Othello, A Jealous Barbarian Or A Noble Fool

Abstract

Othello is believed to be one of the noblest characters in English Literature. It is thought that his life and character were ruined by the art and skill of the incredible villain, lago. And that Othello was actually a simple man who lacks the knowledge of the practical world. He did not know that in this world there could be dishonest people. He even had no idea of evil. He was neither introspective nor reflective. He trusted everybody very easily except his own wife whom he loves dearly. From Coleridge to Bradley, a number of critics are trying hardly to persuade readers to believe in the essential goodness of this character yet they lack at one or the other point. Coleridge and his fellow critics blamed Iago for everything that happens in the play regardless of the fact that it is Othello who is supposed to be the leading character of the play and it should be him and not lago or anybody else that is the controlling factor of the play. It was only after Eliot, that the critics started seeing the character from a different angle. Then on, for the first time, critics brought a new view to reader that Othello the hard-hearted and hot-headed hero of the play is responsible for the tragic events in the play. This article also tries to explore different aspects of the personality of the character and provides a critical analysis on the same.