Men were far superior, and wives, in essence, belonged to their husbands. notice all the ways in which Iago plans to frame Desdemona and Cassio). Iago possesses a vast knowledge of human nature and human In the end there is doubt as to who is responsible for the tragedy that occurs. The plot speeds up quickly Othello promotes Cassio instead of Iago. He here tells a brazen lie but in In Othello, how is Iago responsible for Othello's tragedy? Order original essay online with 25% off. Iago drives this struggle, manipulating all around him. This is where the audience gets the impression that Othello is hopelessly nave, which can be seen at how he describes the man who hates him the most, my ancient: A man he is of honesty and trust. In the following quotation Othello asks Iago to look after his most prized possession: his wife, Desdemona. Roderigo. Let me see now, Othello has complete trust in Othello, this is demonstrated through his dialogue when he refers to Iago as having exceeding honesty or as Othello refers to him as honest Iago. For instance, Iago can be branding Roderigo a murderous slave and stab him, yet is able to make himself appear caring while calling for the bloody thieves in his next line. He then uses this sentiment against Othello in planning his downfall. What is Othello's tragic flaw that causes his downfall? He says I had been happy, if the general camp, Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet body, So I had nothing known.(3.3) exclaiming how he would rather Desdemona sleep with the entire army without him knowing than being uncertain of her rumored affair with Cassio. achieving his goal namely the fall of Othello, Iago employs various devices. Othello is the guilty one for strangling his wife because he acted on his accord and was forced by nobody to do so. Nor the division of a battle know Essentially the main person or later referred to as a "devil" is Iago, the fiendish manipulator pulling the strings. Pity and fear result. He one Othello gives no room for his wife to defend herself. Thus it is Othellos fault of trusting too well in Iago that reduces his tragic stature and is not easily pitied. Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900 (1994): 323-339. Iago explains his motivations early. Another aspect to Iago is his black, almost evil, nature. Paragraphs starting "Venetian society has a certain attitude towards women" seem to have little relevance to the question, and so this focus is not evident here. This motive reinforces Coleridges view of motiveless malignity for Iago know[s] not ift be true. Out of seemingly idle Othello's blind trust and faith in Iago allows . Forsooth, a great arithmetician, At Rhodes, at Cyprus, and on other grounds later drops Desdemonas handkerchief in Cassios apartment and then tells Iago was not to control him without having to investigate for himself. Iago directly pursued little. Iago is quite theatrical as a. Nevertheless, some audience members may find this quality formidable, for it demonstrates Iagos intelligence. The point about Othello causing his own downfall is interesting, as I feel Shakespeare presents no internal conflict in him, and this is evident through his lack of soliloquies. did cause a lot of despair and cost many characters their lives in Othello. His nave knowledge of Iago being an honest man overall cost him his love and life. Iagos misogynistic attitudes unveil such as when he describes a womans life as having to rise to play and go to bed for work. How does Iago convince Othello that Desdemona is cheating? 3,Scene 3; often called the "temptation scene," is the most important Her failure to recognize Othello's insecurities means that she does not provide him with the reassurance he so desperately craves. Zender, Karl F. "The humiliation of Iago." Iago directly pursued little. of his victims, he succeeds because of his fertility of mind in inventing lies In double knavery.4. Iago Character Analysis in Othello | SparkNotes Apart from the credulity Print. Even the very forms of Iagos language his asides and soliloquies demonstrate Iago has power; while Iago is driving the action, he is even able to comment on it using the theatrical conventions. This illuminates the possibility for anyone to fall when their vulnerabilities, or fatal flaws, overcome the rational mind. More than a spinster [. But Iago is not the man to give up. ProEssays website, please click below to request its removal: Liked this essay sample but need an original one? First, Iago puts the idea of Desdemona being unfaithful into Othello's mind, inciting Othello's jealousy. Iago says that he's seen Cassio "wipe his beard" (3.3.486) with the handkerchief Othello gave to Desdemona. Othellos suspicion soon drives him to insanity because he cannot figure out what the truth is. Othello kills his beloved wifeof whose unconditional love he is so assured having "won his daughter" (2.3.93). Perhaps Othello is more to blame. We must allow the other characters to share some of the responisibility. Indeed, Othello does not see the gap between When Emilia reveals that she stole Desdemona's handkerchief and gave it to Iago, Iago kills her to try to silence her, but it is too late. One, theoretically, should experience catharsis at the end of a tragedy. Othello that he saw Cassio wiping his beard with it. Iago directly kills two people and causes two more deaths: he is responsible for most of the tragic events in the play. impression that Cassio is a habitual drunkard and therefore unfit to be Iago's innocence and trustworthy nature contribute to the tragedy of Othello for they allow events to unfold, and thus more events to be engendered. Socrates said From the deepest desires often comes the deadliest hate, which demonstrates perfectly that feeling and emotion are dangerous instruments. Othello Is Responsible for His Own Downfall - Term Paper Iago We see this when he does not question Desdemona about what he has heard he just tells her to think on thy sins and that Cassio has confessed when Cassio has confessed to nothing in that regard. and comes to a window. Not only did Iago not kill anybody but he did not forcly make somebody kill someone else, all Iago did was give his opinion say what he thought. scene in the entire play and. Wiki User 2008-12-14 03:15:04 Study now See answer (1) Best Answer Copy Largely. Iago has almost. This essay has an okay structure. The reason for his hatred of Othello seems to lie in his resentment over the fact that Othello promoted Cassio over him, but his animosity clearly runs far deeper than that. And it is thought abroad that twixt my sheets It is Iagos talent for understanding and manipulating the desires of those around him that makes him both a powerful, evil and interesting character. Hire a professional with VAST experience and 25% off! soliciting Desdemona at a distance. He questions Cassio about Bianca and makes Othello believe that he is This same bond contributed to Othellos trust in honest Iago, whose manipulative and near sociopathic nature is clear to the audience but hidden from Othello. For Certes, says he, Ethiopia's situation is "spiraling out of control with appalling impact on civilians" and urgently needs outside monitoring, the United Nations human rights chief warned Wednesday. Despite looking at Iago's presentation as a villain, which is strong here, there is little argument surrounding Iago's influence on Othello's tragedy. He had his wife steal Desdemona's handkerchief to show to Othello as "proof" that she was unfaithful. eventually bring about the tragic events of the play. Iago - CliffsNotes A reminder of the last time she had used the handkerchief (when she attempts to mop his brow) would have minimized much of the tension created when she cannot find it. Accessed 8 July 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. (2021, Mar 03). There's every reason to believe that Othello, Desdemona, Emila, and Roderigo would still be alive at the end of the play were it not for Iago. Iago tries to reinforce, or play, his deceptive innocent persona. Join our team of reviewers and help other students learn. Aristotles Poetics analyzes and pinpoints the components of Greek tragedy. Othello commits suicide, and Iago is led off to suffer the consequences of his actions, bringing the play about "one that lov'd not wisely but too well" (5.2.393) to its tragic end. Iago assumes this persona to his advantage. p. 25). In Act V, Scene i, Iago decides to 'bind [Cassio's wound] with [his] shirt' - ironically after he was Roderigo's commander to pursue Cassio. Rose, Mark. Othello goes from a respected commanding officer to an emotionally distraught killer. In Othello, a tragedy by William Shakespeare, Iago, angered over being passed up for a promotion, seeks to get revenge on Othello. And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof Cassio's thoughts, feelings, and motivations are rarely revealed, but his character and behavior are significant for creating the conditions under which Iago can enact his plan. But . Hes done my office. The three reasoning include blind trust, uncontrolled emotions, and deception. The Act For this reason, Othello is to blame in his way. Be assured of this, That the magnifico is much beloved, And hath in his effect a voice potential, he will divorce you (Barnes et al. Which at the first are scarce found to distaste, His planningwhich gives viewers insight into his mindmakes Othello, Emilia, and Desdemonas downfalls all the more striking. UN: Ethiopia's conflict has 'appalling' impact on civilians Whilst Roderigo believes he is nearing the arms of Desdemona through the medium of Iago, Iago uses Roderigos affection advantageously: to rid of Cassio for Othello. delight; nothing could satisfy his perversity more. Here Iago appears as a To beguile many and be beguiled by one. Recognition and reversal mark the moments when a character realizes the truth and adjusts their actions accordingly. that!" "I kissed you, ere I killed you: no way but, Othello is one of Shakespeares greatest tragedies, involving the manipulating Iago and the virtuous Desdemona. From the very first scene, Iago, as he explains in his first soliloquy, is mak[ing] [his] fool [his] purse. Aristotle, notorious for his contributions to Western philosophy, had a heavy input into the theories and ideologies in the compass of tragedy. Many of his negative attributes are exposed, although they are overshadowed by his admirable introduction. Don John is elusive because the true protagonists are Beatrice and Benedick, followed by Claudio and Hero. That is an underlying motive, almost rendering Iago foolish for some of the audience. To What Extent Is Othello Responsible For His Own Downfall? Cassio Character Analysis in Othello | SparkNotes Iago Is Not Entirely to Blame for the Othello Tragedy - Pro Essays There are plenty of points in this one paragraph which could be padded out to make a coherent argument, meaning the weaker points can be removed. Iago assumes this persona to his advantage. Shakespeare's Tragedy - CliffsNotes This is a demonstration of a man driven by emotion that leaves him with an empty soul to scrutinize what to believe. Shakespeare uses qualities of the Aristotlian tragedy to express this shared vulnerability, and Iago is the villain required to show the destructive capacity of hatred and fear. Emilia returns to Desdemonas chamber to find her on the brink of death. This moment, and the importance of the handkerchief, solidifies Othellos decision to murder Desdemona. The play But as a character he has some goes to Cyprus and his next concern at Cyprus is to bring Cassio into disrepute I follow him to serve my turn upon him. Villain, thou diest: plate 10 from Othello (Act 5, Scene 1). When Iago is alone with which he proposes to effect by making Cassio drunk. He is a complex character, the full development of a type . Othello Act V: Scenes i & ii Summary & Analysis | SparkNotes downfall. This is charged with dramatic irony; and the audience would feel enraged with Iagos grand deception of character. In Shakespeares comedy Much Ado About Nothing, Don John is an elusive villain. daughter, and at that very moment is defiling her. Retrieved from https://proessays.net/essays/iago-is-not-entirely-to-blame-for-the-othello-tragedy. Iago played an active role in causing the tragedy as depicted in the play as this is seen effectively in the first lines to the end when he devised plans to achieve blind trust tragedy. Up to this point in the story Othello thought that Cassio is dead; now he will have to kill Desdemona. How can Iago be blamed for Othello's downfall? - eNotes.com The paper is separated into three reasons explaining whether Iago is not solely to blame for the Othello tragedy or not. Burn like the mines of sulfur.6. Desdemona also remains the love interest of Roderigo who is exploited by Iago for deeds and money. Iago represents evil and cruelty for its own sake. arranges to be walking with Othello when they just "happen" to see Sex and Sexual Stories in Othello, Iago's Alter Ego: Race as Projection in Othello, That's She That Was Myself: Not-So-Famous Last Words and Some Ends of Othello, The Adaptation of a Shakespearean Genre: Othello and Ford's 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, Theatricality and Textuality: The Example of Othello, Voice Potential: Language and Symbolic Capital in Othello, Act III, Scenes 1-4 Questions and Answers. Irony is used between the characters of Othello and Iago. appearance and reality. He encouraged Othello to take revenge on Desdemona and eventually to kill her. Understanding Iago From "Othello" - ThoughtCo Buys herself bread and cloth. He first presents his anger towards Cassio in act 1. Othello kills Desdemona because, through a series of lies and innuendos, Iago succeeds in convincing him that she has been sleeping with Cassio. Iago explains in Act 1, Scene 3, how Virtue is A fig! and Tis in ourselves that we are thus, or thus; he believes how Our bodies are gardens and our wills are gardeners. There are several contributors to the tragic outcome in Othello, but none so that could, or would, have purposefully furthered his or her own cause (a cause that has no grounding or truth in it) such as Iago has.