Othello and Identity

Identity is a very key, important thematic issue in William Shakespeare's tragic drama, Othello. Identity, or what may be better explained as a character's public perception, is highly valued in the Elizabethan Age in which Othello is set. There is a varying range between the characters in the extent that how they are perceived in public is not how they behave in private or how they really are, thus creating more than one identity per character. A character's identity is the overall essence of that character, however, in plays such as Shakespeare's there must always be an element of tragic flaw to the play thus creating conflict. In Othello, conflict ultimately arises through the plotting and scheming of one central, manipulative character representative of evil, Iago. The characters whose individual identities are seen as important issues in the drama can be identified as Othello, Iago, and Desdemona, respectively. Therefore, the element of identity in Othello, Iago, and Desdemona are important to a great extreme when discussing the thematic relevance of identity to Shakespeare's Othello as a whole. Othello's perception of identity varies greatly from that of Iago in that he saw people differently and also had a complete opposite identity to Iago. Othello's character is a combination of greatness and weakness. This can almost appear to be an oxymoron but through careful speculation of the text it can be proven. Othello himself says that he is "An honorable murderer" (Act V.2, 299). Othello was great, to a certain extent. He was great in the fact that he was a great warrior, earning the title of General in the Venetian defense forces. However, this feat was greater than the initial sounds of it due to the fact that Othello was originally a slave from Africa, but he had now long ago adapted to the Venetian society. While on topic, Othello's public perception was that of an outsider due to his social insecurities. There was the quality of the "Moor"