Othello Group

Question:

mitzwe
mitzwe
Student
College - Sophomore

What is an example of Othello (Acts I-III)) that shows that Othella's low self-esteem influenced his choice to marry Desdemona, a white woman?

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Posted by mitzwe on Tuesday October 28, 2008 at 6:03 PM and tagged with characters, othello, selfesteem.

Answers:


  1. kimbwilliams Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

     I don't believe that Othello had low self-esteem.  He was a well respected general who had the respect of most anyone he encountered.  The Duke calls him "valiant" and Othello himself explains that it was Brabantio himself invited him over to his home.  Marrying a white woman was not an act of low self-esteem, but rather a bold move that flew in face of the society he lived in.  The fact that he is unabashed in his expression of love for her post-marriage further proves that esteem was NOT an issue.  In fact, he is furious with Cassio for getting into the drunken brawl with Roderigo/Montano and waking her from sleep the night they consummate their marriage.  He marries her because he loves her and because listened to his stories with pity and concern.  She falls in love with him because of his life experience and everything that he had endured.  There was not an issue with esteem, but rather, with society, racism, and social expectations. 

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/othello/character-analysis

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    Posted by kimbwilliams on Tuesday October 28, 2008 at 7:11 PM