Iago is to Blame for Othello's Downfall - Critical Essay

Introduction

Due to the nature of Iago, who is filled with a spell of evil, bitterness, resentment, and jealousy against the general, Othello, a character that prompts him to come up with an evil plan to punish and eliminate his superior when he gets the perfect moment. The resentment is seen to have been in existence long before Othello appointed Cassio in the post of a lieutenant. Iago is seen at the beginning of the play lamenting on the appointment Cassio instead of him. Iago says, "these worthy people, who are so successful and popular and stupid, are mere puppets in his hands, but living puppets, who at the motion of his finger must contort themselves in agony, while all the time they believe that he is their one true friend and comforter" (Shakespeare 453). On the other hand, Othello is represented by the writer as naive and over trusting, where is willing to be led even by the enemy who hides his real nature by pretending to be a close friend interested in saving a situation as a concerned friend. The result comes out to be the highest form of deception and manifestation of vengeance.

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Iago's mission to destroy Othello is seen in Act 3 Scene 3, where he begins to poison the mind of Othello against Cassio and Desdemona suggesting that they have lately been having intimacy with each other. Iago uses a vulgar language to describe Desdemona's infidelity when he asks, "would you, the overseer, grossly keep silent. Behold her topped" (West 28). Iago's way of description manages to put an image of adultery in the head of Othello against his suiter. Iago manages to disrupt the critical thinking ability of Othello that increases his emotional feelings of anger. Iago succeeds in convincing him of Desdemona's adultery (Hirsh 59). The scene not only shows of Iago's deception and evil plots but also in the Othello vulnerability. A full soldier in the highest level believes into anything told without digging for the truth of the matter. He ends up consumed in malice that he takes the life of his wife as well as his.

The play puts Iago at two incidences that explain his conflict with Othello; the falling in love and marriage between Desdemona and Othello and the Cassio's promotion to the lieutenant position. Iago feels that the promotional activity was wrongdoing against him perpetrated by Othello where he begins his hostility and maintains it to the end (Wall 359). Despite appearing as a nobleman in front of Othello, his desire to destroy him is so pronounced. Later in the play, Iago comes to connect the two incidents that make him believe Cassio's appointed depending on the previous relationship that probably enhanced the meeting and courtship between Othello and Desdemona. Such was abominable in the circuit of military forces than it would have been in other instances. Such was the primary complaint from Iago whose suspicion and bitterness transforms into a subordinate with stealthily hidden enmity.

Iago believes that if Othello can conduct such a gross abuse of the practices and rules of the military, he is a no longer trustable person and from that point become virtually existing regarding their initial association. The decision by Othello was his greatest mistake that not only put him in danger but also risked the lives of his wife as well as Cassio. It was a foolish thing to do that makes Cassio links the trio in his revenge.

Shakespeare utilizes the dramatic art in the association of the two characters. At some point, Othello and Iago are the greatest of friends who through the dramatic shift turn out to become fierce enemies. I find a problem in identifying the implication of such as dramatic twist in the friendship of the due as intended by the composer. It, however, becomes the stronghold of their bitter relationship. It is however magnificent how Shakespeare maintained the rivalry to be single-ended leaving Othello to be naive.

Various critics have described Iago as malignity filled. Despite relating all the blame in the downfall of Othello to him, it would be necessary to bring the event of things occurring suddenly in the play. The event of career stagnancy is not an amusing thing to bear with. And to make it worse, in the event one is highly optimistic about getting to the next level, then getting flopped by a person who merely qualifies but because of selfish interests (Adelman 126). Based on human nature, he was capable of getting sad. However, a different look could reveal Iago as a person who had been concealing his true identity. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing. His true identity has only been revealed by the event of provocation.

Since Othello is shown to be an incomer to Venice, yet acquires the highest position in the military due to his mastery of the war; the writer is also trying to narrate a tragedy on an immigrant. Despite his glorification in his new home in Venice, as an able soldier, Othello falls in the trap of misguided judgment. He utilizes unmilitary tactics by using favors instead of merit. He decides to give his suitor's friend a post that is deserved for Iago regarding merit. The role played by Othello depicts a man from far, and underdeveloped origins find himself in a well-cultured location with a high profile occupation but fail to use rational methods leading to enmity between him and his subordinates. Othello is therefore seen to betray the people of his adopted state as well as his capacity as a top soldier.

As part of the ultimate plot, Iago's charges against Othello are matters of respect and honor in the military position. A soldier confiscated by such issues illustrates an incompetent person. They also indicate the inability to maintain his high position as the top command in defence forces of Venice. Besides his good attributes as a noble and charismatic person, he finally ends as a failure, a coward who kills himself besides killing his wife. He is therefore seen to be the most vulnerable person in emotion. Besides his prowess in military activities, he is poorly structured in emotion and to some instance mentally. His method of reason is put at jeopardy by mare stories about his wife having an affair with Cassio.

Conclusion

The play, therefore, leaves us to question the downfall of Othello as either his own or Iago's. By looking at the two sides, besides Othello being irrational and betraying the ways of the military by using favors in job promotion, Iago was not a good man. He plots malice against three people while he is only aggravated by one of them. He ensures the fall and death of Othello, by planning a lie that confiscates his wife and Cassio. Such a play gives the reader several moral lessons. One; we should not be swayed by personal interests in the event of serious matters such as our occupations. Another lesson is to critically analyze any statements given to us in the attempt of reducing the whole truth and act in rational ways. If Othello never promoted Cassio in the basis of personal interests, the whole event of misfortunes could not befall him.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. "Four Tragedies: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth." Logan, IA: Bantam Books (1988).

West, Fred. "Iago the Psychopath." South Atlantic Bulletin43.2 (1978): 27-35.

Hirsh, James. "Othello and Perception." Vaughan and Cartwright 135 (1991): 59.

Adelman, Janet. "Iago's Alter Ego: Race as Projection in Othello." Shakespeare Quarterly 48.2 (1997): 125-144.

Wall, John N. "Shakespeare's Aural Art: The Metaphor of the Ear in Othello." Shakespeare Quarterly 30.3 (1979): 358-366.