Iago Playing in Othello's Trag

A detailed Summary of Iago Playing in Othello's Trag

Othello, by William Shakespeare, is Othello's tragedy but Iago's play because Iago is the one who is constantly controlling the action. Iago manipulates situations in his favor by speaking directly to the audience. This allows Iago to show the audience his point of view on all matters concerning the play and twist their conception of him in his favor. Iago merely displays his manipulative character in convincing us that he is no villain and is justified in his actions against the other characters in the play. On the other hand, Othello almost never breaks the fourth wall and therefore cannot bend the audience in his favor as Iago does. Othello displays his character instead of trying to win us over in his speeches to the audience. Iago is also in almost every scene of the play at one point and interacts with the people in that scene. The interactions develop Iago's character even more. Othello remains out of the action in most scenes and lacks the character interaction that develops Iago's character. These two facts mean that the "camera" is centered much more around Iago than it is Othello, making it Iago's play.

Iago breaks the fourth wall to speak to the audience more than anyone in the play. Iago controls the play

Othello gives us hints of how his downfall will come about. Characteristics appear as the play develops that relate to his eventual downfall. Othello says himself that "My blood begins my safer guides to rule, And passion, having my best judgement colied, Assays to lead the way."(page 95, lines 219-221) He is saying that his "passion" and "blood" can overrule him and make him do things he wouldn't normally do. This passion comes from within Othello and adds to the tragedy of the play because these feelings are the type of things that Othello has been keeping inside all this time in order to raise himself in society. It also adds to how Othello fits into the definition of a tragedy. The definition of tragedy is extended by saying that the play can be more of a tragedy if it comes about by "a tragic flaw, a moral weakness." Othello's "tragic flaw" or "moral weakness" is the "passion" and "blood" having the ability to overrule his better judgement.

Othello eventually becomes the antithesis of what he was at the beginning. Othello's passion finally overrules his better judgement, and he gets into a jealous rage. He even stoops so low as to strike Desdemona, something he would never dream of doing when he was making his suit to the Duke at the beginning of the play. Othello displays his complete loss of control when he kills Desdemona. He is so blinded by jealousy and rage that he doesn't even listen to her plead for her life.

This play is Othello's tragedy, because he fits into the definition of a tragedy. The American Heritage Dictionary defines a tragedy as "A drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, a moral weakness, or an inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances." Breaking down this definition, Othello fits into the description almost perfectly. He is "brought to ruin" and "suffers extreme sorrow" by the end of the play mainly through all the personal, emotional, and physical losses he suffers. At the beginning of the play, he has everything a man could want: He has a wife and a good reputation that gets him the respect of many Venetians. By the end of the play, he has lost his wife, reputation, sanity, and finally, life. The first act demonstrates the respect that Othello gets from the Venetians, specifically from the Senators. The Senators and Othello's companions often refer to him as the brave or valiant Othello. Also, when the Duke is sending messengers for him, Cassio describes it as, "The galleys have a dozen sequent messengers this very night at one another's heels...When, being not at your lodging to be found, The Senate hath sent about three several quests to sea

Some common words found in the essay are:
Desdemona Othello's, Othello Duke, Desdemona Othello, Iago Desdemona's, Roderigo Barbantio, Heritage Dictionary, Othello Iago's, Shakespeare Othello's, Cassio Iago's, Iago Othello, play iago, beginning play, iago's character, love desdemona, flaw moral weakness, love thee, speeches audience, definition tragedy, tragic flaw, moral weakness, iago's play, tragic flaw moral, play othello's tragedy, play iago breaks, fits definition tragedy,

Approximate Word count = 1837
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English