Shakespeare’s introduction of the characters allows him to communicate Othello’s calm and composed state of mind as a result of his balanced trust between Desdemona and Iago. Through Othello’s rationale behind loving Desdemona, Shakespeare displays the resulting strong bond of trust between the two and its impact upon Othello’s mental state. Amidst the controversial announcement of Othello and Desdemona’s marriage, Othello declares that “[Desdemona loves] me for the dangers I [have] passed,/And I [love] her for that she [does] pity them” (1.3.166-167). Here, Othello asserts that he loves, and in extension trusts, Desdemona because of her ability to support and validate him. This history of loyalty and ‘pity’ refers to the basis of Othello’s
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Through Othello’s lamentation over the death of Desdemona, Shakespeare demonstrates the damaging effects of unbalanced trust. Othello’s cries of “O Desdemon! Dead Desdemon! Dead! O! O! (5.3.289) after realizing Desdemona was innocent of adultery accurately communicates his regret and sorrow. His mourning of Desdemona reflects the grief and guilt he feels for not only having murdered her, but for not realizing Iago’s corrupt influence over him. This sudden change in Othello’s behavior reflects his abrupt absence of trust in Iago, which Shakespeare uses to prepare the audience the consequences of lack of trust in life. Similar to Othello’s unexpected tone shift in the aforementioned quote, Othello’s manner of speaking drastically shifts once more when he realizes his complete absence of trust in anyone. The deathly calm with which Othello speaks after grieving Desdemona is similar to when he equally trusted Desdemona and Iago, which Shakespeare utilizes to make a connection between balanced trust and an absence of it. In Othello’s final monologue, Othello evenly asks Lodovico to “speak/…Of one not easily jealous but, being wrought,/Perplexed in the extreme” (5.2.339-342). Here, Othello acknowledges that the doubt which allowed Iago to take advantage of his trust was created by Iago, not reality. As from before Iago gained the majority of his trust, Othello’s mind is now clear; allowing Shakespeare to use Othello’s realization to demonstrate his beliefs surrounding the importance of being aware of trusting others, lest they take advantage of it. This further communicates Shakespeare’s stance on the detrimental consequences of unbalanced levels of trust. Although Othello’s lack of trust in anyone clears his mind of Iago’s
Through Othello’s lamentation over the death of Desdemona, Shakespeare demonstrates the damaging effects of unbalanced trust. Othello’s cries of “O Desdemon! Dead Desdemon! Dead! O! O! (5.3.289) after realizing Desdemona was innocent of adultery accurately communicates his regret and sorrow. His mourning of Desdemona reflects the grief and guilt he feels for not only having murdered her, but for not realizing Iago’s corrupt influence over him. This sudden change in Othello’s behavior reflects his abrupt absence of trust in Iago, which Shakespeare uses to prepare the audience the consequences of lack of trust in life. Similar to Othello’s unexpected tone shift in the aforementioned quote, Othello’s manner of speaking drastically shifts once more when he realizes his complete absence of trust in anyone. The deathly calm with which Othello speaks after grieving Desdemona is similar to when he equally trusted Desdemona and Iago, which Shakespeare utilizes to make a connection between balanced trust and an absence of it. In Othello’s final monologue, Othello evenly asks Lodovico to “speak/…Of one not easily jealous but, being wrought,/Perplexed in the extreme” (5.2.339-342). Here, Othello acknowledges that the doubt which allowed Iago to take advantage of his trust was created by Iago, not reality. As from before Iago gained the majority of his trust, Othello’s mind is now clear; allowing Shakespeare to use Othello’s realization to demonstrate his beliefs surrounding the importance of being aware of trusting others, lest they take advantage of it. This further communicates Shakespeare’s stance on the detrimental consequences of unbalanced levels of trust. Although Othello’s lack of trust in anyone clears his mind of Iago’s