Othello - Injustice as a Theme

A detailed Summary of Othello - Injustice as a Theme

In the Tragedy of Othello, by William Shakespeare, an injustice is done to the main character, Othello the Moor. He is manipulated by the archetypal villain Iago to satiate Iago's need for control and his desire to revenge himself upon Othello. Othello the General has promoted another, Cassio, to hold the position that Iago feels he deserves. For the injustice that Iago feels has been committed against him, he brings about the destruction of Othello and his wife, Desdemona, using Cassio as his tool for doing so.

Iago is the master villain in Othello, and is indeed a prototypal villain; that is, he is the mold for many other villains in many other works. He is cunning, decisive, and able to take advantage of any set of circumstances. He molds the people around him and his surroundings to suit his own "peculiar" ends. And best of all, Iago appears to be a good and honest person to all involved parties until just before the close of the play. Everyone is his willing dupe. Every master villain attempts his level of excellency.

Iago, to achieve his revenge, makes Othello wrongfully suspect his wife of infidelity, and makes him insane with jealousy, enough to kill her in his rage. Othello is th

Shakespeare sets up the character of Othello as a man who is calm and steadfast, as shown by reactions of Othello in Act I, scenes ii-iii, when Senator Brabantio accuses Othello of using witchcraft to woo his daughter. Othello replies calmly and eloquently in contrast to Brabantio's hysteria, explaining that he did not use any sorcery except that of his presence. He tells Iago, when Iago urges him to hide, "My parts, my title, and my perfect soul/ Shall manifest me rightly." Othello is a man who is in control of his emotions, and is seen as a strong, respectable man in such.

Thus is the injustice done to Othello. He is destroyed by a cold plotter, a man that has no sense of morals, who used everything possible to his advantage, even his reputation for honesty; for no more reason than that he was passed over for a promotion. We know that the noble Othello is fooled, and feel sorry that such an honest man has been duped.

Iago drives a stake in between Othello and Cassio, one that he slips in to break them apart. Once Cassio is relieved from his post, he is no longer present to refute the allegations that Iago makes against him. Iago tells Cassio that he has a good chance of being reinstated to his post if Desdemona pleads in his behalf. Cassio thinks this is an excellent plan, and thanks the "honest Iago" for his suggestion. Of course, at this point the reader knows that Iago plans for Othello to see them talking intimately, and to draw the idea of an affair from that.

From here to the end of the play, Iago draws Othello in, convincing the noble Othello that his wife is guilty of infidelity. Othello is convinced by the "honest Iago", despite his own intuitions. Once Othello loses control of his emotions, he is

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Approximate Word count = 1166
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels