To what extent is Iago responsible for the tragedy of Othello?
William Shakespeares own traditional use of the themes, love, betrayal and tragedy creates the final outcomes of the play being easily predicted by the audience to know more than the characters themselves. Othello, the protagonist of the play is the great general of the army. Being black he is faced with racism and betrayal by many characters. Iago, the antagonist of the play is the jelous but most trusted friend of Othello. He is the catalyst of the tragic deaths of characters in the play. These two characters are placed in the Elizabethan era where the society brings in difficulties for the both of them.
Christianity was the main religioun during the Elizabethan era. This plays an important part in the tragedy as Iago uses this advantage to provoke Othello’s jelousey.
“It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock,
The meat it feeds on.”
In this quote we see how Iago is trying to provoke Othello’s jelousey of Desdemona through repeatedly reminding him of how jelousey can consume him, and so increasing his jelousey. In this quote the imagery of hell is introduced. Iago speaks of a “monster” that feeds on meat. This symbolises christianity as hell and monsters are very important in christian beliefs. After learning the truth about what Iago has done, Othello calls Iago a devil several times. Another interpretation from this imagery could be that Iago is foreshadowing the death of Desdemona as the moment she dies, she will enter hell. One of the main beliefs of christianity, is that god gave every human being their own will. So, this brings about the fact that every character had their own will but chose to do bad through Iago’s manipulation.
The Essay on Iago Othello Play One
Shakespeare might very well have made the decision to name his play "Iago" and not "Othello," but I suppose he had a knack for catchy titles. Since it is Othello's tragedy, even if it is Iago's play, "Iago" would be an inappropriate title, especially since it is not Iago's life that is ruined, and although he takes part in most-if not all-of the action in the play, it still revolves around ...
Iago continues to cause Othello to doubt Desdemona by reminding him of her actions in the past.
“She did deceive her father, marrying you: And when she
seemed to shake and fear your looks she loved them most.”
In this quotation we see how Iago reminds Othello of how Desdemona in the past deceived her father to marry him, implying that she can easily do the same to Othello. During the Elizabethan era women were expected to marry the person their father chooses for them. So, by defying her father, Desdemona is now seen to be untrustful to Othello.
Desdemona shows herself to be racist and untrustful.
“So much i challenge that i may profess
Due to the moor my lord.
This quote shows Desdemona refering to her husband using a common racist term. Throughout the begining of the play, Desdemona has been repeatedly saying how much she loves Othello and yet she uses this term to refer to her husband. This shows she is two-sided and untrustful. The word “moor” is a racist term used by the characters to refer to Othello. However it could be used by the writer to show the religious and peaceful side of Othello as this word shows the complication that Othello is likely to have a muslim background. During the years from 1000AD onward the moorish empire included north Africa and Spain. This reveals that Othello is of high religious state and so would never hurt anyone unless manipulated to do so.
Othello himself shows how ignorant and naive he is to the audience and he has no idea of Iago’s plans and intentions.
“A man he is of honesty and trust”
Here we see Othello describing Iago to be very honest and trustful. The audience can now see that Othello is quickly falling into Iago’s trap as he is too naive to notice how Iago is trying to maniplulate him using suggestive language. By being so feeble, he has contributed to his own tragic death. So Othello is partly to be blamed for, for the tragic deaths.
The Term Paper on Othello Iago Desdemona Cassio
... that Iago prove his insinuations regardingCassio and Desdemona. Unfortunately for her, Desdemona has dropped the handkerchief given to her by Othello. Iago " ... character that has appalled and thrilled audiences for hundreds of years. Iago does have qualities on which everyone ... honest." (The word is applied to Iago 15 times inthe play. ) He's married to Emilia, a salty outspoken woman; they seem ...
Iago explains he is not himself when with Othello telling the audience of his future plans and actions.
“I am not what i am.”
In this quotation Iago reveals to the audience what his plans are going to be. Iago exposes himself to the audience of being very clever, and secretive character early in the play. He explains to a character that he is going to act the way he has always acted towards Othello until the time is right where he will “stab him in the back,” betraying Othello finally.
While in a deep conversation with Iago, Othello says that he is forver bounded to him never to be separated. By saying this he is implying that his relationship with Iago is something special, and so again shows Othello’s naivety.
“I am bound to thee forever.”
Othello says that he is forever bound to Iago never to be separate implying that their relationship will never break. This quotation shows to the audience again how naive othello is. Othello clearly does not know Iago’s true motives having his every trust for him. The words “bound” and “forever” are words used by Othello to say that the relationship he has with Iago, is something special, proving his naivety.
The Elizabethan Society is what causes Othello to be easily manipulated by Iago as he already has fixed views on women.
“I am a child to chiding”
During the Elizabethan era, womens main role was to stay at home and take care of the family. It could be argued that the tragedy of Othello is due to the patriarchal rules and way of life. During these times, men see women to be the weaker and dependant sex while men are seen as the dominant and of high authority sex. After othello clouded with his jelousey, confronts and attacks Desdemona, she spoke these words “I am a child to chiding.” Desdemona was helpless against Othello’s dominance and aggression and so escapes to a childlike behaviour to retreat from reality.
Iago’s manipluation of Othello only occurs so easily because of the views on women othello already had. Othello loses knowledge of the real Desdemona as his negative views on women are easily stimulated because of the presence of a male voice Iago.
These are all the factors that contributes to the tragedy of Othello. The question asks to what extent is Iago to blame for the tragedy of Othello. Iago is not responsible for the tragedy. Despite the fact that Iago was the catalyst that starts of the whole tragedy, all the characters that contributed to the tragedy had their own will but chose to do bad.
The Essay on Othello-Role Of Women
Shakespeare’s Othello is commonly regarded as a work depicting man’s ability to use his reason towards evil intentions. A lowly ancient in a general’s army is able to destroy him through manipulation and deceit. But although Iago’s deceit of Othello is undoubtedly a central theme in the play, another theme regarding the nature of the man towards woman is apparent. ...
Othello is also not responsible for his own death as it is not his fault he contains such a feeble and naive mind to be easily controlled. However the responsibilty of the tragedy has to be the society. The Elizabethan society was the one that starts the whole tragedy off. The Society is the actual catalyst. Without the audience knowing, the society brought the authority to men and brought the weakness to women. Women were seen to be sneaky and secretive. This is what partly provokes Othello’s jelousey as he already had this fixed idea about her from a male voice. All the stereotype, racism and sexism during the Elizabethan era is what contributes to Othello’s death.
To conclude, The Elizabethan Society is responsible for the tragedy of Othello.
