Othello: Acts IV and V

Othello, the Moor of Venice
William Shakespeare

In scene one of act four, Othello shows a very different side to his personality. Before he began to doubt his wife's faithfulness, Othello held a very calm, composed and poised demeanor. For example, when Cassio began to fight with other soldiers, Othello calmed the troops and ended the struggle with poise and confidence. When his wife awoke, he turned to her lovingly and gently returned with her to their room. In act four, Othello has become anxious, jealous, and angry. He suspects that his wife of infidelity, and during a conversation between the couple about Cassio, Othello hits Desdemona. This sudden irate action shows a change in Othello's character. Earlier in the play, Iago warned Othello, "Oh, beware, my lord, of Jealousy./It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock/The meat it feeds on" (III, iii, 166-168).  This quote foreshadows that Othello's jealousy will eventually ruin his life. In seeing Othello hitting Desdemona, the audience sees that this moment of foreshadowing is in the process of happening, and Othello will soon meet his demise. This change in demeanor also shows that Othello is a dynamic character. Unfortunately, he is changing for the worse.