Othello is the poster child for insecurity and low self-esteem. Shakespeare's study of a great man's decline is classic. Othello gained power and became a ruler because of his prowess on the battlefield. In fact, it is one of the very characteristics that made him attractive to Desdemona. He comes from a foreign land, so immediately he is like a fish out of water. He looks differently as he is a Moor, and his culture is not their culture. Yet, he's called upon to lead them. It is a daunting task and he doesn't know who to trust. He trusts too easily, a problem that he recognizes only at the end. He is so desperate for wise counsel and a true friend that Iago exploits this desire until it is too late.
