Examen
A critic once stated that ‘Iago is entirely responsible for the tragic downfall of Othello’. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
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A critic once stated that ‘Iago is entirely responsible for the tragic downfall of Othello’. To whatextent do you agree with this statement?
Iago is indeed a typical representation of a twisted Aristotelian tragic villain in ‘Othello’. His jealousy
has undoubtedly contributed towards his deceitful plots, which can be argued are the sole reasons
for the downfall of our eponymous hero. On the other hand, another interpretation could be the
jealousy in Othello, that has amounted from his readiness to believe Iago, which has contributed
towards his own downfall. To make a fair conclusion, I intend to look at it from the perspective of
comparing Iago’s jealousy against Othello’s jealousy. After comparing the relative importance of
each, I can conclude whether Iago’s jealousy is entirely responsible or whether in fact it is Othello
that has caused his own downfall.
Immediately, the audience recognise Iago to be jealous through his informative yet cruel soliloquies,
which play a key part in informing the audience of his deceitful plans, the first thing being to steal
Cassio’s job: ‘I know my price, I am worth no worse place’. Here, Iago thinks himself fully worth of
becoming second in command to Othello. Iago sets about fulfilling his ultimate desire through using
the loyalty and honesty of Desdemona and exploiting these attributes: ‘That she repels him for her
body’s lust’. Iago’s plan to obtain Cassio’s job therefore, is to make it appear as though the only
reason Desdemona wants Othello to repeal his decision against dismissing Cassio is because she
wants Cassio for her own: ‘body’s lust’. As the play progresses, Iago’s plan of using Desdemona
begins to take effect as the audience see the initial stages of Othello’s jealousy towards Desdemona
unfold; ‘O hardness to dissemble’. Here, Othello is telling Desdemona it is hard to pretend. As the
audience, we understand the underlying connotations insinuated by Othello. He is in other words
telling his wife how hard it must be pretending not to be having an affair with Cassio. Iago’s first plan
therefore has successfully enabled him to discover the insecurity in Othello, the insecurity being his
readiness to believe him. This shows that Iago’s meddling has instantly weakened Othello, who is
beginning to show signs of being consumed by jealousy.
Continuing with his jealous trickery, Iago implants false, sly thoughts into Othello’s head; ‘O beware,
my lord, of jealousy. Iago’s careful selection of language purposefully evokes a jealous reaction by
Othello, ‘O monstrous! Monstrous,’ emphasising to the audience the build-up of jealousy he feels
regarding Desdemona and Cassio. Recognising his success, Iago takes his manipulation a step
further. Othello’s new post as general in the city if Venice makes his vulnerable from his lack of
knowledge about his surroundings. Iago’s intelligence reads this and uses Othello’s innocence to his
advantage by purposefully conjuring up image in Othello’s head of Cassio and his wife together; ‘As
if he plucked up kisses by the roots’. This thought sends Othello into complete misery and as the play
unfolds, the audience clearly sees that Othello becomes riddled with jealousy, so much so that he
completely loses faith in his marriage; ‘O curse of marriage’. Iago’s manipulation with Othello’s mind
provides further evidence that it is the jealousy of Iago that is breaking apart Othello.
Iago soon becomes a master of playing on Othello’s insecurities. Not only does he use Othello’s lack
of knowledge about his surroundings to his advantage, nu Iago also uses the fact that Othello has
much to learn about the culture of Venice, particularly the women of Venice for personal gain. Iago
portrays the women negatively; ‘for the love of a guinea hen’, insinuating that the women of Venice
are prostitutes with a cunning, seductive manner about them. We have already acknowledged that
Iago’s language is very bestial, however, throughout the play, there becomes a noticeable difference
in Othello’s language. His language at the beginning compared to the end of the play becomes more
disrespectful towards women. ‘How I did thrive in this fair lady’s love’. This shows respect towards
Desdemona by calling her ‘fair’. This dialogue contrasts greatly with, ‘Ah Desdemon, away, away,
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