Othello Essay - How Iago is the catalyst for the targedy

Analyse how Shakespeare portrays the character of Iago as the catalyst of this tragedy.
It is true that in Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago is portrayed as the catalyst and the foremost cause for the events that unfold. Shakespeare portrays this through Iago’s manipulation and power of words, and his continual playing on people’s weaknesses and strengths. This is represented through the impact that he has on other characters, in particular of Othello and Cassio.
In Shakespeare’s Othello, the character of Iago is portrayed as one of pure evilness, a man who sets out to destroy the other characters and turn “virtue into pitch” (II, iii, L 343) with no real motive, seemingly just for fun: “for my sport and profit” (I, iii, L380). Iago is also portrayed as a manipulative and devious character, constantly being likened to a scheming spider through the imagery depicted in his soliloquys: I shall “make the net/ That shall enmesh them all,” (II, iii, L 343-344). However, not a single character in Othello has any idea of Iago’s true character. He is of high status in the Venetian military and has earned the trust of everyone, as seen through their constant repetition of the fallacious epithet honest: “A man he is of honesty and trust” (I, iii, L 284). Through this deception of “I am not what I am” (I, i, L 65), Iago is able to psychologically manipulate and control characters and so is portrayed as the catalyst behind the events that unfold.
Shakespeare’s Othello also portrays Iago as the catalyst behind the tragedy through his impact on Othello. Othello at the beginning is a man of eloquence and accomplishment, and is essentially at the peak of his personal and professional achievements. He is dignified and rational, as seen through his reaction to Brabantio’s threats: “Were it my cue to fight/ I should have known it,” (I, ii, L 83). However, Iago is able to carefully and masterfully entrap Othello into believing that his wife, Desdemona, is having an affair with his lieutenant, Cassio. He plays on Othello’s goodness of a “Free and open nature” (I, I, L 393) and thinking “men honest that but seem to be so,” (I, i, L 394). This, as well as his close proximity and his aforementioned deceptive reputation, entice Othello to trust his words, however foul they may be, and through his language of manipulation, Iago is able to psychologically control Othello. Iago realises that Othello, like all tragic heroes, has a fatal flaw, which in this case is provoked jealousy. Thus he plays on Othello’s vulnerable state of being an outside figure and a subject of scrutiny to manipulate and spark jealousy inside of him: “She did deceive her father, marrying you……She loved them most,” (III, iii, L 205-207). Furthermore, Iago never states overtly. He merely echoes Othello and leads him to draw his own conclusion through allusions. This is depicted when Iago subtly reminds Othello of Desdemona: “My friend is dead…..but let her live” (III, iii, L 106-107). The full impact which Iago has on Othello is shown through the contrast of Othello’s language from the beginning and towards the end of the play. Iago’s animalistic and hellish lexicon have infected Othello that even he, a once eloquent man, uses similar language: ““I will chop her into messes!” (IV, i, L 106). Furthermore, Iago is portrayed as a representation of a devil on Othello’s shoulders. His manipulation was so successful that he acts as Othello’s conscience towards the end of the play, as depicted through his ability to control Othello into killing Desdemona by his method of liking: “Do it not with poison/ Strangle her in her bed,” (IV, I, L 202). Thus, it can be determined through Iago’s impact on Othello how Shakespeare has portrayed Iago as the catalyst in Othello.
Iago’s impact on another character, Cassio, also depicts how Iago is portrayed to be the catalyst in Shakespeare’s Othello. Cassio is described as a man who “hath a daily beauty in his life,” (V I, L 20) and is also the man who won his abovementioned position over Iago. This jealousy provokes Iago to destroy Cassio in every way. Similar to Othello, Iago uses his words of manipulation to play on Cassio’s weakness of drinking and strength of being an honourable and trustworthy man. He does so by convincing Cassio to drink for his superior, Othello, something a man of Cassio’s honour can’t turn down: “Tis a night of revels: The gallants desire it,” (II, iii, L 39-40). Cassio’s repetition of “Reputation, reputation, reputation!” (II, iii, L 252) depicts the vital importance of it to him, and Iago plays on this desire to regain it by convincing him to talk to Desdemona and making her plea to Othello on his behalf. Although Iago rightfully says “this advice is free I give and honest,” (II, iii, L 320), through the dramatic irony continuously created in his soliloquys, the responders are forewarned of the true intentions behind every action. In this case, Iago explains how he will “Pour this pestilence in his (Othello’s) ear…..for her body’s lust,” (II, iii, L 339-340). Iago is also able to take advantage of circumstances which therefore impacts on characters, especially Cassio. An example of this is how Iago plants Othello’s handkerchief in Cassio’s bedroom. This handkerchief, a prized possession of Othello’s which he gave to Desdemona, is a symbol of Othello’s, and to a lesser extent Cassio’s, downfall as it is the final proof needed to break Othello. Furthermore in the final act when “[Iago darts from concealment behind Cassio, wounds him in the leg, and exit]” (V, I, L29-30), it shows how through his stage directions, Iago is able to impact on Cassio and always be an instigator while always lurking in corners and in the shadows to maintain his “honest” reputation. Hence, it can be seen how Iago’s impact on Cassio has portrayed him as the catalyst in Othello.
In Othello, Shakespeare portrays the character of Iago as the catalyst behind the tragedy that unfolds through Iago’s manipulative and deceptive language and nature, which is presented through his impact on the characters of Othello and Cassio.