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Othello by nature is a man driven by great pride, but this will become his prominent flaw.
Coming with a infamous and elaborate background, Othello had his pride and reputation to carry his
name. Othello's downfall was letting Lago influence his emotions and state of mind. Once trusted by the
Senate, Othello was loosing this status by unraveling in a web of deceit brought on by Lago. Striking
Desdemona in public eye was out of character, for his once good nature demeanor. Before he scolded
Cassio for causing a scene and now he is no better than the "Turks". In Venice Othello was respected,
but now Cyprus has changed him, causing him to spiral out of control in this different world. Back in
Venice he once defended his love, now he berates her with accusations of infidelity. Jealousy fills him
wholly and he will not accept any contradicting testimonies. The thought of his wife's virtue not being
intact is a blow to his pride and fuels is jealousy and anger. Before killing Desdemona, Othello pauses to
give her one last kiss, one last token of the love he once had. There is a glimmer of love still there, but
not strong enough to overpower his emotions of jealousy to rebuild his pride. This overshadows every
aspect of Othello's life since in Cyprus. In a heated state of delirious rage, Othello mistakes outside cries
to still be his wife, and in a merciful act he smothers her again to end any suffering. The choice of
smothering Desdemona was a deliberate choice, as compared to spilling her blood by stabbing. Even in
the final moments of her life, Othello still had reservations about her alleged infidelities and wanted to
preserve her. As the plot unravels, revealing the truth, Othello is hit with the realization of his crimes
and how he was lead there. The playwright message shows how deception can control and overtake
anyone.
