Othello #5

Act four views Othello’s continuous loss of self-control and composure. Originally, the audience is forced to perceive Othello as this infinitely humble, thoughtful, and articulate leader. In fact, it is not until late in Act two that we begin to see the manifestations of Othello’s fall from power. Act four is meant to stand in stark contrast with the previous scenes involving Othello directly after arriving at Cyprus. In the earlier act, Othello was first praising his “soul’s joy” (II.i.169), and now he now “trembles” (47) with rage at the thought of Cassio sleeping with his wife Desdemona. Any sense of self control and rational thought are completely out the window, especially when Othello proclaims, “to confess and be hanged for his labor. / First to be hanged and then to confess” (46-47), meaning he will kill Cassio before he allows him to confess to his crimes. Othello’s rage is like no other. He is unquestionably the most powerful man on the island, and his trip to Cyprus does not seem to be getting better. Iago’s conspiracy against Othello leads to his ultimate demise, which is clearly professed in the inner-workings of Act four. Observing the behaviors of Othello in the succeeding scenes will be interesting to analyze. Othello’s articulate manner and power seem to diminish at the hands of Iago’s uncontrollable guile. Act four prepares the audience for Othello’s final transformation into a gutless and seemingly foolish character, as he can do nothing but watch himself fall from power as a result of the uncontrollable series of unfortunate events that riddled the earlier sections of the play.