Betrayal And Treachery In Shakespeare's Othello

Shakespeare’s Othello is interwoven with betrayal and treachery, forcing bonds of trust, love, and loyalty to get destroyed. The play Othello revolves around two conflicting characters: the scheming, manipulative Iago and the honorable moor, Othello. Despite the fact that these men are completely opposite in character, Iago commands such persuasive powers that he begins to affect Othello’s thinking and his perceptions of those close to him. After examining Shakespeare’s Othello, it is clear that many of the acts of betrayal that are seen throughout the play help convey to readers the ideas of reality, sexism, and jealousy. The tragic plot of the play Othello revolves around this idea that everything is not what it appears. In the beginning
In this early speech, Iago explains his ways to Roderigo. He follows Othello not due to “love” or “duty,” but because he feels that he can easily trick and manipulate his master, therefore revenging himself. Iago finds his strength in appearing who he is outwardly to be different from who he really is inside.His mastery in this ability of manipulating his appearance to others is unequaled as Iago fools almost everyone and is also what helps him to achieve his revenge on Othello. Later on in the play, as Othello watches Cassio talking with Iago, he notes, “By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in [Cassio’s] hand! O perjured woman, thou dost stone my heart and mak’st me call what I intend to do A murder, which I thought a sacrifice! (V.ii.78-81) This idea of appearances vs. reality continues as the events that surround the "ocular proof" (III.iii.364), the missing handkerchief being in Cassio’s possession, is what will convince Othello of Desdemona's unfaithfulness. Events like Cassio slipping away from Desdemona when he sees Othello coming, Desdemona trying to persuade Othello to reconcile with Cassio, and Cassio supposedly talking and laughing about his affair with Desdemona to Iago all appear to indicate Desdemona’s
In one of Iago’s soliloquies, he says, “I hate the Moor, and it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets ‘Has done my office. I know not if’t be true, but I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will do as surety. He holds me well. The better shall my purpose work on him.” (I.iii.429-434) Iago, here, reveals how it is rumored that Othello has slept with his wife, Emilia. Jealousy that spouts from this rumor forces Iago to diverge from rationality and this loss of rational causes Iago to plan a life of jealousy and destruction for Othello. As the play continues, Iago’s plan of revenge begins to work. When Lodovico comes to give Othello the news of him getting replaced by Cassio, Othello lashes out on Desdemona, in front of everyone, and slaps her. In response to this scene, Lodovico asks in wonder, “Is this the noble Moor, whom our full senate call all in all sufficient? Is this the nature whom passion could not shake, whose solid virtue the shot of accident nor dart of chance could neither graze nor pierce?”(IV.i.297-301). Othello, in the beginning of the play is shown as cool-minded, courageous, and strong character. Yet, as Iago manages to take advantage of his gullibility and brainwashes him gradually into thinking that Desdemona has been cheating on him with