The character of Othello plays the role of both the protagonist and the hero in the play of Othello. He is a very physically powerful figure and is respected by all those around him. However, despite his elevated status, his insecurities make him an easy target, such as his life as a soldier and his strong jealousy, particularly to Iago. His "free and open nature," creates the ground on which Iago uses to twist his love for Desdemona, his wife, into a destructive jealousy. Referred to as "The Moor- due to his diverse race and is also the general of the armies of Venice, Othello sometimes presents himself as an outsider as well as a respectable and essential part of Venetian society. Othello's self-realization makes him self-conscious of his difference from other Venetians, and also quite defensive of this point. For instance, in Act I, scene 3, although he is portrayed as very eloquent and respectable in this scene, this does not stop him from making reference to his race. "Rude am I in my speech, and little blessed with the soft phrase of peace". We see Othello justify the reason as to why he is so "rude- in his speech as being the result of his culture and upbringing, and also his past experiences in the harsh times of war. However, Othello is never rude in his speech, and is perhaps one of the more eloquent people in his speech. The fact that he does not realise this emphasizes that he is susceptible of letting his insecurities get the better of him, something which Iago plays on constantly. We see Othello regain composure during his speech in Act 5. The speech preceding his suicide emphasizes Othello's true nature; powerful and decisive in his words while also very emotionally volatile. The result of the tension between Othello's own willingness to hurt himself and his victimization of a foreign culture makes Othello more than just a character who's emotions have been played with and who's demise is a direct result of Iago, but it makes him a tragic figure.
