Psychological Analysis of Characters in Othello

Chapter 1 Introduction

1.1 About Othello

Othello, one of the four greatest tragedies of Shakespeare, differed from three others of Shakespeare, is a tragedy about weakness in human nature under the specific historical background. It is more concerned about human emotion and relationship.

Othello, a war hero of Venice, who is a black-skinned Moor, fell in love with a young white lady, Desdemona, whose father is a respectable senator. Although the others disapproved their interracial marriage, they did not change their mind and got married. But their happiness did not last long because the evil-minded Iago, Othello’s ancient, began his tricky intrigue for his malign revenge. He infused the idea of Desdemona’s disloyalty into Othello’s mind and worked out a sort of wicked evidence for himself. Unfortunately Othello was getting to believe his deceit gradually. At last all relations were damaged by Othello’s jealous hatred and revenge rage. He killed his fair Desdemona and then himself after realizing himself mistake.

1.2 About analyses in Othello

Even as one of the masterpieces of Shakespeare, Othello is one of the most completely misunderstood and, therefore, one of the least popular of Shakespeare’s great tragedies. For many years the bourgeois world has been unable to countenance the reality of the intermarriage about which the play centers. Even when some bourgeois audiences accepted this play, they felt a lack of emotional reality in the terms of a conflict that made Othello pitiable, no doubt, but only as a dupe, the victim of an unreasonable, causeless jealousy which robbed him of all tragic stature. (Annette T. Rubinstein, 1953:)

From recent years upon, many Shakespearian critics worked on the detailed analysis of human characters in Othello from the angle of the historical background or the style of the play. The examination of human characteristics carefully pointed out the specific personalities in Othello, but ignored the development of personality and deep contradiction of human nature

1.3 Contradiction of Human nature in Othello

Othello, a greatest tragedy about human nature in the period of Renaissance humanism, not only presented us a drama with simple characters of shallow-headed hero and malicious bad guy, but created the complete characters with full feelings. Many critics had discussed this tragedy from various aspects. But this paper focuses interested in the systemic analysis of

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Psychological Analysis of Characters in Othello

characters and made the conclusion of human contradiction in character.

The first dramatis persona Othello, despite his susceptibility to believe other’s lies, is a notable, ingenuous and clement man in nature. He is romantic and passionate man in loving a girl. But his dithyrambic love to Desdemona had evolves into irredeemable hate due to his weaknesses of personality. In this play, we can see different kinds of human nature from different characters. These characters differ in their sexes, ages, states of life, virtues and vices, but all of them show distinctive characteristics.

Chapter 2 Psychological analysis

2.1. Othello

First of all, Othello is a legendary great hero in this play, virtually a tragical hero. According to Shakespeare, he is portrayed as a real man full of love, hate, pain and revenge. His character is the most strong and major reason to the tragedy.

2.1.1 Valiant Othello’s pride

Othello is a great and valiant war-hero in Venice. He won the highest reputation in the council. Even the Duck would show his regards to him. But he was not born a warrior, the bitterness and troubles coming into his life molded him, steeling his mind to be a tough man. From his childhood, he began to face a lot of excruciating adventure. In his words to Duke there are much more description:

From year to year-the battles, sieges, fortunes That I have passed.

I ran it through, even from my boyish days To th’very moment that he bade me tell it, Wherein I spoke of most disastrous chances, Of moving accidents by flood and field,

Of hairbreadth scapes i’th’imminent deadly breach, Of being taken by the insolent foe

And sold to slavery, of my redemption thence, And portance in my travels’history, Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle,

Rough quarries, rocks, and hills whose heads touch heaven, (act 1.3 lines 132-143)

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Psychological Analysis of Characters in Othello

And of the Cannibals that each other eat, The Anthropophagi, and men hose heads Do grow beneath their shoulders. (Act1.3 lines 145-146)

These experiences shaped him a brave Othello. He was to be revered as a champion among warriors, an advisor among councilmen, a Moor among Venetians. His eminent military successes brought him great reputation and glory. And also he won Desdemona’s love by his stories of adventures and exploits.

He was exposed to the public as a brave and upright man. It is no doubt that a person owning a good name would preserve his self-esteem and ego and be proud of it. Othello is this kind of man. His confidence to himself with his honesty and honor was showing from his words:

My services which I have done the seigniory Shall out-tongue his complaints. ’Tis yet to know— Which, when I know that boasting is an honor, I shall promulgate—I fetch my life and being From men of royal siege, and my demerits My speak unbonneted to as proud a fortune As this that I have reached. (Act 1.2 line 18-25)

My parts, my title, and my perfect soul Shall manifest me rightly. (Act 1.2 line 31)

He owned his power of commanding the army and enjoyed the control of power and everything. It is convulsing when he replied to Brabantio’s angry action for Desdemona’s eloping.

Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them. Good signor, you shall more command with years Than with your weapons. (Act 1.2 lines 60-62)

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Psychological Analysis of Characters in Othello

What a powerful man he is! But this sense of pride at times is easy to crush, because of the inferiority in his deep heart.

2.1.2 Othello’s sense of inferiority

It is true that Othello is a Moor, a black-skinned Moor. In the initial configuration of the play, this fact is, however, almost irrelevant. Relying on his own effort, he gained the highest honor for himself.

But let’s look on the historical background of the story. It was in the beginning of 17th century when Othello is written. At that time England had suffered a time of great racial tension. When Shakespeare began his work, the concept of racism and prejudice were already gestated in his mind. Clearly we can find some clues portrayed in the play to point out the injustice caused by such attacks on personal humanity.

Prejudices and racism is the inescapable component of Othello’s life. From the beginning of the story, when he fell in love with and married Desdemona, Shakespeare focused on the difference in color and age between Othello and Desdemona. Their marriage was frowned up. When Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, got the information of his daughter’s marriage, he was getting crazy. He cried,

″This accident is not unlike my dream. Belief of it oppresses me already.″ (Act 1.1 lines 146-147)

The actions of Barbantio initiated the interest in the race issue. Barbantio disapproved of his daughter ever marrying Roderigo who had not got a good reputation with him. But after hearing Iago telling him that his daughter was seeing a Moor he wished Roderigo,

″...O, Would you had had her!″(Act 1.1 line 179)

Thus Barbantio suggestd that a disrespected white man is superior to a respected noble and gentleman in the army whose only \"problem\" as Barbantio saw it was that he was black. From Brabantio’s claim in act 1.2 lines 65-72, comparison demonstrated Othello and Desdemona’s difference.

For I’ll refer me to all things of sense, If she in chains of magic were not bound Whether a maid so tender, fair, and happy, So opposite to marriage that she shunned

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Psychological Analysis of Characters in Othello

The wealthy curled darlings of our nation, Would ever have, t’incur a general mock, Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom Of such a thing as thou—to fear, not to delight.

Also the reader is much bombarded with the racist injustice of Iago to Brabantio:

Your heart is burst; you have lost half your soul. Even now, now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise! Awake the snorting citizens with the bell, Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you. (Act 1.1 lines -93)

Although Othello was not hearing these words by himself, but we can learn this kind of social environment, this was a reflection from the social situation that a colored people would not be treated well as a white man. Because being a black moor, even he is a Venice's military hero to all the people, he felt inferior due to his color. Annette T. Rubinstein concludes: Once we realize, however, as Shakespeare did, that Othello is a black man in a white society which then, as now, assumed its racial superiority, we have a sufficient cause for an unconscious gem of self-doubt in the strongest hero. (Annette T. Rubinstein, 1953:55)

About the question of Othello’s ethnological exactness, Margaret Webster interpreted obviously. The Moor, to an Elizabethan, was a blackamoor, an African, an Ethiopian. Othello is repeatedly described, both by himself and others, as black; not pale beige, but black. It is very apparent, and vital to the play, that Othello himself was very conscious of these same considerations and quiveringly aware of what the judgment of the world would be upon his marriage. (Margaret Webster, 1942)

A more proud man always would want to hide his weakness to other else. This is the only element of tragedy about historical environment. And it is one of the most potent factors to lead to his downfall.

On the other hand, comparison is another cause of his inferiority. Desdemona, his wife, is a young, beautiful, and even white girl, while he is a middle-aged black man. He thought he was unworthy of her in the nature of things. When he was suborned by Iago, he became more assure of his own weakness. Iago described Desdemona as a dissolute Venetian girl.

Not to affect many proposed matches

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Psychological Analysis of Characters in Othello

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. (Act 3.3 lines 245-253)

Othello did ever believe his own charm to his wife at first. But quickly he denied it. This manifests his lack of confidence in love because of his sense of self-inferiority.

2.1.3 Othello’s dithyrambic and romantic love

Othello had soaked in love with Desdemona's fawning adoration of him. This was a kind of accidental comfort for him after suffering tribulation for years. He was happy at the beginning of marriage. In his dialogue with Iago, he showed distinctly his love in furor.

For know, Iago,

But that I love the gentle Desdemona, I would not my unhoused free condition Put into circumscription and confine For the sea’s worth. (Act 1.2 lines 24-27)

His love was allegiant, guileless and sturdy. Although their marriage was up against Brabantio’s approval, he did not give up the chance of being together with Desdemona. He sworn to the Duke of their love of each other ″as truly as to heaven, I do confess the vices of my blood.″(Act 1.3 line 125).

Othello was so tender that he always considered about Desdemona’s position and respected her when Desdemona requested to company him to the battle field. He was moved and he pleaded for her:

Let her have your voice.

Vouch with me, heaven, I therefore beg it not To please the palate of my appetite,

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Psychological Analysis of Characters in Othello

Nor to comply with heat—the young affects In me defunct—and proper satisfaction, But to be free and bounteous to her mind. (Act 1.3 lines 263-268)

He thought love was not simply a kind of emotion, but a precious ideal. He felt the strength came from the lover and the most happiness from her. The scene of reunion in the harbor of Cyprus is the most impressed by the audiences with Othello’s fond of Desdemona. When they met again after long time’s separation, Othello is exited and enthusiastic. He calls her ″my fair warrior!″ He already viewed her as a hand-in-hand soldier with who he can go through fire and water and as part of his life. He praised:

It gives me wonder great as my content To see you here before me. O my soul's joy, If after every tempest come such calms, May the winds blow till they have wakened death, And let the labouring bark climb hills of sea Olympus-high, and duck again as low As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die, ’Twere now to be most happy, for I fear My soul hath her content so absolute That not another comfort like to this Succeeds in unknown fate. (Act 2.1 lines 184-192)

His soliloquy showed his love many times in the play. This love had became the whole of his life. The perfect ideal for love made him immersed in happiness and sorrow.

Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul But I do love thee! And when I love thee not, Chaos is come again. (Act 3.3 lines 98-100)

“Nay, had she been true,

It heaven would make me such another world Of one entire and perfect chrysolite,

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Psychological Analysis of Characters in Othello

I’d not have sold her for it.” (Act 5.2 lines 149-151)

Othello is also a romantic lover, owning the romantic ability in nature. In the strictest sense of the word he was an innate poet. He emotional and poetic words were frequent not only in his soliloquy, but also his daily dialogues. In his famous speeches that described their love story, he demonstrated \"This only is the witchcraft I have used.\" He demanded:″Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.″ He complained,

″Never, Iago. Like to the Pontic Sea, Whose icy current and complusive course Ne’er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on To the Propontic and the Hellespont, Even so my bloody thoughts with violent pace Shall ne’er look back, ne’er ebb to humble love, Till that a capable and wide revenge Swallow them up. ″ (Act 3.3 lines 469-475)

This is another verse of his concussive soliloquy about his love in act 4.2 lines 49-63:

Had it pleased heaven

To try me with affliction, had they rained All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head, Steeped me in poverty to the very lips, Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes, I should have found in some place of my soul A drop of patience. But, alas, to make me A fixed figure for the time of scorn To point his slow and moving finger at! Yet could I bear that too, well, very well. But there where I have garnered up my heart, Where either I must live or bear no life, The fountain from the which my current runs Or else dries up—to be discarded thence! Or keep it as a cistern for foul toads

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Psychological Analysis of Characters in Othello

To knot and gender in!

A. C. Bradley, in his Shakespearean Tragedy, depicted him:

And this imagination, we feel, has accompanied his whole life. He has watched with a poet's eye the Arabian trees dropping their med'cinable gum, and the Indian throwing away his chance-found pearl; and has gazed in a fascinated dream at the Pontic sea rushing, never to return, to the Propontic and the Hellespont; and has felt as no other man ever felt (for he speaks of it as none other ever did) the poetry of the pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war.

And he comes to have his life crowned with the final glory of love, a love as strange, adventurous and romantic as any passage of his eventful history, filling his heart with tenderness and his imagination with ecstasy. For there is no love, not that of Romeo in his youth, more steeped in imagination than Othello's. (A. C. Bradley, 1904)

Once we realize that Othello is a sensitive, romantic and broiling lover, however his love was too pure to be harm easily. The more strong he loved, the more damage came when love was to be stained. When being betrayed, His fierce love made him out of control.

At the end, he came to know Iago’s plot. He told the people around him that in their letters to write of him, he is not in malice. He said: \"Then must you speak of one that loved not wisely but too well\" (Act 5.2 line 3). After the speech was done, he carried out his sentence, took a sword and stabbed himself.

2.1.4 Othello’s insecurity

Insecurity is hidden in depth of character of Othello. This insecurity comes from his inferiority and his not understanding for Desdemona.

The love happened so quickly that there was no chance for them to get acquainted with each other before marriage. Othello said, \"She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity them\"(Act 1.3 lines 169-170). Moreover, they were not a couple who are married for years. They were just newly married. In this way, the base of their marriage was not firm, and their communication was not enough. In the circumstance he didn't really know Desdemona very well before, and further he was conscious of being under the spell of a feeling which can give glory to the truth but can also give it to a dream. That is why it offered the devil Iago the opportunity to destroy it.

On the other hand, Othello’s origin also inhibited him from understanding European women. He did see for himself the deception of Desdemona toward her father and remembered the words he had said to him: look to her, Moor, if thou has eyes to see: She has

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Psychological Analysis of Characters in Othello

deceived her father, and may thee (Act 1.3, lines 296-297). When Iago infuses the bad habits of Venetian women to his mind, Othello has no alternative but to believe him. Iago described the women in Venice in act 3.3 lines 215-216:

I know our country disposition well; In Venice they do let God see the pranks

They dare not show their husbands; their best conscience Is not to leave’t undone, but keep’t unknown.

His wife’s advantage and falseness also foster his insecurity. He began to suspect of her action and words. In his eyes she was a tricky actress. Every word from her mouth became pieces of lie. He doubted and convinced himself by his imagination. In the light of this, Iago’s illusive evidence was only assistant catalysis.

2.1.5 Othello’s naivety and purity

In the play Othello, the character of Othello has certain traits which make him seem naive and unsophisticated compared with many other people. It is relevant to his experience of his life. In a long time of his life, he is always fighting with the enemy and nature. He is trained as a skillful soldier. But he seldom set foot on the social community much, and even interpersonal communication. We can see his saying about it:

Rude am I in my speech,

And little blessed with the soft phrase of peace; For since these arms of mine had seven years’ pith, Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used Their dearest action in the tented field; And little of this great world can I speak More than pertains to feats of broils and battle. And therefore little shall I grace my cause In speaking for myself. (Act. 1.3 lines 83-90)

He neither understood the stage and class of the upper society, nor the feelings of a young girl. He just thought of the purest relations between human. Othello also had no sense of grey. He swa things are either good or evil. To Cassio’s mistake, he did not blame him much, but treated it as a duty of a general. So he made his decision immediately. “Cassio, I love thee, But never more be officer of mine.”(Act 2.3 line 241)

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Psychological Analysis of Characters in Othello

Furthermore, he was an idealist. Love was sacred and not be stained any little for him. Love also was so approbatory and fair that was worthy anything he did for it. Though Desdemona’s eloping can not get consent from her father and others, he thought this action was in the name of love. This was Othello’s purity.

But this advantage of character in the Moor last became his weakness that made him fail to notice Iago’s trick. Othello deeply believed the one when he recognizes him be. He knew nothing about Iago’s plot because there was nothing that convinced him that Iago would harm him. This was some kind of thoughts like Chinese three character primer: The human nature is good when he was born. A. C. Bradley also had same opinion:

Othello's nature is all of one piece. His trust, where he trusts, is absolute. Hesitation is almost impossible to him. He is extremely self-reliant, and decides and acts instantaneously. If stirred to indignation, as 'in Aleppo once,' he answers with one lightning stroke. Love, if he loves, must be to him the heaven where either he must live or bear no life. If such a passion as jealousy seizes him, it will swell into a well-nigh uncontrollable flood. He will press for immediate conviction or immediate relief. Convinced, he will act with the authority of a judge and the swiftness of a man in mortal pain. Undeceived, he will do like execution on himself. (A. C. Bradley, 1904)

This character is great. Othello's feelings and actions follow so inevitably from it and from the forces brought to bear on it, and his sufferings are so heartrending. When Iago gave him the information of Desdemona’s affair, at first Othello asked for the evidence, something tangible. But later he was easily convinced fully in Iago’s wicked so-called evidences.

2.1.6 The contradiction in the character of Othello

Othello was tough man, but he was a soft man at the same time. The conflict in his character often pushed him in a dilemma.

He was valiant in conquering, enthusiastic in loving. Meanwhile, he felt insecurity in the thing he had owned. He was lack of love from he was born. Therefore he was eager for love but, on the other hand, afraid of losing it. When he met Desdemona, she was such a perfect and fair lady that he never thought she would love him. When she told to him that if someone loved her, as long as telling her his story, he would woo her, he was touched and loved her for this.

But the more perfect Desdemona was and the more he loved her, the more unworthy he felt he was. His inferiority yielded the seeds of insecurity. It provided the opportunity for Iago to carry out his machinations. Iago’s deceits increased his jealous rages. He couldn’t believe

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Psychological Analysis of Characters in Othello

her betrayal at the beginning. And then was suspicious, convinced, jealous and hostile. In every psychological process his thought is continuing with contradictory. We can find the clues in the play.

I think my wife be honest and think she is not; I think that thou art just and think thou art not. I’ll have some proof. (Act 3.3 lines 400-401)

All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven. ’Tis gone.

Arise, black vengeance, from the hollow hell! Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne To tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with thy freight, For’tis of aspics’ tongues! (Act 3.3 lines 460-465)

Othello can not bear Desdemona’s immorality although he loves her so deeply. When he smothered her his heart was filled with love and hatred.

2.2. Iago

Evil has nowhere else been portrayed with such mastery as in the character of Iago. But he was not simply same as the bad guy in Shakespeare’s other drama. He was a talent, a machinator and even an adventurer, the character which was subtly conceived in this tragedy.

2.2.1 Iago’s cynicism and negative outlook.

Iago was a despicable Florentine who believed neither others nor lofty love. He was disgusted with human’s virtues and jealous of other’s happiness. He discarded magnificent cause, cursed sincere friendship and trampled other’s happy lives. His filthy mind was fully showed in the following sentences:

Though he in a fertile climate dwell,

Plague him with flies. Though that his joy be joy, Yet throw such changes of vexation on’t As it may lose some color. (Act 1.1 lines 72-75)

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Psychological Analysis of Characters in Othello

To him, love is only lust. He argued: ″It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission of the will.\"(Act 1.3 line 337) He felt men are nothing more than base humans who are led by our emotions and our sexuality. So he vilipended Othello and Desdemona’s love to the top of his bent.

It cannot be long that Desdemona should continue her love to the Moor, Nor he his to her. (Act 1.3 lines 344-345)

These Moors are changeable in their wills.

The food that to him now is as luscious as locusts shall be to him shortly as bitter as coloquintida. She must change for youth; when she is sated with his body, she will find the error of her choice. She must have change, she must.

(Act 1.3 lines 349-353)

He clearly realized his thought and goal. He considered men as two kinds: one was a foolish ass of serving his master all his time, and the other was a clever servant of attending on themselves. He admitted himself of the latter one. So he played with others as they were foolish asses.

A. C. Bradley gave his conclusion of Iago’s hatred of human’s goodness:

He has a spite against virtue, not from any love of evil for evil's sake, but partly because it annoys his intellect as a stupidity; partly (though he hardly knows this) because it weakens his satisfaction with himself, and disturbs his faith that egoism is the right and proper thing; partly because, the world being such a fool, goodness is popular and prospers. Goodness therefore annoys him. He is always ready to scoff at it, and would like to strike at it. In ordinary circumstances these feelings of irritation are not vivid in Iago -- no feeling is so -- but they are constantly present. (A. C. Bradley, 1904)

2.2.2 Iago’s hypocrisy

Iago was always pretending a good man to help others, but indeed he always measured them. He assumed to help Roderigo to gain Desdemona’s love, actually cheated his money. As a good friend’s advice, he dropped unreasonable doubt in Othello’s mind, and bended Desdemona’s true love. He bore vigilance in mind constantly. When Othello took him by the throat he merely shifted his part with his usual instantaneous adroitness. The deliberate and desultory dialogues of his words were bursting out his disguised angry to the peak:

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Psychological Analysis of Characters in Othello

Are you a man? Have you a soul or sense? God b’wi’you; take mine office. O wretched fool, That lov’st to make thine honesty a vice!

O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world, To be direct and honest is not safe. I thank you for this profit, and from hence I’ll love no friend, sith love breeds such offense. (Act 3.3 lines 390-396)

Although Iago was not grace man of being critical for everything, he was warm-hearted and the most honest known by his staff. He obviously knew this and was able to find a certain relief from the discomfort of hypocrisy in those caustic or cynical speeches which, being misinterpreted, only heightened confidence in his honesty. For a long time, he did not give any hint away to make himself suspicious.

2.2.3 Iago’s devil-liked heart and villainous revenge

Iago was the most evil and frightened villain. His revenge was rooting in his twisty ambition and fierce animosity. He was black-hearted and cold-blooded. He had no remorse with his own enmity of Othello. What the most bitter and spiteful man he is! He had such a smart head that he was able to perceive human’s mind in the face of others and made use of his ability. He knew completely Othello’s vulnerability and took the advantage of it to serve himself.

To get his place and to plume up my will In double knavery—How, how?—let’s see: After some time, to abuse Othello’s ear That he is too familiar with his wife. He hath a person and a smooth dispose To be suspected, framed to make women false. The Moor is of a free and open nature, That thinks men honest that but seem to be so, And will as tenderly be led by the nose As asses are.

I have’t. It is engendered. Hell and night

Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light. (Act 1.3 lines 394-405)

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Psychological Analysis of Characters in Othello

2.2.4 Iago’s amorality

Iago's entire scheme began when the \"ignorant, ill-suited\" Cassio was given the position he desired. He started his envy and plots to steal the position he felt he most justly deserves. He deceived, stole, and killed to gain that position. Eventually he decided to destroy everything when he observed that he can not obtain it. However, it is not that Iago pushed aside his conscience to commit these acts, but that he lacked a conscience to begin with. Iago's amorality can be seen throughout the play and was demonstrated by his actions.

He cheated Roderigo’s money by any means and made usage of him to achieve his purpose. He seduced Roderigo to kill Cassio so as to make them kill each other.

He abetted his wife, Emilia, to steal Desdemona’s handkerchief at first. When he got the handkerchief from Emilia’s hand, he did not pay attention to her any more. At last in order to cover his crime, he killed her.

In his eye, there was no friend and family. All persons were good while they were benefit for him. He treated them as the tool of achieving his goal. After that, they were nothing.

2.3. Desdemona

Desdemona was a pretty soft, virtuous and considerate lady who was infatuated with love. Meanwhile her sheen in character shadowed her beauty in appearance.

2.3.1 Desdemona’s constancy and boldness in love.

Desdemona’s father was a respectable senator. She lived in a noble community from her childhood. She obtained good education. She “feeds well, loves company, is free of speech, sings, plays, and dances well.”(Act 3.3 line 198) Such fair a girl she is! She fell in love with Othello because of his virility and manliness. It is because of her dream of pure love. But it was not allowed in a society where everything was valued according to class, race and status. In love she showed her desperate determine and fulfilled her promise in action. She was reliant on that her consistency would conquer all fear in the love. She narrated her love:

My downright violence and storm of fortunes May trumpet to the world. My heart's subdued Even to the very quality of my lord. I saw Othello's visage in his mind, And to his honors and his valiant parts Did I my soul and fortune consecrate. (Act 1.3 lines 252-257).

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Psychological Analysis of Characters in Othello

She was never regret for her love even in the heart-breaking moment. When Emilia said to her, \"I would you had never seen him!\" She replied,

″So would not I. My love doth so approve him That even his stubbornness, his checks, his frowns— Prithee, unpin me—have grace and favor in them.″ (Act 4.3 lines 20-21)

William Hazlitt, in his Characters of Shakespeare's Plays, explained her character that

the truth of conception, with which timidity and boldness are united in the same character, is marvelous. The extravagance of her resolutions, the pertinacity of her affections, may be said to arise out of the gentleness of her nature. They imply an unreserved reliance on the purity of her own intentions, an entire surrender of her fears to her love, a knitting of herself (heart and soul) to the fate of another. Her whole

character consists in having no will of her own, no prompter but her obedience. Her romantic turn is only a consequence of the domestic and practical part of her disposition(William Hazlitt,

1817).

2.3.2 Desdemona’s virtue

She inherently acted what she considered as right, and never fell in effect by other wrong opinion, but only led by her own conscience.

Desdemona and Emilia have an intimate talk on infidelity. She told Emilia that she doesn't believe there was such a woman who would betray her husband. Even Emilia responded there was a dozen of this kind of women would. She said:

”God me such uses send

Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend! (Act 4.3 lines 107-108)

When Cassio came to her to beg for her help, she promised him to talk with Othello about his restoration without any hesitation. These prove her kind-heart entirely.

2.3.3 Desdemona’s loveliness and tender heart

Desdemona’s tame and loveliness attached her until she died.

When Othello hit her, she did not blame of his falseness much. She cried and just thought of his worried official business and reviewed her own falseness.

Those that do teach young babes

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Psychological Analysis of Characters in Othello

Do it with gentle means and easy tasks. He might have chid me so, for, in good faith, I am a child to chiding. (Act 4.2 lines 116-119)

There is an excellent description of her loveliness that she sighed and sought for the reason why Othello treated her so cool. She was speaking:

Oh, God, Iago,

What shall 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. (Act 4.2 lines 155-171)

Desdemona was a complete and unique virtuous female as Shakespeare described. It was fully indicated in the scene of Othello’s killing of Desdemona. She was innocent to be killed by her husband. But to the last second of her life, she replied Emilia’s asking:

Nobody; I myself. Farewell.

Commend me to my kind lord. Oh, farewell! (Act 5.2 lines 128-129)

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Psychological Analysis of Characters in Othello

2.3.4 Desdemona’s simplicity

She was a young girl who firstly loved such a mysterious Moorish general. She had no knowledge about male’s esteem and jealousy. When she was committed to persuade her husband by Cassio, she tried her best to help him. Whenever she met Othello she continued her petition for reinstatement of Cassio, but ignored her husband’s reflection. Unexpectedly, Othello’s hatred fire hidden in his heart was growing up.

Chapter 3 Discovery

3.1 Elements of tragedy

Othello is a tragedy about human nature. Apparently jealousy and hatred are the essential factors which lead to the development of this tragedy. Not only Othello, but also Iago concealed the unbalanced state of mind in their characters. They have strong felling of self-esteem that can not be tolerant with being harmed. But they, however, cannot be confused in this sense. Othello is in faith of the trueness and fairness, whereas the creed of Iago is nothing but those of selfishness and evil.

When his idealistic belief and love were broken, Othello felt his love was betrayed. He cannot bear back the thought that his wife was in the possession of others. His virile pride was hurt. Jealousy was planted deeply in his heart. He couldn’t endure the falseness existing so that the fierce eagerness of revenge pulled down all of his reasonability.

Iago no doubt was born a genius, but with a darkest heart. Maybe he is more competent than Cassio, but however, he did not get promotion. So he got hatred against Othello and Cassio. Secondly, Cassio was a very gentle and attractive man to women. His charming and affection from women made him uneasy. And this wounded his pride.

As long as the feeling of self-esteem is harmed, the jealousy and hatred germinate naturally.

3.2 Contradiction of Human nature

Every people have two opposite sides of his character. This is the contradiction hidden in human nature. Where there is love, there is hatred; trust, doubt; toughness, flabbiness; valiancy, insecurity; simplicity, naivety. And sometimes these two opposition change to each other easily.

In the view of the formation of Othello’s character, every part is related very tightly. His success gave him highest honor and pride. But meanwhile the war-life gave him a pure heart. He is a hero in public, but inferior in color. His strong appearance buried a most susceptive

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Psychological Analysis of Characters in Othello

heart. His poetic romance cannot stand against real deceit.

Likewise, Iago had his inferiority. But he satisfied himself by defeating others’ goodness. On one hand, he planned his plot well. But on the other hand, he was full of worry and fear.

It is seem that Desdemona was the purest person in the play. But she was so ignorant that she was getting deeper misunderstanding from her husband. She was so feminine that she did not resist her husband’s murdering.

3.3 Realization of one’s character by himself

Maybe the most falseness of the tragical protagonists is their less self-realization of themselves. They never thought of themselves, nor analyze any, so that it is easy to blind themselves under the empty lies. Only does clear realization of human essence help to analyze the situation and distinguish the virtual image and the true.

Chapter 4 Conclusion

Shakespeare is a genius of understanding and describing the depth of humanity. In this play we can observe the most popular traits in the human nature, more concerning the weakness. The studying of character in tragedy Othello still remains its importance until today, particularly in drama, literature and psychology. Combined the reality to study the psychology of character, we can behold more closely our vulnerability in human nature.

Just as William Hazlitt said, tragedy is a mirror. It teaches us that there are and have been others like ourselves, by showing us as in a glass what they have felt, thought, and done (William Hazlitt, 1817). A good tragedy about human weakness is much heart-quaking. It is worthy of our self-reflection. Othello reminds us of human vulnerability. Once it is disturbed, even one’s good nature can be taken advantage of for the worse. Every person has his merit, but also has weakness. We should realize them clearly and deal with them carefully in order to correct the fetal excesses in ourselves and enhance the good quality.

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