“Good, good. The justice
of it pleases. Very good” (III, I, 228-229)
Iago has just proposed that Othello strangle Desdemona in
her sleep, and Othello appears to be excited over this plan. The difference in
Othello is striking, because he is willing to kill a person that he supposedly,
was in love with. He is also willing to take such dramatic action without
speaking to Desdemona first. Everything that Iago has used to prove the alleged
affair between Cassio and Desdemona could be completely falsified if Othello
simply asked Desdemona for an explanation. Instead, Othello looks at the proof
and agrees with Iago. Othello’s love for Desdemona can come into question, because
if he actually loved her he would be looking for every possible reason not to believe
Iago; Othello quits on his relationship with Desdemona. Also, even if Desdemona was having an affair
with Cassio, killing her still would not serve justice. Othello is no longer
the eloquent speaker from Act I, he is just a controlling jealous husband who
is in need of anger management. Othello’s change in character illustrates that
jealousy has always been a trait of Othello because there is no other
explanation for his response to Iago’s claims. Therefore, when Iago puts
Desdemona’s loyalty into question, Othello completely loses himself and his
personality changes completely.
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