If you put your mind to it, you can do anything. Anything from walking a dog and deceiving others is within human possibilities. The spectrum is almost endless, and the grandeur moral of “nothing is impossible” is absolutely true. However, there’s a catch. You must conquer the whirlwind of thoughts inside of your head before getting to work.  In the play Othello, by William Shakespeare, there are many diverse and dynamic characters that have multiple differences in mindsets. Iago, the main character, uses several tactics in order to get people to comply with his plans. Othello, Desdemona, and many other virtuous characters get hooked into his schemes, eventually causing the mess that he was hoping to fulfill. Why did Iago hope for madness? What could have caused these innocent characters to act so abnormally? Almost everything can be explained through psychology and background. 

Being unique is a trait of all human beings. Everyone’s brains are wired differently, which helps create a sense of singularity. In Shakespeare’s play, Iago constantly betrays others in the most heinous of ways. He comes up with strategies in order to throw dirt onto the reputations of other people. Sometimes these plans would include murder, death, and trickery. Iago’s brain could be wired to have a genuine enjoyment in ruin, setting him apart from other people. The idea of nature vs. nurture contributes to this idea, as what occurs inside of a person affects what they physically associate with happiness. According to Doc Daniels, a phone booth in the middle of the Mojave Desert “was a wreck, but to me it was beautiful.” This shows how people find pleasure in different things, demonstrating how Iago could have a condition that allows him to find pleasure in creating chaos. He never doubted his schemes, always went through with them, and he was always pleased with himself whenever the puzzle pieces he placed connected for everyone within his “game.”

Racism also plays a large role in the psychology of the chaos that occurred by the end of the play. Iago uses several manipulation tactics in order to trick Othello into believing that his wife, Desdemona, is cheating on him. However, at the time, several people constantly used racist terms in order to refer to Othello. This can be very hurtful and psychologically damaging. Racism is a large contributing factor towards his low self esteem and insecurity. In the song “Shoes,” by Lupe Fiasco, his guest rapper Virgil Abloh acknowledges the difficulties of being a black person by stating, “You know, can withstand multiple beatings by the ground . . . But it’s tough enough to continue on, that’s the sole.” These lyrics directly express how a person of color needs to withstand several difficulties. However, they always need to get back up and recover immediately. In Othello’s situation, he had to work harder than others in order to build his way up as a general due to his skin color and background. Even so, he does not have the full respect of others, which can be shown when Iago states, “I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs,” (Act I Scene I, lines 129-131). This causes problems, as Othello may believe that he is not good enough for Desdemona, which causes instability within their relationship. This lack of confidence, instigated by racism, later on causes Othello to murder Desdemona, which was initially a part of Iago’s plan. Racism and classism spiraled within Othello’s mind, causing him to believe false statements.

It’s okay to not know things. It’s always important, however, to be aware of the fact that there are things unknown. Once Othello heard about the fact that Desdemona was being “unfaithful,” he lost his mind and was unwilling to listen to the advice of others. This ultimately caused the tragic ending of Desdemona’s death. Othello was not aware that there were unknowns in the story of Desdemona’s “disloyalty.” This is referred to as the Dunning Kruger Effect. This is when people with limited knowledge overestimate their intelligence. People should realize that there are things that they don’t know, and the only way to learn is by taking into account other people’s opinions. This is exactly what Othello did not do. So, Othello’s mindset was what caused him to fall straight into Iago’s trap.

Psychology has much to do with the outcomes of the play, Othello. Although Iago never had a clear motive, readers can depict and infer the reasons why certain characters did what they did. Not everyone’s thought process is the exact same. Every single person on Earth holds different values, opinions, and emotions. Therefore, it is never possible to be able to determine what another person is thinking immediately. In order to achieve this ending of tragedy, these characters had to walk through a train of thoughts. Although, not all of these thoughts were entirely rational. From this specific play, it is significant to realize the importance of  listening to other people’s opinions. It’s great to listen to your own gut, but it’s amazing to be able to reach out to others and hear what they have to say as well. This allows you to make better decisions in life. Overall, the play Othello touches on several psychological ideas that helps us, as readers, understand human emotions and how they can be used differently by everyone.

NOTE:

Modern day, there are several psychological terms that are based off of this play. For example, the Othello Effect and Othello Syndrome are two terms that are used in theory and diagnosis. The Othello Effect is when a person who is nervous during an interrogation is falsely accused of a crime due to their body language. On the contrary, the Othello Syndrome is when obsessive or delusional thoughts are acted upon. These two psychological terms show the true significance of the character’s thoughts and how they contribute to the plot. They also show the impact some of these thoughts have when applied to real life situations.