Changes in Othello

At the beginning of the novel, Othello shows patience and self control.  Regardless of the fact that he is much larger in size than the whole rest of the cast, he does not hurt anyone physically.  Even when he is trying to get ahead, and could easily do so by physically harming those around him, he chooses not to.  He remains calm and avoids physical conflict.  This part of Othello changes in Act 4 Scene 1.  The audience first sees this change when he develops elaborate and violent ways to kill Desdemona after Iago convinces him that she has been disloyal: "I will chop her into messes" (IV.i.219).  He soon after hits her.  Lodovico is very surprised about his change in character.  The audience begins to wonder whether this side of Othello is genuine to his person.  If that were the case, he would be similar to Iago in the sense that he has multiple personas, hiding his true self.  If that were not the case, this change in character would be as a result of Iago's manipulation.  Maybe Othello truly is not violent, and Iago has driven him into becoming someone he is not.  The answer might be explained in the following scenes, but maybe it will just be a mystery, like who Iago truly is.