William Shakespeare, the greatest writer in history, showcases a fabricated tragedy in his famous novel Othello, where the truth about the characters ultimately emerges. Shakespeare’s unmatched ability to keenly observe and express himself has made him stand above all other writers, particularly when he captures the essence of life in the 16th century. In that era, qualities such as reputation, respect, and honesty held greater significance than any other aspects.
Iago, the main antagonist, demonstrates his disregard for these values when he betrays characters who trust him. He is driven by no real motive for his actions, revealing his inherent evil. Shakespeare’s characters, both virtuous and wicked, are doomed to a tragic fate. Iago’s fate is particularly grim as his sinful traits lead to the demise of multiple characters.
Iago possesses devilish traits such as jealousy, revenge, and miscommunication with innocent characters. The source of his agonizing destiny lies in these characteristics. A clear manifestation of Iago’s increasingly jealous nature can be seen from the start of the play. Othello, a skilled warrior, selects Cassio – his closest companion – to be his lieutenant instead of Iago. This decision leaves Iago bitter due to the fact that Cassio lacks experience in combat, whereas Iago has previously fought in wars.
One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, who has never commanded a group of soldiers in combat or experienced the strategic details of a battle, is as knowledgeable as a spinster unless he relies on theoretical knowledge from books, where distinguished leaders can explain concepts just as effectively as he can.
.. ” (pg 5). Iago tauntingly ridicules Cassio for his lack of experience in actual warfare and reliance on book knowledge.
The speaker is filled with envy towards both of Cassio’s positions, both in the military and as part of Othello’s service. The speaker believes they are deserving of these roles and we witness their jealousy consuming them. This jealousy is the fundamental cause of the tragic deaths of multiple characters, as the speaker’s ambition is to take over Cassio’s position. To achieve this, the speaker plans to deceive Othello with false accusations against Cassio for their own benefit.
“In following Othello, I am only following my own desires. It is not out of love and duty, but rather appearing so, for my own specific purpose” (pg 7). His intention is to make Othello intensely jealous by creating the illusion of an affair between Desdemona and Cassio. “Yes, smile at her, go ahead.”
According to the text, if actions like these cause you to lose your position, it would have been better if you hadn’t kissed your three fingers so often (pg 65). In addition to attempting to strip Cassio of his position, the jealousy also drives the speaker to seek revenge on Othello, who chose Cassio over him.
Iago’s fate is ultimately doomed by a combination of factors, one being his growing seed of revenge towards Othello. His plan against Othello stems partially from his desire for vengeance. He aims to make Othello believe that an affair is occurring between Desdemona, Othello’s wife, and Cassio. Iago feels resentful because he was not promoted to the position of lieutenant.
He is filled with bitterness and anger, seeking to harm Othello and take vengeance for his reputation. His plan for revenge involves ruining Othello’s bond with Desdemona, fully aware of the deep love and trust Othello feels for her. This is evident when Othello declares, “My life upon her faith” (pg 43), indicating his immense trust in her to the point of sacrificing his own life if she is unfaithful.
Iago understands that by destroying the intangible trust between Othello and his wife, he can exact the most severe revenge, as it renders Othello powerless and immobile, emotionally and physically.
Nevertheless, Iago’s cunning manipulation leads me to make the Moor feel an overwhelming jealousy that cannot be cured through reasoning alone” (pg 73). As Iago plants the seeds of jealousy in Othello’s mind, Othello’s faith in Desdemona begins to waver. Iago, the purveyor of deceit, successfully convinces Othello that Desdemona is being unfaithful by asserting that she has given Cassio a handkerchief that Othello highly values. “To lose’t [handkerchief] or give’t away were such perdition as nothing else could match” (pg 147).
Iago observes Othello’s doubts about his wife’s loyalty, advising him to nurture his suspicions, saying: “Oh my lord, be cautious of jealousy! It is a green-eyed monster that feeds on the very thing it mocks. The man who, certain of his fate, does not love his cuckold, lives in happiness…”
“(pg 121). Othello later states, “Why did I marry? This honest creature [Iago] undoubtedly sees and knows more, much more, than he discloses” (pg 125) and “This fellow is exceptionally honest, and possesses extensive knowledge about people, with a sophisticated understanding of human interactions” (pg 127). By briefly showing Othello’s thoughts, readers catch a glimpse of how Iago has ensnared Othello into trusting him. It also demonstrates Iago’s cunning when it comes to convincing and manipulating others.
Iago’s desire for revenge against Othello leads him to adopt a false persona, creating confusion about his true malevolent nature. By pretending to be honest with everyone, Iago creates a web of miscommunication between himself and the other characters. He skillfully convinces everyone, particularly Othello, that he is trustworthy and sincere, when in reality he is a deceitful and wicked individual. “Though I do hate him [Othello] as I do hell-pains.”
On page 15, the text states that the narrator feels the need to display a flag and symbol of love, although it is only a superficial representation. This is because he intentionally deceives others by presenting himself as less savage than he truly is.
When informing Brabantio about his daughter’s hidden secrets, he uses the phrase “right now an old black ram is tupping your white ewe” (pg 11), comparing people to animals to convey his savage nature. Additionally, he purposely miscommunicates between Othello and Desdemona for his own gratification. Iago further fuels Othello’s anger by mentioning “But such a handkerchief.”
On page 139, Othello says, “.. did I today see Cassio wipe his beard with“. This completely deceives Othello into thinking that his wife is being unfaithful to him.
Othello quickly falls for Iago’s deception, believing that Cassio has the handkerchief. He unquestioningly accepts all of Iago’s lies and miscommunications, declaring his loyalty to Iago. This demonstrates Othello’s opportunistic nature, willing to do whatever it takes to achieve his desires. Even Iago himself acknowledges the irony of being perceived as honest by the other characters, but he is pleased to see their gullibility. He states, “But I’ll reveal the truth that contradicts this illusion, even though I am as honest as I appear” (pg 67).
Throughout the novel, his main focus is on his personal interests, making him highly selfish. Consequently, his selfishness gives rise to a dangerous trait—his inclination towards lying. These various flaws in Iago’s character ultimately result in his unfortunate destiny of revealing the true villain of the play and the origin of communication.
Despite his opulent lies, Iago’s vicious villain-like character is exposed when the truth emerges. Iago’s flaws are so severe that death becomes a desirable punishment, leading to the complete destruction of his once fine reputation. Iago’s destiny is marked by endless suffering driven by his dangerous jealousy, thirst for revenge, and personal satisfaction gained through miscommunication. Through Iago’s character, readers can explore numerous themes, with the importance of looks being deceiving being prominently depicted.
In all of Shakespeare’s novels, the consistent trend of tragic endings elicits tears from readers. The purpose of preserving these disastrous conclusions is to illustrate the extent of evil in the world. Shakespeare’s Othello leaves readers with a profound understanding of life during the 16th century.
