论《奥赛罗》的悲剧根源：自卑［Abstract］Othello is one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies. It tells of a tragic love story of Othello, the Moor and general in the service of Venice, and Desdemona, a prestigious Venetian senator Brabantio’s daughter. Under the schemes of Iago, Othello’s ancient , the happy couple end in tragic death. This thesis holds the view point that Othello’s self-contempt is the root cause of the tragedy. If it has not been for his self-contempt, he would not have married her in secrecy without an open and straight propose to the noble family. If it has not been for his self-contempt, the rumors and schemes would have never been taken as truth and proofs. Self-contempt distorts his justice of evil conspiracy and exceeding honesty.［Key words］Othello,tragedy cause,self-contemptI. IntroductionOn the reasons of Othello’s tragedy, the opinions have been various. Some scholars believe that “it is Othello’s dual and inconsistent characteristics that contribute to the tragedy” (Luo, 2002); some deem that it is “the social factors that lead to the ruinous end” (Xiang, 2007); and some attribute to “the racial discrimination and cultural prejudice” (Liu, 2009); and some propose that “the instability of their Platonic loveforeshadows their t ragedy” (Yuan, 2008).To be objective, many factors contribute to harboring and shielding his self-contempt, but these factors are the minor causes to the tragedy of Othello. First comes the Venetian military dependence. Their reliance gives him the possibility to make up with his inferior identity and to expect live a normal life as a Venetian. Second is the senators’compromising on his unlawful marriage to a fair noble lady. It deepens his sense of self-contempt, for as a human being he is nothing and only as a general can he be respected and forgivable. Then come Desdemona’s sweet temper and amiable personality. It is a constant compromise to his rage and abuse.In this thesis, self-contempt as a distorted characteristic, is discussed and proved to be the root cause of the tragedy of Othello and Desdemona. The thesis divides the tragedy into two parts, one is before their marriage, and the other is from after their marriage to the tragic end. Detailed analysis will be given to expound the deduction that self-contempt is the root cause of Othello’s tragedy.Ⅱ. Othello’s Self-contempt before Their MarriageIn psychology self-contempt is a characteristic defect, which is defined as an under-evaluation of one’s ability and character. It shows anunder-estimation, disappointment and lack of confidence of oneself. In social life, self-contemptuous persons feel inferior and alienated to others. When they are mocked or insulted by people, their self-contempt devastates and expresses in the forms of jealousy and self-deception, etc. Othello is self-contemptuous throughout the tragedy before and after he is caught by Iago’s malicious schemes.To begin with, before their secret consummation, Othello has many traces of being self-contemptuous which impact their marriage. He has been passive in their relationship and does not move on without Desdemona’s hint.…It was my hint to speak … she’d come again, and with a greedy ear devour up my discourse; which I, observing, took once a pliant hour and found good means to draw from her a prayer of earnest heart… (Act 1 Scene 3)He acts upon every hint that he has observed. Then he purposefully induces her earnest heart of love and admiration.Secondly, as for the content of their conversation, to some extent, he boasts and exaggerates about his experiences on the battlefield, for the purpose of winning her admiration. This is the presentation of being self-contemptuous.…of being taken by the insolent foe and sold to slavery.… and of the cannibals that each other eat, the anthropophagi, and men whose heads do grow beneath their shoulders. (Act 1 Scene 3)According to the common sense, there indeed cannot be any creatures whose heads grow beneath their shoulders, and therefore lies great possibility that Othello tells these interesting and vivid stories to appeal to Desdemona who has never socialized beyond the domestic sphere, and that he tells his sufferings to gain her sympathy and love.Thirdly, as for the form of their marriage, it is not open and upright but in secrecy. It seems that, when being retorted in public at the council chamber, his behavior (in Act 1 Scene 2) is with great composure and courage. But taken from the other point of view, he has already consummated with Desdemona and, most importantly, at her will. On this condition, Brabantio would have no means to separate them, not to mention there is the favorable fact that Othello is the hero of Venice, the most influential general to protect the peace of both the authority and the citizens. Therefore, it is reasonable to reckon that his secret marriage is due to the lack of confidence for being permitted by Desdemona’s father, as well as by the Venetian authority.Ⅲ. Othello’s Self-contempt after Their MarriageAfter they are permitted reluctantly by the Venetian authority to be lawful couple, they are still a happy couple. However, in their matrimony, Othello’s self-contempt is not cured but deepened. He still carries on his feeling of inferiority, which gives the possibility to falling into Iago’s schemes. It causes his incredulity to Iago, jealousy of Cassio, and suspicion of his wife, and eventually leads their happy marriage to a tragic end.At the beginning of the malicious scheme, if Othello was confident enough his incredulity could have been beaten down and all the following troubles would be saved. However the reality is that in his eyes, Desdemona, is an angel, holy beautiful in both flesh and sole and a white aristocrat noble in social status in a natural way. While himself is a black and ugly Moor, exotic and alien in Venice. The self-contempt is so deep rooted that in his mind, he is taken advantage of to guard the Venetians, otherwise, he is nothing. If it was not for his valiancy and victory in guarding the country, he would never be acknowledged by the authority and noblemen, not to say having the access to them and marry one of their young fair ladies. All his fame and power lies in their dependence on his military intelligent.On the one hand, this recognition sharpens Othello’s awareness that his appearance and age do not match with his wife, and makes himsensitive and devastates his self-contempt. So when hears Iago’s incitation,As, to be bold with you, not to affect many proposed matches of her own clime, complexion and degree, whereto we see, in all things, nature tends — Foh! One may smell in such a will most rank, foul disproportion, thoughts unnatural. (Act 3 Scene 2)This also explains why he cannot help doubting about himself and saying to himself the following remarks,Haply for I am black and have not those soft parts of conversation that chamberers have, or for I am declined in the vale of years —yet that’s not much —(Act 3 Scene 2)On the other hand, Othello is quite clear about how their love develops. It is a pure, Platonic love based on admiration of each other. “Upon this hint I spake: She loved me for the dangers I had passed and I loved her that she did pity them.” (Act 1 Scene 3) T o be specific, Desdemona does admire him for spiritual reason, as the texts tell us “My heart’s subdued even to the very quality of my lord: I saw Othello’s visage in his mind, and to his honours and his valiant parts did I my soul and fortunes consecrate,” (Act 1 Scene 3) However, Othello loves her not only for her pity and admiration. He mentions her fair complexion,beautiful body and sweet temper many times and they are the major part where his love originates in.A fine woman, a fair woman, a sweet woman!O, she will sing the savageness out of a bear! Of so high and plenteous wit and invention! O, a thousand, a thousand times: and then of so gentle a condition. (Act 4 Scene 1)Unfortunately, all her merits and advantages consolidate his self-contempt and suspicion of her infidelity.As the scheme develops, Othello’s suspicion and jealousy grow. But they could have been dissolved if he was courageous to face Desdemona directly in their conversation. Whenever they are in the middle of an interrogation, he evades talking his heart out and forces their communication to a sudden stop, depriving Desdemona of any chance knowing why he is obsessed with such rage, and depriving himself of reaching to the truth. This evasion happens even when they are alone. He calls upon her several times, and as his jealousy and suspicion grows deeper, his attitude devastates and his remarks sharpen. His attention gradually turns from asking her confession out to torturing the innocent and loyal woman. So long has he been imagining about Desdemona’s infidelity with Cassio, so deep has he been tortured by his own creatednightmares. He unconsciously takes the rumor as a fact and gradually loses all his pride as a husband and his honor as a man. His self-contempt is further distorted and uncontrollable rage is seeking an outlet. He calls her ill names and curses her but forgets to tell her why.Besides, he has no courage to face the truth told by her when they are face to face. Unfortunately, when he believes that Cassio is murdered by his conspiracy with Iago, he comes to afflict coercion on Desdemona to confess her “guilt”. But meanwhile, he is determined to kill her at the news of Cassio’s death. He does not get the expected confession and prayer, for she is indeed innocent and loyal to him. He is using a false assumption to prove an imaginary guilt by force. The outcome cannot be nothing else but a surprising misunderstanding.Additionally, Othello has not the courage to investigate on himself, which fails for another time to break the scheme. According to his statement, only on that condition will he believe Desdemona’s infidelity. On the one hand, instead of investigate on himself he insists on Iago to show him a solid proof. On the other hand, his inquiry on Desdemona is, in fact, an outlet of his wrath, not a platform to communicate and exchange ideas. And the only time that he investigates by himself is in Act 4 Scene 2, with great doubt to his object of investigation.All in all, his only inquiry turns out to be fruitless due to his greatdoubt of Emilia’s personality and an even greater inclination of his wife being a “perjured strumpet”. As a result, his act is directed by Iago’s unilateral statement and he loses his judgment which helps him to hold justice. It gives reasons to why every time Iago comes to him with fabricated proofs, Othello accepts all the information and even develops it further.Othello: What? What?Iago: Lie.Othello: With her?Iago: With her, on her, what you will.Othello: Lie with her? Lie on her? We say lie on her when they belied her! Lie with her, zounds, that’s fulsome! Handkerchief! Confessions! Handkerchief! (Act 4 Scene 1)Ⅳ. ConclusionTo conclude, Othello’s self-contempt is the basic reason why he falls into Iago’s malicious scheme and gets misled further and further until his destiny comes to a tragic end. It is also the foundation that nourishes his distorted reliance on honor and fame. In order to protect his honor and fame, he eventually murders Desdemona and pushes thetragedy to the climax. His tragedy is evitable to the extent that Iago never schemes such a trap to destroy their marriage and happiness. 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