Othello Essay

Scott Pero
English 10 Honors
February 4, 2009
Describe Iago’s manipulation of Othello and how Othello reacts.
The Root of Jealousy

Human beings are not perfect. We have both good and bad qualities, and the two factions are constantly feuding to reign supreme. Some people see only the favorable characteristics of others, while others may perceive only the unfavorable. Both sides exist; it is merely a matter of strength that determines which traits are the obvious. No matter how much one may want one’s good side to be shown, one may lose control and set the bad side loose. It can be caused by any one of a myriad of stimuli in our natural environment. It is also in our nature to invoke these feelings in others. If someone strikes us as unfair or unjust, we may want to avenge the wrongs we believe were done to us. A way to do this is to exploit the bad and cover up the good in that person’s character. One such literary example is Iago manipulating Othello in the play "Othello". Iago, for an undisclosed reason, is out to ruin Othello’s life, using others to weave a web of lies and deceit that ultimately ends with Othello murdering his wife, Desdemona. Though at first Othello was just, he is tricked by Iago through Iago’s sneaky actions into being torn between jealousy and trust, until he finally gives in to jealousy.

In the beginning of "Othello", Othello himself is a just man. Though black, he has risen to become the general of the Venetian militia. He has even been wed to the fairest maiden in all of Venice, the pure Desdemona. His moral stature is shown when he address the Venetian senators as pertaining to whether Desdemona will stay in Venice while Othello leaves: "I therefore beg it/ to please the palate of my appetite…but to be free and bounteous to her mind; / and heaven defend your good souls that you think/ I will your serious and great business scant when she is with me" (Shakespeare 1.3.256-263). Othello here is a very moral and dutiful man, vowing that he will not shirk his duties if Desdemona is allowed to come with him to Cyprus. His faithful and benevolent demeanor is tempted when vengeful Iago machinates his plan.

Due to an unknown motive, Iago is out to punish Othello. He goes about doing this by using Othello’s own lieutenant in the process. One possible motive for Iago would be jealousy of Cassio. Instead of choosing Iago as his lieutenant, Othello chose Cassio. This motive can explain why he slanders both Cassio and Othello. Cassio is a courteous young man whom women love. Iago uses this to his advantage by hinting to Othello that Cassio is cheating with Desdemona: "Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it/ that he would steal away so guilty-like, / seeing your coming" (3.2.38-39). Why would Cassio be fleeing if he wasn’t guilty of something? This is the ploy Iago use to rouse Othello’s doubt. Many of Iago’s actions are indirect like this one. He acts as a puppeteer, pulling string by string until he gets what he wants, while not participating in anything himself. Othello soon doubts whether Desdemona is true or not based on Iago’s word.

Othello thinks Iago to be honest. Why would an honest person say someone was unfaithful if they were not? The mere notion, however, makes Othello sweat. What if his wife really is cheating on him? Staying true to the sane, just individual Othello is first portrayed as, he speaks to Iago about the matter: "What sense had I of her stol’n hours of lust? / I saw’t not, thought it not, it harmed not me…He that is robbed, not wanting what is stol’n,/ let him not know’t, and he’s not robbed at all" (3.2.335-340). Here, Othello is telling Iago that if Iago had not told him of Desdemona’s adultery, he would not be harmed like he is now. Othello truly loves Desdemona. If nothing had been said, he would have gone on loving blissfully and not had his mind weighed down by such notions. Othello still does not believe Desdemona would commit such an act, but more of Iago’s tricks ensure his hesitance.

Iago, seeing his plan is already working when Iago goes into epilepsy, decides to use Cassio in a most devious manner: "Now I will question Cassio of Bianca…He, when he hears of her, cannot restrain/ from the excess of laughter…and he shall smile, Othello shall go mad" (4.1.95-103). Iago is really talking to Cassio about Bianca, a strumpet Cassio had recently been having relations with, but he makes it seem as though, to Othello, they were speaking of Desdemona. Cassio speaks of Bianca as a whore and nothing of importance to him. Since Cassio never actually uses Bianca’s name, Othello is led to believe he is talking about Desdemona. This sly illusion causes Othello to slip into jealousy’s grip.

There is no doubt that Othello now suspects Desdemona of adultery. He is torn between loving his wife and letting jealousy take him over. The ‘proof’ Iago gives Othello is undeniable; thusly, Othello believes him. Although, some part of him aches in spite of his jealousy: "Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned/ tonight; for she shall not live. No, my heart is turned/ to stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand. O, the/ world hath not a sweeter creature!" (4.1.183-187). He feels the jealousy coursing through him, but he still knows he loves Desdemona. This is the turning point from the old, moral Othello to the new, enraged Othello, as his jealousy gives way to murderous results.

Othello planned with Iago about how to kill both Cassio and Desdemona. Othello suggested poison to kill Desdemona, but Iago offered the option of strangling her in her bed, the same bed she cheated in, possibly leaving evidence that it was Othello who did it. Othello’s soliloquy before murdering Desdemona offers a new glimpse into how exactly jealousy consumed him: "Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men. / Put out the light, and then put out the light…but once put out thy light…I know not where is that Promethean heat/ that can thy light relume" (5.2.6-13). Here, Othello is about to murder his own wife, but something is causing him to hesitate. He speaks of dousing one light, and then dousing another; that second light is Desdemona’s soul. After he douses his own candle, he’ll kill her, but if he kills her, how can he ever bring her back? There is still some small bit of care for Desdemona left in Othello, and it is fighting to break free of Iago’s deceit. Othello is thinking about his next actions and realizing that he still loves her and may miss her when she is gone. Nevertheless, he gives in to anger and Iago’s lies and smothers Desdemona, who in turn dies saying she committed suicide to keep Othello from persecution. Realizing what he had done, and to whom he did it, Othello returns to how he was in the beginning of the book, seeing the error of his ways.

What Iago did was cruel. He was responsible for the murder of four people, one of which was his own wife. By reviewing his manipulation of Othello and his other actions throughout the book, we can understand how Iago is considered the most evil of all Shakespearean villains, surpassing the likes of such literary caitiffs as Professor James Moriarty or the Wicked Witch of the West. His understanding of human emotions and the ability to bend them to his will is what sets him apart from the rest. Our emotions are delicate, and we must always be wary of the struggle between those that are good and those that are bad. There are times when both qualities wish to surface, to be unleashed into the world, but we must learn to control them. Without control, it can lead us to unimaginable ends. Without integrity, others can use us as we please. Without order, we are subject to chaos.