HIGH SCORE A man slaps his wife violently across the face. Upon finding that his close, long-standing friend has been killed, he doesn't even shed a tear. Rather, he rushes forward to smother his young, delicate, and innocent bride with a pillow from their bed. By looking at actions alone, Othello, the Moor of Venice, would certainly be considered evil. However, William Shakespeare creates a character decidedly more complex -- a complexity we can see through a transformation in language and development of plot and character. When Othello is first presented to the reader, he is a brave warrior, well-regarded for his military skill. When he first speaks, he is eloquent in describing how Desdemona fell in love with him. However, his composure and articulate speech do not stay with him through to the finish. Just before and during his "evil" acts of violence, Othello is much less articulate. His speech is not flowing, but rather disrupted. Many of his lines end in exclamation points. He can't seem to get through a speech without a handful of pauses and erratic exclamations. This speech is the product of a distracted mind. More and more confused and overwhelmed by what he thinks is happening around him, Othello thinks not with a calm mind, but rather with a passionate heart. What is the source of such confusion? Though Shakespeare plants a variety of unfortunate circumstances, his character Iago is the one who capitalizes on each of them. The introduction of the Machiavellian Iago, whose cunning and manipulativeness are paramount, is what ultimately causes Othello to turn from brave warrior to a rambling and vulnerable person. Iago, through hints and handkerchiefs, instills doubt in the too- trusting Othello. Iago knows well that where suspicion is planted, jealousy will grow. Thinking that Desdemona is sleeping with Cassio, Othello is driven by jealousy and insecurity. Who, after wedding someone like Desdemona, "too good to be true," would not have doubts when presented with evidence from a trusted colleague? Thus by the final scene of Othello, we see that Othello is not a barbarian who smothered his wife solely out of evil, but is a vulnerable soul whose actions are very understandable when considering his vast manipulation by Iago. In the end Othello wishes to be remembered not for his horrible actions, but only for loving "too well." This response to the open-ended question is extremely well-wrtten and answers the question fully. Sentences are complex and make use of elevated language. The essay begins with a creative introduction that, though not required, distinguishes the essay, intrigues the reader, and begins to explain the sympathy Shakespeare is able to evoke. The author establishes a cogent argument supported by examples. These include a well-developed presentation of Iago's machinations and of the proclivity of Othello to doubt Desdemona and trust Iago. Also included is a logical analysis of the diction that traces Othello's descent into apparent evil. Finally, the author concludes by linking the arguments and providing a quote that typefies Shakespeare's ability to justify to the reader a passionate, misguided heart.