Othello is one of William Shakespeare’s most renowned tragedies. Othello tells the story of a Moorish general in the Venetian army, Othello, who is manipulated by Iago, a trusted member of his staff, into believing that his wife Desdemona has been unfaithful to him. Othello murders her in a fit of rage, only to realize too late the terrible mistake he has made.
Many scholars have interpreted Othello as a play about race and racism. Othello is the first black character ever written by Shakespeare, and some scholars argue that Iago’s manipulation of Othello is based on racist assumptions about black men being naturally sexually promiscuous and violent. Others argue that Othello is not a play about race at all, but about the dangers of jealousy and the destructive power of unfounded suspicion.
No matter what interpretation one adopts, Othello is clearly a complex and powerful play that still resonates with audiences centuries after it was written.
Othello is a play about envy, vengeance, and deception. Iago, a disgruntled army officer seeking to exact revenge on Othello, lies, cheats, and bullies everyone around in order to achieve his aims. To reach his goal of destroying Othello, he uses Roderigo, Brabantio, and just about every other character in the play.
Othello, the Moor, is a character that is often misunderstood. Othello is not a savage brute as Iago would like for people to believe. Othello is a victim of Iago’s deception and manipulation. Othello is also a victim of his own insecurities and his trusting nature. Othello is a dignified and honorable character who is brought down by the machinations of Iago.
The tragedy of Othello can be seen as an examination of the human condition. Othello is a man who represents the best and worst that humans have to offer. He is a man of great strength and courage, but he also has moments of weakness and doubt. Othello is also a man of great sensitivity and compassion. Othello is a man who is able to love deeply and passionately. Othello is also a man who is capable of being consumed by jealousy and rage. Othello is a complex character who represents the best and worst that humans have to offer.
Iago is one of the most interesting characters in the play Othello. Iago is not your average villain. He is not a simple, two-dimensional character with no depth or layers. Iago is a complex character with many hidden motives and agendas. Iago is a master manipulator who can deceive and manipulate everyone around him in order to get what he wants.
To really comprehend Othello, or any other play, you must consider what occurred before the play that generated the situations you read about. You must think about the relationships between all of the characters. Before Iago came on stage, picture Roderigo’s devotion to Desdemona, Brabantio’s contempt for Othello, and Desdemona’s rivalry and suspicion toward Othello.
When you do that, Othello takes on a new meaning. It is no longer just the story of a black man who is tricked and deceived by a white man, but it becomes a story about the Othello’s relationships with the people around him. It becomes a story about how jealousy can destroy even the strongest of relationships.
Othello is not just a play about racism or betrayal. It is a play about love, jealousy, and revenge. And those are themes that will always be relevant to us no matter what era we live in.
Roderigo is one of the most important characters in Othello, Iago’s dim-witted right-hand man. Roderigo is the individual who funds Iago and is also planning to murder Cassio at the conclusion of the novel. He attempts to kill Cassio because Iago convinces him that Cassio is Desdemona’s unfaithful lover.
Roderigo is enraged to the point of murder by Iago’s revelation that Desdemona has loved another man. He believes he can win her back, but when she shows no interest in him, his pride is harshly wounded and he plots revenge against Othello.
Roderigo feels compelled to avenge Iago’s death at the hand of Othello; this leads to his decision to kill another person. It may appear at first glance that Iago forced Roderigo to act as he did, but his motivation was really his love for Desdemona. Iago didn’t create Roderigo’s affection for Desdemona; instead, he channeled it.
Othello is a play about jealousy, and how it can destroy people. Othello’s jealousy of Cassio is what drives him to kill Desdemona. Othello is not just a play about Othello, it is also a play about Iago and Roderigo. Othello would not be the same without any of these characters. Othello is an intricate work of art that should be appreciated for all of its complexities.
Iago’s meddling in other areas, such as the friendship between Brabantio and Othello, is another example of how he assists to shape circumstances. Before learning of Othellos affair with his daughter, Brabantio was actually on good terms with him. On separate occasions, Othello visited his house for dinner. After learning about his deceitful friend and daughter, Brabantio has a negative opinion of him.
In the play, Othello is called “The Moor” which was a term used to describe someone who was of African descent. Othello is also referred to as a “Barbary Horse” which was an insult because it meant that he was savage and uncivilized. Othello’s blackness and otherness are major factors in why Brabantio is so upset with him.
Iago takes advantage of this by telling Brabantio that Othello has kidnapped Desdemona. He even goes so far as to say that Othello has raped her. This causes Brabantio to be even more outraged and he calls for Othello to be punished. Othello ends up having to leave Venice because of the commotion that Iago has stirred up. Othello is heartbroken by this and he feels like a failure. Iago has successfully destroyed Othello’s life without even having to lift a finger. This is just one example of the many ways that Iago uses manipulation to get what he wants.
