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In Shakespeare's Othello, how does Othello disintegrate from a confident leader into a homicidal murderer?

When we first hear of Othello in Act 1 scene 1, it is through the rhetoric uttered by Iago, his ancient. Although Iago's words are spoken in bitter contempt for the general, it is clear that he is regarded with respect by others:



Three great ones of the city,
In personal suit to make me his lieutenant,
Off-capp'd to him:



The fact that 'three great ones' 'off-capped' to Othello is an indication that they held him in high esteem. Furthermore, it is clear that the 'great ones' are themselves men of high rank and title, most probably senators. The fact that they removed their caps as a sign of respect is an obvious indication that he was held in high regard.


Later, in scene 2, after Iago and Roderigo have demonised him by telling Brabantio that he has stolen his daughter, we also learn that Othello is proud but humble and has earned much admiration for his duty to the Venetian state. When Iago informs him of Brabantio's accusation, he replies:



Let him do his spite:
My services which I have done the signiory
Shall out-tongue his complaints. 'Tis yet to know,--
Which, when I know that boasting is an honour,
I shall promulgate--I fetch my life and being
From men of royal siege, and my demerits
May speak unbonneted to as proud a fortune
As this that I have reach'd:



It is obvious that the general knows that the duty he has shown Venice would hold greater sway than Brabantio's accusations. Furthermore, he has a proud heritage, for he is born of royal blood and he will, in his defence, openly remind all about his lineage, for he will not allow himself to be tied down to petty assertions against his good name and character. These are truly the words of a proud man who brims with self-confidence.


A further indication of Othello's confidence is seen later when Brabantio confronts him accompanied by officers. The purpose is to arrest the general. When they draw their swords, the general, self-assured, tells them:



Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.
Good signior, you shall more command with years
Than with your weapons.



He fearlessly addresses Brabantio directly and tells him that he would be better off using the authority that comes with age than weapons to issue commands. Further in their conversation, Othello tells Brabantio that he will face any charges against him before whomsoever Brabantio chooses.


In scene three, Othello's confidence once again shines through. He shows true leadership when he addresses the duke and others by providing a frank account regarding the origin of his relationship with Desdemona. She later verifies what he says. In this, Othello earns even greater respect. Added to this, we learn about the extent of the authority and respect that he commands when the duke asks him to immediately leave for Cyprus to take command as governor and fend off an invasion by the Turks.


It is patently ironic, then, that such a great man becomes such an easy target for Iago's manipulation and deceit, for he succeeds in turning the general into an irrational and overwhelmingly jealous character who becomes like putty in his hands. Iago, resentful that Othello overlooked him for promotion and out of pure malice, has decided to take revenge on the general. He starts by planting pernicious seeds of Desdemona's supposed infidelity in his mind. 


Iago uses Roderigo to craft a malevolent plot, not only against the general but also against Cassio, his new lieutenant. His purpose is clear: make the general believe that he is being cuckolded by his lieutenant. He then devises a plot, with Roderigo, to have Cassio dismissed. The two succeed in this venture. Iago then advises Cassio to seek Desdemona's assistance to regain his position by asking her to speak to Othello on his behalf. Iago would then use this interaction as evidence of their affair. Both Cassio and Desdemona fall neatly into his trap - she out of kindness to help and Cassio out of desperation to regain his honour.


Iago cleverly plants the first seed of suspicion in the general's mind when, in Act 3, scene 3, he and Othello come upon Cassio and Desdemona conversing. Cassio slips away and Iago remarks: 'Ha! I like not that.' When Othello asks what he said, he feigns ignorance, making the general even more curious. When Othello asks whether it had been Cassio they had seen, Iago slyly replies:



Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it,
That he would steal away so guilty-like,
Seeing you coming.



Iago's intention is obvious and Othello falls for it hook, line and sinker. He is clearly upset and Desdemona does not help matters when she mentions that she had spoken to 'a suitor' and then starts pestering her husband about talking about Cassio's appeal. 


Throughout the play, Iago persistently fills Othello's head with lies, telling him about how Venetian women have a tendency to have affairs since it is a custom and that Cassio had once slept next to him and cried out Desdemona's name whilst embracing him and kissing him, seemingly dreaming that he was Desdemona. Iago preys on the general's insecurities about being a foreigner of a different race, being much older than his wife and his lack of knowledge about Venetian women. He drives the general insane with jealousy to such an extent that Othello is rude to Desdemona and refuses her help when he has a headache and she wants to wipe his brow with a precious handkerchief he had given her. 


The handkerchief is later used as damning proof of Desdemona's infidelity. When she drops it, Emilia picks it up and gives it to her husband, who plants it in Cassio's room. Iago manipulates the situation and contrives events so that Othello actually sees his precious napkin in Cassio's hands when he asks Bianca to copy the embroidery. Othello is, at this point, utterly convinced that he has been made a fool of. Iago has provided him with ocular proof of his beautiful and young wife's infidelity. Even at this point, though, he is filled with pity, but Iago encourages him. We read in Act 4, scene 1 (lines 209 - 223):



OTHELLO
Nay, that's certain: but yet the pity of it, Iago!
O Iago, the pity of it, Iago!


IAGO
If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her
patent to offend; for, if it touch not you, it comes
near nobody.


OTHELLO
I will chop her into messes: cuckold me!


IAGO
O, 'tis foul in her.


OTHELLO
With mine officer!


IAGO
That's fouler.


OTHELLO
Get me some poison, Iago; this night: I'll not
expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty
unprovide my mind again: this night, Iago.


IAGO
Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed, even
the bed she hath contaminated.


OTHELLO
Good, good: the justice of it pleases: very good.



Ultimately, Othello murders Desdemona in her bed by suffocating her. Later, when he realises the depth of his folly, he commits suicide.

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