​not​ ​getting​ ​the​ ​position,​ ​and​ ​how​ ​he

plans​ ​to​ ​get​ ​revenge.​ ​In​ ​order​ ​to​ ​frame​ ​Cassio​ ​and​ ​Desdemona,​ ​Iago​ ​takes​ ​the​ ​handkerchief​ ​that

Desdemona​ ​drops​ ​from​ ​his​ ​wife,​ ​Emilia.​ ​The​ ​handkerchief​ ​is​ ​of​ ​great​ ​importance​ ​because​ ​it​ ​is

the​ ​first​ ​gift​ ​Othello​ ​gives​ ​to​ ​Desdemona.​ ​When​ ​Emilia​ ​asks​ ​Iago​ ​why​ ​he​ ​needs​ ​the

handkerchief,​ ​he​ ​responds​ ​that​ ​he​ ​“[has]​ ​use​ ​for​ ​it”​ ​(3.3.336).​ ​As​ ​part​ ​of​ ​his​ ​plan,​ ​he​ ​wants

Othello​ ​to​ ​think​ ​that​ ​Cassio​ ​has​ ​the​ ​handkerchief​ ​because​ ​Desdemona​ ​is​ ​cheating​ ​on​ ​him.​ ​Iago​ ​is

able​ ​to​ ​act​ ​in​ ​a​ ​way​ ​that​ ​causes​ ​Emilia​ ​to​ ​leave​ ​the​ ​conversation,​ ​without​ ​questioning​ ​the​ ​reasons

why​ ​he​ ​needs​ ​it.​ ​As​ ​his​ ​plan​ ​unfolds,​ ​and​ ​Cassio​ ​is​ ​framed​ ​with​ ​the​ ​handkerchief,​ ​Othello​ ​rages,

hearing​ ​Iago​ ​and​ ​Cassio​ ​talk​ ​about​ ​who​ ​he​ ​thinks​ ​is​ ​Desdemona.​ ​Iago​ ​tells​ ​Othello​ ​that

Desdemona,​ ​“gave​ ​it​ ​[to]​ ​him”,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​completely​ ​untrue,​ ​however​ ​Iago​ ​has​ ​gained​ ​the​ ​power
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of​ ​manipulation​ ​over​ ​Othello​ ​(4.1.176).​ ​Iago,​ ​being​ ​the​ ​main​ ​villain​ ​in​ ​the​ ​tragedy,​ ​faces​ ​an​ ​inner

conflict​ ​of​ ​his​ ​own​ ​personal​ ​needs.​ ​Since​ ​he​ ​is​ ​denied​ ​his​ ​intended​ ​position,​ ​he​ ​uses​ ​this​ ​as

motivation,​ ​to​ ​frame​ ​Cassio​ ​and​ ​Desdemona,​ ​while​ ​enraging​ ​Othello.​ ​His​ ​wickedness​ ​objects

true​ ​sanity​ ​and​ ​human​ ​nature,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​driven​ ​by​ ​his​ ​need​ ​to​ ​have​ ​attention.

On​ ​the​ ​other​ ​hand,​ ​Emilia,​ ​who​ ​faces​ ​both​ ​conflict​ ​and​ ​resolve,​ ​is​ ​the​ ​most​ ​true-to-life

character​ ​based​ ​on​ ​her​ ​thoughts​ ​and​ ​actions.​ ​When​ ​talking​ ​to​ ​Desdemona​ ​about​ ​unholy​ ​acts​ ​such

as​ ​cheating,​ ​Desdemona​ ​can​ ​not​ ​bring​ ​herself​ ​to​ ​believe​ ​that​ ​she​ ​would​ ​do​ ​something​ ​like​ ​that,

but​ ​Emilia​ ​reacts​ ​differently.​ ​She​ ​asks​ ​Desdemona,​ ​“who​ ​would​ ​not​ ​make​ ​her​ ​husband​ ​a​ ​cuckold

to​ ​make​ ​him​ ​a​ ​monarch?”​ ​(4.3.78-79).​ ​Emilia​ ​is​ ​upfront​ ​about​ ​vice,​ ​and​ ​that​ ​sometimes​ ​you​ ​have

to​ ​do​ ​what​ ​you​ ​have​ ​to​ ​do​ ​to​ ​get​ ​what​ ​you​ ​want.​ ​She​ ​explains​ ​that​ ​she​ ​would​ ​not​ ​live​ ​her​ ​life

with​ ​evil,​ ​but​ ​that​ ​sometimes,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​necessary.​ ​At​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​drama,​ ​when​ ​Emilia​ ​finds​ ​out​ ​that

Othello​ ​has​ ​killed​ ​Desdemona,​ ​she​ ​confesses​ ​that​ ​she​ ​“found​ ​[the​ ​handkerchief],​ ​and​ ​[she]​ ​did

give’t​ ​[to​ ​her]​ ​husband​ ​[​sic​]”​ ​(5.2.237).​ ​This​ ​honesty​ ​depicts​ ​the​ ​real​ ​intentions​ ​of​ ​Emilia,​ ​and

her​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​be​ ​true​ ​to​ ​herself​ ​and​ ​others.​ ​Emilia​ ​is​ ​an​ ​example​ ​of​ ​a​ ​person​ ​who​ ​exemplifies

undeniable​ ​human​ ​nature​ ​and​ ​morals.​ ​She​ ​is​ ​able​ ​to​ ​understand​ ​sinful​ ​acts,​ ​but​ ​would​ ​not​ ​use

them​ ​to​ ​destruction,​ ​like​ ​other​ ​characters​ ​had.

In​ ​Othello​,​ ​Shakespeare​ ​is​ ​able​ ​to​ ​explore​ ​human​ ​nature,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​effects​ ​that​ ​inner​ ​evils

can​ ​have​ ​on​ ​the​ ​actions​ ​and​ ​thoughts​ ​of​ ​others.​ ​Out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​characters​ ​Othello,​ ​Desdemona,​ ​Iago,

and​ ​Emilia,​ ​each​ ​one​ ​has​ ​a​ ​conflict​ ​that​ ​controls​ ​them,​ ​and​ ​makes​ ​them​ ​unaware​ ​of​ ​their​ ​effect

on​ ​others.​ ​Iago​ ​uncovers​ ​each​ ​of​ ​their​ ​weaknesses,​ ​and​ ​is​ ​able​ ​to​ ​pry​ ​at​ ​his​ ​own​ ​motivation​ ​to

plot​ ​against​ ​them.​ ​Othello​ ​and​ ​Desdemona​ ​are​ ​ignorant​ ​to​ ​this,​ ​and​ ​follow​ ​Iago’s​ ​plan​ ​just​ ​the

way​ ​he​ ​wants​ ​them​ ​to.​ ​Emilia​ ​is​ ​the​ ​only​ ​character​ ​that​ ​faces​ ​Iago’s​ ​immorality,​ ​and​ ​uncovers​ ​his
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true​ ​intentions.​ ​Emilia​ ​is​ ​a​ ​symbol​ ​for​ ​authentic​ ​human​ ​nature,​ ​that​ ​transcends​ ​from​ ​Earthly

morality,​ ​to​ ​the​ ​words​ ​on​ ​Shakespeare’s​ ​pages.