Essay: Othello – moral choices

Arriving at a moral crossroad, every human is given a choice. The ability to see right and wrong at these crossroads is what defines us as people. The playwright William Shakespeare wrote Othello in 1604, and is known most prominently as the most renowned and esteemed writer in the English language. In the novel, Othello, The Moor is in control of his own destiny, and continuously chooses poorly due to his propensity to believe those who stoke his fears. There are other factors that contribute to Othello’s downfall, but the primary cause is his predisposition to believe anything he is told, excluding Desdemona’s pleas of innocence. Thus, he is responsible for his downfall as he does not distinguish between truth and falsehood.
Iago plays on Othello’s insecurities surrounding his skin color to manipulate him into believing that Desdemona might, at some point, cheat on him. Othello has always been self-conscious of his race as a black moor, and Iago knows this. Iago insinuates that Desdemona will leave him eventually for a white man. Othello and Iago discuss Desdemona’s potential infidelity, “Ay, there’s the point. As, to be bold with you,/ Not to affect many proposed matches/ Of her own clime, complexion, and degree,/ Whereto we see in all things nature tends—/ Foh! One may smell in such a will most rank,/ Foul disproportion thoughts unnatural—/ But pardon me—I do not in position/ Distinctly speak of her, though I may fear/ Her will, recoiling to her better judgment,/ May fall to match you with her country forms/ And happily repent (3.3.230-239)”. In this quote, Iago suggests that there must be something wrong with Desdemona insomuch as she has married a moor. He insinuates that she is “unnatural” and “rank” for marrying Othello, that there must be something wrong with her due to the fact that she did not marry a man more similar to her, in regards to her skin color and status (“of her own clime, complexion, and degree”). Iago manipulates Othello into thinking that Desdemona will repent her marriage to Othello, and leave him for a white man. Othello begins to think that because he is a Moor, he will never be good enough for Desdemona. Othello’s predisposition to believe every word Iago utters is seen here as Othello does not disagree with a word that Iago speaks, “Farewell, farewell./ If more thou dost perceive, let me know more (3.3.240-241)”. Iago’s manipulation leads Othello to completely believe that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio, and even leads him to go as far as to speak things similar to what the racist characters of the play have been uttering throughout the play, “Her name, that was as fresh/ As Dian’s visage, is now begrimed and black/ As mine own face (3.3.387-389)”. Othello uses racial imagery to compare his wife’s assumed infidelity with his “begrimed and black face.” Dian’s visage speaks to the goddess Diane, the goddess of chastity and the pale moon, something that Desdemona no longer reflects. In this quote, the color of his skin is associated as a negative quality, something that he now has internalized due to the racist philosophies of Iago.
Othello’s shortcoming is that he believes falsehoods as much as truths, and Iago is the master at creating a set of possibilities where falsehood and truth are equally believable. This is seen in his gardening statement, where he speaks on on planting a weed and a good plant. “Virtue? A fig! ‘Tis in ourselves that we are thus or/ thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our/ wills are gardeners. So that if we will plant nettles/ or sow lettuce, set hyssop and weed up thyme,/ supply it with one gender of herbs or distract it/ with many, either to have it sterile with idleness or/ manured with industry, why the power and corrigible/ authority of this lies in our wills” (1.3.313-324). His metaphor on gardening underscores how he is giving a range of possible things to believe allowing Othello to have a whole spectrum of beliefs of which it is difficult to discern the truth. Othello’s jealousy and suspicion is planted in his mind by Iago, similar to how a gardener would plant seeds, comparable to how Iago could be the expert gardener–sower of doubt in Othello’s mind. In the castle, Iago and Othello converse. Iago continues to plant seeds of doubt in Othello’s mind, yet he does so very secretively.
IAGO. Ha! I like not that.
OTHELLO.   What dost thou say?
IAGO. Nothing, my lord; or if—I know not what.
OTHELLO. Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?
IAGO. Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it
that he would steal away so guiltylike,
seeing you coming.
OTHELLO. I do believe ’twas he. (3.3.35-40)
In this quote, Iago denies seeing Cassio and Desdemona flirt, but he implies it heavily. This is another instance where Iago gives two possibilities where Othello cannot differentiate between the truth and fiction. Iago states that he can’t believe that Cassio would look so guilty but he insinuates the thought into Othello’s mind by calling him “guiltylike.” Iago is a master of suggesting a relationship between Cassio and Desdemona, yet he can never come out and say whether or not there is something happening between the two of them.
Iago has been able to manipulate Othello so profoundly that Othello is unable or unwilling to believe Desdemona when she advocates for her innocence, a fact that further supports that he cannot distinguish truth from falsehood. Othello accuses Desdemona continuously without any proof, and this only works to further upset her.
OTHELLO. Are you not a strumpet?
DESDEMONA. No, as I am a Christian.
If to preserve this vessel for my lord
From any other foul unlawful touch
Be not to be a strumpet, I am none.
OTHELLO. What, not a whore?
DESDEMONA. No, as I shall be saved.
OTHELLO. Is’t possible?
DESDEMONA. O, heaven forgive us!
OTHELLO.   I cry you mercy then:
I took you for that cunning whore of Venice
That married with Othello. You, mistress,
That have the office opposite to Saint Peter,
And keeps the gate of hell! You, you, ay, you! (4.2.81-91)
Desdemona furthers her claim to innocence, and Othello cannot see it. He calls her a whore to her face. Desdemona is bewildered at Othello’s behavior and cannot understand what she has done to deserve any of it. Othello compares Desdemona to a brothel owner, and is adamant that she has been unfaithful. Desdemona promises that she has been loyal to Othello only, but it’s too late. Othello’s mind has been corrupted by Iago’s mind games, and when he needs to choose between the truth (Desdemona’s innocence), and falsehoods (Desdemona’s affair with Cassio), he chooses poorly and continues to disregard Desdemona’s promises of fidelity. Desdemona’s loyalty to her husband is beyond all others; she advocates for her innocence and even after he calls her a whore and disregards her defense, she will do anything to win back his affections, “What should I do to win my lord again?/ Good friend, go to him; for, by this light of heaven,/ I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel:/ If e’er my will did trespass ‘gainst his love/ Either in discourse of thought or actual deed;/ Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense/ Delighted them in any other form;/ Or that I do not yet, and ever did,/ And ever will – though he do shake me off/ To beggarly divorcement – love him dearly,/ Comfort forswear me! Unkindness may do much,/ And his unkindness may defeat my life,/ But never taint my love. I cannot say ‘whore’:/ It does abhor me now I speak the word;/ To do the act that might the addition earn/ Not the world’s mass of vanity could make me” (4.1.148-163). This quote portrays Desdemona’s absolute denial of the accusations against her, and her absolute loyalty to her husband despite his ill-tempered allegations. Desdemona wishes to please her husband, and has an inordinate amount of dedication to him and thus will do anything to regain his trust. She cannot even say the word ‘whore’, as it disgusts her too much, much less even contemplate the act of betrayal. She has an abundance of love for her husband, yet Othello’s inability to decipher the truth from lies has cost Desdemona her life and her husband.
Othello’s downfall is caused by his tendency to not discriminate between the truth and falsehood. Othello is manipulated by Iago when Iago uses Othello’s insecurities surrounding his skin color to motivate him into thinking that Desdemona does not love him enough to stay faithful, and it is possible that she would cheat on him due to his race. Othello’s main flaw is that he believes falsehoods and truths equally, setting up his inevitable downfall. Iago masterfully creates alternate realities where lies and truths are indiscernible, a maze of different stories and perspectives. Iago’s manipulation has caused Othello to be disinclined to hear Desdemona’s cries of innocence, further burying the metaphorical knife in their respective backs.