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 ...view middle of the document...
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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.
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...
