Eddie Barragan
Professor Nishimura
English 102
27 May 2018
Othello’s Tragedy
Building a rhythm and adjusting accordingly to an unfamiliar situation or status will take some time to getting use to, so an individual does their best to go with the flow with obscure obstacles. If an individual feels is introduced to a new environment and atmosphere then they will have a naive look on everything and if that individual wants to go with the flow r=then they will trust those around him rather than their loved ones. In the work Othello, by William Shakespeare, a story is told where the lead character is faced with a status that involves manipulation of his atmosphere and the status of person he loves which is caused by someone who is motivated by vengeance and anger. The play was first introduced in times where segregation of race had existed and where racism was rather common in everyday life, and the play does tackle how a non caucasian male is trying to make correct adjustments with his new status. The issue stands for an outsider, if a out of places individual is given a high authoritative position, and is willing to hear everybody out before their loved ones, then an vengeful individual will easily manipulate him to their downfall.
To begin with, the story does take place in a time where racism was in affect, and Othello was a man of pigmented skin who got a fine status in life where his decisions make devastating changes for himself. The individual who felt as if his work and time spent on the job had received no recognition felt bothered to the point where he needed to seek vengeance. That man who didn’t get the promotion that he deserved was Iago whose goal is now to gain satisfaction of seeing Othello fall. Iago felt confident in terms of ruining Othello’s life because he views him as half a man because of his skin, and Iago believes that he can be successful because he know how naive Othello is with his new position in life. It is clear that Iago feel this way by sharing with the readers that “To be suspected, framed to make women false/ The Moor is of a free and open nature/ That thinks men honest that but seem to be so,/ And will as tenderly be led by th’ nose As asses are” (Shakespeare 1.3.55). The quote clearly demonstrates how and why Iago is planning to commit a devious action such as planning to destroy Othello. Iago make it clear that he will attack Othello’s marriage and explains that it is caused by the fact he wasn’t promoted. Iago felt cheated out and now he has to get his revenge on Othello for that. Othello may not know that, but his life will change because of a simple decision. From the very beginning of the story Iago will act as an outside force that will manipulate Othello into thinking his wife is cheating on him. Othello had no idea what exactly was coming to him when promoting someone else instead of Iago, but now he will suffer the consequences from Iago. Othello considers himself to be an outsider and is willing to give his ear to Iago and that’s all Iago would need in order to begin devious punishments on Othello.
Additionally, Othello believes that he is somewhat out of place in the given setting and is willing to give an open ear to those around him in order to have a better understanding of the newly found position where he plans on becoming a new staple to the environment. Othello wants to be an easy going guy and wants to get along with everybody around, and that does involve communication and trust between him and his peers. Othello feels that his employees are his friends and will like to communicate what he considers to be his friends. Othello make it clear to readers to readers that he is trying to listen to everyone and that he wants to give them respect. It slear when he sees both Cassio and Iago together stating, “The goodness of the night upon you, friends/ What is the news”(1.2.23). The quote displays how willing Othello is in terms of trying to be friends with both Iago and Cassio. Othello will like to show how appreciative he is for the position that he has right now, and how he is willing to ask what they have to say. Othello is lending his ear and Iago now has conformation of how naive Othello can be and how easily he can be manipulated. Iago does abuse Othello’s ear and caring heart he has for other when Iago decides to share a false accusation of his wife. Iago sees how friendly and open Othello is and is able to communicate to him how Othello’s wife Desdemona is acting unfaithful with Cassio. When Iago is talking to Othello he claims, “I am glad of this, for now I shall have reason/ To show the love and duty that I bear you/ With franker spirit. Therefore, as I am bound,/ Receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof./ Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio;/ Wear your eyes thus, not jealous nor secure” (3.3.131). Iago is successful with his plans, because after creating more suspension Othello now believes Iago. Othello now wants to confront his wife and it is all because he allows to hear Iago out without questioning his validity of his statements. Othello is too naive and is given a position where he must have communication and trust with his peers. His nature and his job is what makes his downfall seem to easy, and with Iago’s mischievous mind he is able to play Othello like a fool. The lead protagonist feels that he is doing the right thing because he is lending his ear out, but the issue revolves around how out of places he feels. If Othello felt comfortable with the environment then who wouldn’t worry so much about what Iago has to say, but because he feels out of places he is willing to hear him out and absorb everything without thinking too much about the truth it holds.
Furthermore, Othello faces his own downfall because he wants to listen to Iago till the very end, and Othello is willing to do this because he still feel like a stranger to the environment. Othello continuously listens to Iago about how his wife is cheating on him and not once did Othello listen to his own wife. Desdemona would always tell him that she wasn’t cheating on him but Othello ignored her statements everytime and felt that she was lying. Iago may have got in Othello head by the time Othello was questioning his wife, but that doesn’t change the fact that Othello had let Iago do that. As Othello continuously questions Desdemona she shares a few words, “And have you mercy, too. I never did / Offend you in my life, never loved Cassio/ But with such general warranty of heaven/ As I might love. I never gave him token”(5.2.241.). Shortly after Desdemona allows Othello to kill her, and Othello is willing to do so with greatest of ease. Othello proceeds to kill his own wife and it all revolves around taking Iago’s word. If Othello didn’t feel like an outsider he couldn’t care less about Iago’s statements, but because he feels like an outsider figure who needs to adapt in an unfamiliar status. By this point Iago has already killed Othello, but Othello has not yet realized this the the very last scene of the play. Othello doesn’t see the malicious intent Iago has till the very end of the play where Iago’s wife had to spoil Iago’s plot. Othello has stabbed Iago by the end of the act and states, “I look down towards his feet; but that’s a fable.—/ If that thou be’st a devil, I cannot kill thee”(5.2.259.). The quote demonstrates how Othello finally sees Iago as the antagonist that he truly is and how Iago was able to develop the tragedy. Othello know that Iago has killed him before he himself actually died. Othello now sees that he lost his wife who was completely innocent and decides to kill himself. Othello accepts that his life is already over before he actually lost it and now Iago gets to witness his downfall. Othello realizing that he was the one who caused his own downfall by lending his ear to Iago and that was the satisfaction that Iago had wanted. Othello’s jealousy and his naive nature was his own downfall and Iago deciding to capitalizing on that was the final push that Othello would need to face self tragedy.
All and all, The situation stands, if a naive man governs emotionally, and is willing give an open ear to everybody, then a manipulative individual can easily occupy their mind with any plausible argument. Othello does get carried away with his emotions and allows others to occupy his mind without much questioning; All because he had wanted to fit into the atmosphere that was already built around him. Iago was able to manipulate Othello’s nature and emotions in order to see Othello fall apart. Othello had lived in a time were segregation has existed and those with pigment were not use to that new found position. Iago knows that Othello isn’t reader for his title and was even more disappointed in Othello that he didn’t give a promotion to him. Iago had wanted to see Othello fall and what made it easy was the fact that Othello felt he was a stranger who lets their emotions get the better of them. Othello had all the characteristics to create their own downfall and Iago was able to set up everything correctly to send him off to his downfall. Iago had to help send Othello off to his own tragedy and Othello was the one who decided to act like a fool. Othello decided to cause his own downfall by keeping a stubborn mindset of an outsider, and Iago was able to gain the satisfaction that he wanted without receiving much punishment.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Othello. The Moor of Venice. Ed. Tucker Brooke and Lawrence Mason. New Haven: Yale UP, 1947. Print.