Role Of Truth In Othello

More Than Othello Human nature is a extremely exotic and unexplained part of everyday life, pushing people everywhere to do the things they do all the time. Shakespeare’s plays were not only written to entertain people, but to also show why people do what they do and explain human nature in almost any situation. In controversial situations, people are more likely to believe a hurtful lie rather than the obvious truth out of fear of looking weak and being embarrassed. Ultimately in any contentious situation, people are extremely likely to believe a blatantly fabricated lie rather than the distinct truth. Shakespeare 's play Othello exemplifies this in a multitude of ways through his characters actions. In act 4 of Othello, Othello is faced

Othello then almost instantaneously believes the lie that Iago has told him, saying to Iago “In bed with her? On top of her? I would have thought people were telling lies about her rather than believe he was lying on her. My God, it’s nauseating! Handkerchief—confessions—handkerchief! I’ll kill him first, and then let him confess—I’m trembling with rage. I wouldn’t be trembling like this if I didn’t know deep down this was all true. Noses, ears, lips. Is it possible? Tell me the truth—Handkerchief—Damn it!” (Crowther). This statement by Othello shows how easily he believed Iago, as he believed the tale of Desdemona 's affair based solely on a handkerchief and Iago’s word, rather than seeking more conclusive evidence and talking to his wife. Othello continues to blindly believe Iago even when he talks to Cassio and cannot hear their conversation, stating “Now he’s saying how she took him into our bedroom. Oh, I can see your nose now. But I can’t see the dog I’m going to throw it

Shakespeare also exemplifies this action by people in his play Othello by portraying it through his characters. In Othello, Othello shows this fear clearly when talking to Iago about the supposed affair committed by his wife. Othello states, “A man who’s been cheated on isn’t a real man. He’s subhuman, like an animal.” (Crowther). This statement depicts the nature of people because Othello believes people see him as a weak man and he wants to find a way to change that, rather than look for actual facts to see if the rumor is true in the first place. Iago also pushed Othello to believe he has been embarrassed, stating “Sir, be a man. Every married man has been cheated on. Millions of men sleep with wives who cheat on them, wrongly believing they belong to them alone. Your case is better than that. At least you’re not ignorant. The worst thing of all is to kiss your wife thinking she’s innocent, when in fact she’s a whore. No, I’d rather know the truth. Then I’ll know exactly what she is, just as I know what I am.” (Crowther). Othello then praises Iago for this advice, showing that he will do anything to get himself away from this rumor and protect himself from any feeling of embarrassment, including believing the rumor immediately and responding violently to it rather than being sensible and finding the truth in the situation.