Multiple Interpretations Of Shakespeare's Othello

The story of Othello allows for multiple interpretations of who the primary protagonist or antagonist is amongst its cast of characters. Aside from Shakespeare’s titling of them, each character’s motives, personality and goals have understandable reasoning, which allows the reader to create their own titles for each character they are presented. This style of storytelling Shakespeare has chosen gives a role to the personal experiences and opinions of the reader as they are interpreting the text. When the common worker who has been through struggles and misfortune in their life reads Othello, they notice Iago’s plight for revenge. Many of times in his life, the worker is bothered by those higher in power at his workplace through pay cuts and
Similar to the worker, the employer becomes enveloped by Iago’s conversation with Roderigo, yet he instead becomes disgusted and angered with Iago’s motives and plight. After discussing how he did not get the lieutenant position he wanted, Iago says that “In following [Othello], I follow but myself”(Shakespeare, 1.1. 55) and “For daws to peck at; I am not what I am”(Shakespeare, 1.1. 62). The employer has dealt with many employees in his career who he knows do not show him their true thoughts and opinions about working for him, and as he reads these lines, the employer becomes furious for what Iago is putting Othello through by having hidden, ulterior motives, leading him to interpret that those working for Othello are collaborating against him as well. As the story continues into the final act, the employer looks towards Othello with pity and sympathy as his character arc comes to a close. The employer’s empathy increases for Othello as he says “Soft you, a word or two before you go. I have done the state some service, and they know’t,” (Shakespeare, 5.2. 334-335) then proceeds to end his own life. The employer prides himself with the knowledge that he has helped his company more than his employees, so as Othello dies with the declaration of having served his state sufficiently, the employer interprets the story to conclude with the noble hero having died due to the greed of his underlings. The story is interpreted by the employer in such a fashion which does not attribute Othello with the responsibility for his suicide and the atrocities he commits within the play but blames only those lower in power, as they are interpreted to be corrupt with