It is Iago's pernicious and consistent manipulation in his desire for revenge that exposes Othello's insecurity. At first, the general's remarks come across as humility but, as the situation progresses, his lack of confidence is exposed. When Iago plants the seed of doubt about Desdemona's supposed infidelity early in act 3, scene 3, the general responds by saying,
Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt; For she had eyes, and chose me.
Othello humbly speaks about his "weak merits" which suggests that he is not arrogant about his abilities. His insecurity is, however, illustrated later in the act when he speaks about himself. This happens after Iago's further talk of jealousy and other matters related to Desdemona's seemingly inappropriate relationship with Michael Cassio. Othello states in a monologue
Haply, for I am black And have not those soft parts of conversation That chamberers have, or for I am declined Into the vale of years.
It becomes apparent that Othello is concerned about his race and the fact that he does not speak as well as courtiers do. He also mentions that he is old. His sentiments are related to the fact that his wife is white and comes from a respected class, so her speech is cultured, and she is young. It seems as if he feels that he does not deserve Desdemona's love and that she might be involved with someone who should, in his contention, be more suited to her. Michael Cassio fits this image.
By the end of act 3, Iago has succeeded in convincing Othello about Desdemona's betrayal. The general is overwhelmed and expresses a loss of faith in himself. He believes that he is unable to live up to his status as a general and celebrate his victories, and he states, in part:
Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone!
It seems as if he believes that if he cannot conquer Desdemona and win her commitment, he is not able to do anything glorious. He is, therefore, not worthy of being a general or a soldier, for that matter.
By act 5, scene 2, Othello has been so overwhelmed by the preceding events that he expresses disgust for himself and declares:
That's he that was Othello: here I am.
Othello has lost so much confidence in himself and has committed such an atrocity by killing his innocent wife that he has become someone else. He is most definitely not the man he used to be.
Initially, Othello is a pretty self-confident character. He's absolutely certain that he's the finest soldier in Venice and that, in the shape of Desdemona, he has a loyal, loving wife. Yet after Iago gets to work on him as part of his dastardly plot, Othello becomes riven with self-doubt and insecurity. When alone in Act III Scene iii, Othello's soliloquy reveals his fragile state of mind:
Haply, for I am black/And have not those soft parts of conversation/That chamberers have, or for I am declined/Into the vale of years—yet that’s not much—/She’s gone, I am abused, and my relief/Must be to loathe her.
Thanks to Iago, Othello's now got it into his head that Desdemona's been cheating on him with Cassio. Othello starts to wonder if it's because he's black and lacks the witty conversation and polished social graces of courtiers like Cassio. But Iago hasn't simply managed to turn Othello against Desdemona, he's even undermined this exceptional general's confidence in his abilities as a soldier:
I had been happy if the general camp,/Pioneers and all, had tasted her sweet body,/So I had nothing known. Oh, now forever/Farewell the tranquil mind! Farewell content! Farewell the plumèd troops and the big wars/That makes ambition virtue! Oh, farewell! ... Farewell! Othello’s occupation’s gone. (Act III Scene iii)d
Othello is saying that he wouldn't care if Desdemona had cheated on him with all the soldiers in camp, just so long as he didn't know about it. But now that he knows of her infidelity—or thinks he does—he can no longer be an effective general. Bit by bit, Iago's sly machinations are stripping away each layer of Othello's identity, leaving him jealous, insecure, and vulnerable.
I am not valiant neither,/But ever puny whipster gets my sword./But why should honor outlive honesty?/Let it go all. (Act V Scene ii)
After the full details of Iago's wicked plan have finally been revealed by Emilia, Othello curses and runs at him, but Iago stabs Emilia to death before running off. Yet Othello does not give chase; that honor goes to Montano, the "puny whipster" who just grabbed Othello's sword without asking. That simply wouldn't have happened at the start of the play, when Othello was brimful of confidence and self-esteem. Yet now he's been reduced to a pathetic shadow of his former self, his honorable reputation utterly destroyed. Othello has given up the ghost; he no longer cares.
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