Iago is Othello’s right-hand man and Othello trusts him completely. Iago seems friendly and harmless, but Othello doesn’t know about the evil plans that he has up his sleeve. Iago wants Othello to think that his wife Desdemona is cheating on him with another man because Othello really likes Desdemona and Iago is insanely jealous of Othello’s relationship with her. Iago devises this evil plan to make Othello think that she is cheating on him because Othello will be upset if he thinks that she isn’t loyal to him. Othello has a lot of respect and trust for Iago and will believe anything that he says to him, so this won’t be very difficult.
Desdemona doesn’t actually cheat on Othello, but Othello becomes so convinced that his wife is cheating on him with another man (Cassio) that Othello kills Desdemona in their bed one night during a fit of madness. The other characters in the play don’t understand Othello’s reasonings and don’t know that Iago is the evil mastermind behind everything. Iago just wants Othello to be upset so he devises this whole plan which includes Othello thinking his wife is cheating on him, Othello killing Desdemona, and Othello killing himself in guilt after realizing what he has done.
Othello trusts Iago completely and will believe anything that he says to him, making it easy for Iago to convince Othello that Desdemona is a cheater. Othello kills Desdemona even though she really isn’t cheating on him with Cassio because Othello believes with all of his heart that she has betrayed him. Othello wants to kill Desdemona because Othello loves her so much and Othello thinks that he has some reason for wanting to end their relationship. Othello’s love for Desdemona is what makes him kill her, not hatred or anything like that.
Othello feels guilty after killing Desdemona which is why Othello kills himself in the end. The main character of Othello is Othello because Othello’s thoughts are focused on more than any other characters’ thoughts are, even though Iago seems like he could be just as important of a character in the play due to everything that goes on between Othello and Iago. If Iago wasn’t in this play then Othello wouldn’t have any reason to think that his wife is cheating on him with Cassio and Othello would never kill Desdemona.
Othello is Othello’s right-hand man, but Othello doesn’t like Othello very much because he thinks that Othello has feelings for his wife (which Othello really does not) and Othello’s thoughts are more focused on killing Desdemona than anything else in the play. The main conflict in this play is between Othello and Iago because everything starts out when Iago devises a plot against Othello and ends when Othello kills himself in guilt after realizing what he has done to Desdemona, who didn’t actually cheat on Othello.
Othello doesn’t actually understand why Othello killed Desdemona until Othello finds out that Iago was behind everything, but Othello still kills himself after understanding all of this. Othello is convinced that Desdemona betrayed him so Othello thinks that Othello has good reason for murdering her, the same reasons that the characters in the play think are true. The climax of this play occurs when Othello realizes that Iago is responsible for Othello thinking his wife was cheating with Cassio and then Othello decides to kill both Iago and Cassio.
Othello is an example of William Shakespeare’s use of the literary technique, “irony”. Othello is a tragedy about Othello who loses his mind and smothers Desdemona, his wife. Iago plants evil thoughts in Othello’s head that destroy Othello’s marriage with Desdemona. Othello never discovers that Iago is the source of Othello’s evil thoughts. This is an example of “irony”. Othello would be blind to think his best friend, Iago, was out to destroy him.
Othello would be ignorant to know that the only reason Othello married Desdemona was that Othello believed that Desdemona’s father made a better offer than Brabantio; Othello didn’t wish to marry her because he actually loved her (Shakespeare). Othello fails as a tragic hero because he does not follow the advice given by Roderigo and Cassio. Roderigo tells Othello not to trust Iago after Othello starts to believe Iago’s lies. Othello should not trust Iago because Othello does not know who is out to get Othello and Othello should know that he doesn’t have any evidence to back up his belief of Desdemona’s infidelity.
Cassio tells Othello that Othello should prove Desdemona’s guilt or innocence before killing her (Shakespeare). Othello fails as a tragic hero because Othello does not abide by what Roderigo and Cassio said for Othello to do. Othello fails as a tragic hero because he trusts Iago too much even though there is no solid evidence against his wife, Desdemona Othello says himself about Iago, “He is one I account most dear” (Shakespeare). Othello would not have had to prove Desdemona’s guilt or innocence if Othello trusted his wife more.
Othello also fails as a tragic hero because Othello commits suicide before he can be punished for murdering his innocent wife, Desdemona. Othello kills himself instead of being killed by someone else after he murders Desdemona Othello says himself about Iago, “I look down towards his feet; but that’s a faulchion [sword]” (Shakespeare). Othello fails as a tragic hero because committing suicide is the only way Othello knows how to escape punishment for killing Desdemona.
Othello is Othello’s own worst enemy, Othello refuses to face the truth that Iago pulled Othello into Othello’s own downfall. Othello kills himself and Desdemona because Othello does not want his reputation as a tragic hero tarnished (Shakespeare). Othello fails as a tragic hero because he makes decisions without thinking of possible consequences Othello says himself about Iago, “And what’s he then that says I play the villain? (Shakespeare). Othello fails as a tragic hero because Othello spends most of his time doing things such as drinking and partying instead of spending that time with Desdemona; if Othello spent some time getting to know Desdemona Othello would know that she is innocent Othello also fails as a tragic hero because Othello does not spend time getting to know Iago before Othello believes Iago’s lies about Othello’s wife, Desdemona.
Othello never proves his wife, Desdemona’s guilt or innocence and Othello never spends time with Iago without drinking or partying; these are all things Othello should do if Othello wants to prove himself as the tragic hero of this story (Shakespeare).