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Motivation In Othello

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Recommended: Othello as racial stereotype

Brooks DeWitt
Dr. Wellmann
English IV Dual Credit - 2nd
15 February 2023
Shakespeare Drama Essay Despite being a brilliant warrior, Othello is a highly introverted foreigner in Cyprus, forcing him to carry out a deed that would ruin his life. Othello experiences many motivations, but two stand out significantly more than the others. In the astonishing play, Othello William Shakespeare illustrates Othello’s motivation to action due to his insecurity and his love for Desdemona. First, Shakespeare reveals Othello’s motivation through his desire for Desdemona. Othello’s secret marriage with Desdemona is no longer secret as her father, Brabantio, finds out and is interrogating Othello for drugging Desdemona to marry him. For example, Othello …show more content…

Othello is an outsider in Cypress because he is a black man surrounded by white ethnicity and this creates his low self-esteem. For example, Othello states “haply for I am black, and have not those soft parts of conversation” (3.3265-266). Othello is not proud to be black and wishes he were white since he believes his servants are not treating him with respect due to his skin tone. Othello suspiciously never seems to question or resist racism and the effect renders him to the white viewer at the cost of the color of his skin. Not only is Othello insecure about his race, but that he is older than the men and women around him. For example he exclaims “I am declined into the vale of years” (3.3.267-268). Othello expresses his worry that he is far too old for Desdemona in this scene after Iago has used manipulation to make him deeply question himself. Othello uses the term declined in a derogatory manner because he knows Desdemona would get disinterested in him. Iago is taking over Othello's mind and tricking him to overthink his love for Desdemona by claiming “look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio; wear your eyes thus: not jealous nor secure” (3.3.199-200). Iago is attempting to make Othello believe that if he is not jealous, Desdemona will exploit him. This implies that he cannot afford to act loftily or with excessive assurance in their connection. He needs to be ready to

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