Toward the end of Act IV, scene i, Lodovico symbolizes Venice, order and justice, and the old Othello. Lodovico stands in contrast to everyone else he comes in contact with in Cyprus, the land of disorder. Lodovico comes bearing orders from Venice for Othello to return and Cassio to run Cyprus. However, the situation in Cyprus has changed so that Othello is no longer the God-like man that he used to be; he is now seemingly more human, and Cassio is no longer lieutenant. Lodovico cannot believe this new Othello that he is witnessing and goes on to say: "My lord, this would not be believed in Venice / Though I should swear I saw 't" (IV. i. 270-271). Lodovico himself cannot fathom that Othello has turned into a jealous man, but having seen it he must believe it. However, he, being representative of Venice, brings to light the fact that in the land of order they will never believe that Othello is no longer the logical, calm, and skilled orator that they once knew. The fact that would not be able to believe this change could be representative of the not only physical and social separation between Venice and Cyprus. While in Venice Othello was calm and God-like in his mannerisms, but being in Cyprus changes him to be a more emotional, out-of-control human being. The men of Venice, namely the Duke and Senators, are only used to living in a land of order and most likely could not fathom living in a place like Cyprus that has a social structure contrasting to that of Venice. Since these men cannot understand what life is like in Cyprus they cannot foresee changes in people like those in Othello. Due to this lack of foresight, it could be reasonably argued that the men of Venice are in no place to establish order in a society that they do not understand based upon how people act while in Venice.
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