Is Iago To Blame For Othello's Downfall
Taegan Gallacher
Grade 10.2
English home language
Miss O’Donovan
22 May 2018
Shakespearean mini-essay
Topic 2
In William Shakespeare’s tragic play Othello, one can argue that Othello is not solely to blame for the tragic outcomes in the play. In fact it is his intelligence and strong-willed personality that make it harder for Iago to manipulate him and eventually lead to his downfall. Furthermore one can argue that it is Iago who is to blame for this treacherous tragedy.
Iago is able to deceive or manipulate most of the characters in the play, namely: Roderigo, Cassio, Brabantio, Emelia and even Desdemona to some extent. The fact that Othello falls victim to Iago’s plan is not surprising at all. Othello is just one of many characters that Iago has essentially trapped in his web of lies. Iago plans to “pour this pestilence” into Othello’s ear and “put the Moor at least into a jealously so strong that judgement cannot cure”, at this Iago does succeed, but not as easily as he expects to. …show more content…
In fact Iago has to work even harder in order to ensnare Othello into his trap. With Roderigo, Iago is able to simply trick him into believing he has a chance with Desdemona. With Cassio, Iago uses sympathy, reassurances and deceptive advice. Iago convinces Cassio to “confess your heart freely to her.” In doing this he does not realize that it will eventually help lead to the downfall of most of the characters in Othello. With Othello, Iago must use deceit, imagery, inference, reverse psychology and even ethos. However Othello is still not convinced that his beloved Desdemona has been unfaithful to him, that is until he receives physical evidence in the form of the handkerchief that he has given to
Grade 10.2
English home language
Miss O’Donovan
22 May 2018
Shakespearean mini-essay
Topic 2
In William Shakespeare’s tragic play Othello, one can argue that Othello is not solely to blame for the tragic outcomes in the play. In fact it is his intelligence and strong-willed personality that make it harder for Iago to manipulate him and eventually lead to his downfall. Furthermore one can argue that it is Iago who is to blame for this treacherous tragedy.
Iago is able to deceive or manipulate most of the characters in the play, namely: Roderigo, Cassio, Brabantio, Emelia and even Desdemona to some extent. The fact that Othello falls victim to Iago’s plan is not surprising at all. Othello is just one of many characters that Iago has essentially trapped in his web of lies. Iago plans to “pour this pestilence” into Othello’s ear and “put the Moor at least into a jealously so strong that judgement cannot cure”, at this Iago does succeed, but not as easily as he expects to. …show more content…
In fact Iago has to work even harder in order to ensnare Othello into his trap. With Roderigo, Iago is able to simply trick him into believing he has a chance with Desdemona. With Cassio, Iago uses sympathy, reassurances and deceptive advice. Iago convinces Cassio to “confess your heart freely to her.” In doing this he does not realize that it will eventually help lead to the downfall of most of the characters in Othello. With Othello, Iago must use deceit, imagery, inference, reverse psychology and even ethos. However Othello is still not convinced that his beloved Desdemona has been unfaithful to him, that is until he receives physical evidence in the form of the handkerchief that he has given to