Although these requirements society has of Othello do not help matters, and are party responsible for the tragic run of events, there are still more factors to consider before the question can be answered.Iago is most certainly one of the aforementioned factors, as, like Prospero manipulates the entire case of The Tempest using his supernatural abilities, so Iago uses his own magic, the powers of language as a medium of communication, to control the characters of Othello like marionettes. Othello's downfall comes about due to a combination of the influence of Iago and the fatal character flaws of the otherwise virtuous Othello. In a fit of jealous rage, Othello smothers Desdemona to death. He argued that Othello is responsible for his own downfall, and that Iago is merely a subordinate character and not the main reason for the tragedy.This view is certainly worth considering as T.S. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Have You Not Read of Some Such Thing? The play "Othello" was written by Shakespeare, the play tells the story of a powerful general named Othello, whose marriage and life were ruined by a manipulative, and envious soldier, Iago. He does not belong to this world. The language is used to make the success of the play; when it is put into the Othello's soliloquies, it is in positive way. "Do it not with poison": Iago and the Killing of Desdemona "..that these worthy people who are so successful and popular and stupid are mere puppets in his hands but living puppets who at the motion of his finger must contort themselves in a. We continuously see Othello foolishness and naivety get the better of him. Cassio Character Analysis in Othello | SparkNotes From the beginning of the story an argument can be made that Othellos inherent qualities result in his tragedy. By clicking Check Writers Offers, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. Iago made Othello suspicious and jealous, but there is no proof that he even intended to provoke Othello into killing his wife. Accessed 8 July 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. It is his ability to persuade that gives him so much power over everyone else. She is concerned about her safety but refuses to challenge her husband's aggressive behavior. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. The logical thing to do would be to seek a divorce or an annulment, yet Othello in his soliloquy beginning, "It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul" says "Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men." The grammar and spelling are generally correct, though there are some errors. Latest answer posted April 06, 2020 at 3:38:13 PM, Explain this quote from act 1, scene 3 ofOthello: "Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see: she has deceived her father and may thee. Another motive for Iagos jealousy is that he believes his wife to have slept with Cassio, too. Analysis. Who Is Responsible for the Downfall of Oedipus Fate or Free Will? Her last words are "Commend me to my kind lord," even as she tries to absolve him from blame, claiming that she herself took her own life. He then kills himself out of grief for the loss of Desdemona and of guilt. This leaves his mind susceptible to the tragic poisoning by the scheming Iago, even though Desdemona has done nothing wrong. Othello himself is responsible for Desdemona's death. Othello's abuse of Desdemona escalates quickly after Iago informs him that she has been sleeping with Michael Cassio in act three, scene three. Iago devises his master plan as he is looking for vengeance. The tone is informative, but it could benefit from more analysis and interpretation to engage the reader. Emilia plays an essential part in the last scene of the play. Speak; ist this out of thway? Seeing the way that Iago has managed to manipulate and deceive each and every character in Othello by recognizing their vulnerability and weaknesses, we see how each deception played a part in Othellos downfall through the exploitation of their weaknesses. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. However, it is the interesting part that the handkerchief plays in Othello, and even Desdemona's own part in the events surrounding it, that push Othello over the edge and lead to the play's tragic ending. Othellos choice to promote Cassio rather than Iago was a bad decision. What is Iago's plan and purpose in act 1, scene 3 of Othello? She lies about the handkerchief being lost and contributes to Othello's later suspicion of Cassio. from University of Oxford M.A. The Downfall of Othello - 1687 Words | Essay Example - IvyPanda Iago started this because he was jealous of Othello because he was not made lieutenant, and Cassio was. [cited 2023 Jul 8]. Ghost He is portrayed as being heartless and uncaring for anything or anyone. the play seems to say that marriage based on an innocent romantic love or profane love is bound to fail. Romanticism is all about extremes of emotion, the emotional triumphing over the rational and can often be quite self-obsessed, as is Othello. William Shakespeare, Tragedy of Desdemona An investigation into the good souls and horrid villains, in Othello, immediately portrays Iago as a character worthy of a deeper . Othello foolishly places far too, Free Iago begins plotting against Othello, the eponymous hero, and turns him against his wife, Desdemona, daughter of the senator of Venice, Brabantio, by telling him of her supposed infidelity with his lieutenant, Cassio. He is angry with Othello for promoting Michael Cassio, an officer with no real battle experience, to lieutenant over him. He is not concerned about other men she might betray but about setting her free to have intimate relations with other men. Their secret marriage links to Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet where Juliet eloped with her Romeo, therefore deceiving her father. Iago, Downfall of Othello What is Iago's plan and purpose in act 1, scene 3 of Othello? However, one character, Iago, manipulated all of them. Desdemona's death was never part of Iago's plan, focused as it was from the beginning primarily on supplanting Cassio as Othello's lieutenant. Othellos character experiences these complete emotive states throughout the play, firstly with love for Desdemona,But I do love thee! Who is responsible for the tragedy in Othello? - eNotes.com Shakespeare's Othello is Solely Responsible for his Downfall Speak, is it out o'the way? Othello is responsible for Desdemona's death because he allowed Iago to manipulate him, he didn't trust Desdemona and strangled her while she slept. Iago also plants the token that Othello gave to his wife, the handkerchief in Cassios lodgings and when Othello sees this, he takes it as proof of his wifes infidelity. However, unlike Desdemona, Cassio evolves as a character. Desdemona's Downfall Of Othello Analysis - 627 Words | 123 Help Me Emilia helped Iago persuade Othello of Desdemona's guilt . Othello believes that Iago is a good friend and trusts him above all others, including Cassio who is his lieutenant, .. . One critic who disagrees with this view is FR Leavis. And his unbookish jealousy must construe/Poor Cassios smiles, gestures, and light behaviours/Quite in the wrong. (4.1.99-101). And, what was the cause of Othellos down fall? He was married to the most beautiful women in Venice. For to quote Saint-Exupery (author of The LittlePrince):"To be man is to be responsible." Latest answer posted April 07, 2021 at 11:18:50 AM. Who is responsible for Othello's downfall? - GraduateWay She dies forgiving Othello, even trying to absolve him by claiming that she actually killed herself. Already a member? Admittedly the performance ends in catastrophe, yet it could be argued this is not due to the freedom and speed of changes in his emotional states. He is rationalizing here. Latest answer posted December 03, 2020 at 4:29:02 PM. The eponymous character, Othello, is a Moor. After all . Othello himself seems to be considering an alternative way of dealing with Desdemona in his soliloquy. Their decision to, A tragedy Is the story of an Individual whose downfall Is brought about by specific defects in his character, tragic flaws. After he has killed Desdemona, Othello pleads, "speak of me as I am," and describes himself as "one not easily jealous, but being wrought / Perplex'd in the extreme." What is Iago's plan and purpose in act 1, scene 3 of Othello? The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare is the tragic play about the star-crossed lovers whose lives have been changed after one night. In Othello , how does Desdemona contribute to the tragedy? He didnt really justify his reasons for all his doing very well at all. Although it may be questionable, Premium As Cassio says: Reputation , reputation , reputation! Iagos amassment of jealousy and hatred begins at the start of the story when Othellos choses to promote Cassio rather than Iago. After Othello realizes what has really happened, he kills himself. How can Iago be blamed for Othello's downfall? - eNotes.com Zounds! (3.4.76-93) therefore this would confirm, in Othellos eyes, that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio which would lead him to agree to Iagos plots of their deaths out of jealousy and rage. The Role Iago Played in Othello's Downfall - GradesFixer He ascended to the high social position of General by killing many on the battle field, yet using these skills he is valued most highly for whilst in mundane reality is murder. Without him trying to ruin things, their relationship would have most likely worked and they would have lived happily.In being responsible for Desdemonas death, Iago is also responsible for others downfall, such as Cassio. Hearing Iago and Cassio speak of Bianca in such derogatory terms, by referring to as poor rogue monkey, and referring to her actions of how she threw herself at him (4.1.128-131),he believes that they speak of Desdemona, angering him further. Much of his weakness and self-doubt is caused by the racist society Othello lived in. The essay could benefit from a more focused introduction that clearly states the main argument or purpose of the essay. Othello fails to believe that Desdemona has been loyal. This can be argued against, as Iago does give the audience some flimsy excuses for his plot, however I do not believe these are his true reasons for the destruction of Othello. In the midst of her inner turmoil, Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies: a drama of crime and punishment, of temptation, guilt, remorse and ambition. match. The two main women of the play are made use of by Iago during his campaign against Othello as well and this is where the significance of the handkerchief comes in. When Othello dismisses Cassio as his lieutenant, Desdemona, sensing the injustice assures Cassio she will do all that she can to help, I will do all my abilities in thy behalf. Iago reveals this plan in his soliloquy, For whiles this honest fool/Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes,/And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,/Ill pour this pestilence into his ear:/That she repeals him for her bodys lust. (2.3.320-324). How does Othello abuse Desdemona? How does she respond to the abuse? The influence that Iago poses on Roderigo leads him into bringing down Cassio from his ranks, which as will be explored later on, leads to Othellos downfall. In his soliloquy Iago speaks to the audience acknowledging Roderigo as a fool (1.3.365). Iago mutters this in act 3 scene 3 when he sees Desdemona and Cassio talking. Additionally, there are some grammatical errors throughout the essay, such as missing articles or verb tense inconsistencies. In the context of the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare many possibilities can be identified that pertain to Ophelias sudden death. He also hints to Roderigo of how he plans to thwart Othello, Iago Whether I am in any just term am affined/To love the Moor. Knowing that Desdemona will deny losing it, Iago believes that Othello will see this avoidance of topic as guilt: Ist lost? The number of times he is referred to with these adjectives before his name in the play is laughable, and would have generated a great deal of enjoyable dramatic irony to please the audience. None of this would have happened based on any of Desdemona's actions alone. It is unbelievably easy to see that Othello loves his wife with all his heart, and then hates her with the same degree of passion when Iagos jealous thoughts are allowed to poison his brain. Another character who contributes towards Desdemonas death at the end of the play is Roderigo simply because if he wasnt so infatuated with Desdemona then Iago would have never found the chance to use him as a pawn in his catastrophic plan. Share Cite. Iagos evil plan is the center of deception, evilness and manipulation. He uses multiple tactics to draw these emotions out into the open. This however, can be easily defended by the fact that none of the other characters realise either, a testimony to Iagos skill in the manipulation of language to his own ends.If not stupidity, perhaps jealousy is his downfall? Othello makes a mess of his life and decides to end it prematurely when it becomes apparent to him that his downfall is his own fault. In the play Othello the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare Desdemona is the Venetian beauty who upsets her father Brabantio a Venetian senator by eloping with Othello a man several years her age she is introduced confessing love for Othello to her father Brabantio before the Venetian senate where she expressed her feelings toward her father and at the same time proved loyal to Othello. . In Act 3, Othello severs his bond with Desdemona and in almost a parody of a wedding scene pledges his loyalty and love to Iago, swearing that he take revenge on Desdemona and Cassio. This defiance on Desdemonas part would negatively affect her fathers honour as it appears he has lost control. Othello has to choose between good (Desdemona) and evil (Iago). Othello downfall comes about due to a, Humans have always felt the need to differentiate themselves from one another.We see examples of this in history, geography, language, and even mathematics.Even less complex is the notion of race.Race is an ideology that has always existed, but only recently, that is within the last 100-200 years, been defined.It is simple to differentiate between peoples, Why did Othello marry is a complex question, the obvious answer would be that he loves Desdemona, but why does he love her and why does his love turn to hate so quickly in Act III scene 3 requires much thought and consideration. The play, Othello, is a twisted tale of deceit and revenge. Iago states to Roderigo that he too hates the Moor, Roderigo Thou toldst me thou didst hold him in thy hate. Has done my office. Another example of her innocence and naivete is when she asks Emilia if there are some women who do cheat on their husbands. Desdemona plays at least one interesting part in the events that enrage Othello to the point of committing murder. Registration number: 16320965. When Desdemona begs for her life, Othello says, "There is no pause," and when he thinks Desdemona may not be quite dead, he strives to ensure, being "cruel" but "yet merciful," that she is truly gone. Othellos strong appearance, high social status and overall merit shields his inherit weakness and self-doubt. It would have been highly improper and presumptuous for Desdemona to marry (from her station in society) without first obtaining her father's blessing and permission. Othello is a highly respected general and Iago is his ambitious comrade. We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. He is angry with Othello for promoting Michael Cassio, Premium There are a variety of factors that can contribute to ones demise. This essay could be plagiarized. The grammar and spelling are generally correct, though there are some errors. Desdemona refuses to let Othello have any peace from her constant requests that Cassio be reinstated, Ill intermingle everything he does with Cassios suit, which is not a very pleasant thing to do to her newly wed husband, and the first cracks in their union start to appear.If it was not for Desdemonas kind nature, helping Cassio more than she would herself,What I can do, I will; and more I will,Than for myself I dareThen Iago would not have been able to manipulate Othellos mind in the carefully constructed web of deceit he had planned.The culture and values of society at the time cannot be allowed to escape without blame. Romeo and Juliet Desdemona is simply a good person however during the course of the play her character, Premium Provisional Government responsible for its own downfall. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Othello is a tragedy by William Shakespeare set in Venice. Iago begins to lodge bits of doubt into Othello, asking why Cassio steals away from them looking guilty. In speech Othello questions his relationship and Desdemona's loyalty to him 'will I draw. (3.3.48) Iago replays Brabantios initial warning reminding Othello that She did deceive her father, marrying you; And when she seemed to shake and fear your looks/She loved them most. (3.3.207-208). Othellos downfall comes about due to a combination of the influence of Iago and the fatal character flaws of the otherwise virtuous Othello. Iago, the Villain. Supplemental understanding of the topic including revealing main issues described in the particular theme; Pharapreising and interpretation due to major educational standards released by a particular educational institution as well as tailored to your educational institution if different; Correct writing styles (it is advised to use correct citations). Bradley would argue that Iago is completely responsible for Othellos downfall, as the General is too passionate and trusting for this world, which I interpreted to mean he could not function correctly in it.This view is partly reasonable, as without Iagos calculating skill, Othellos downfall may never have taken place. Iago absolutely hates Othello. Othello Othello rather has disbelief in himself and his own attractiveness. He acknowledges that Othello is already under the influence of his manipulation in a metaphor referring to his manipulations as poison, I will in Cassios lodging lose this napkin As proofs of holy writ The Moor already changes with my poison:/Dangerous conceits are in their nature poisons like the mines of sulphur. (3.3.322-330) In the final scene when Emilia discovers Iagos intention, she speaks them to Othello and as Othello comes to realise her truths, he breaks down completely out of grief and guilt and commits suicide. Who are Iago and Cassio? Copyright 2023service.graduateway.com. Human beings must grapple with their emotions and check their actions, to prevent either from getting out of hand. In Act 4 Scene 1 Othello is in hiding and sees Bianca approach Cassio with his handkerchief, in Othellos eyes this confirms his suspicion. I meet the captains at the citadel. In speech Othello questions his relationship and Desdemonas loyalty to him will I draw. Look at the names men that are given in the. All his worst fears that he is not really lovable and that his beloved will betray him seem to be coming to life. Just talk to our smart assistant Amy and she'll connect you with the best Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Tragic hero, In the play The Tragedy of Othello Shakespeare really tests our conception as to what love is and where it can or cant exist. Using the knowledge of his love for Desdemona, Iago manages to turn Roderigo against Cassio by telling him that Desdemona is directly in love with him. (2.1.210). Already a member? Latest answer posted April 06, 2020 at 3:38:13 PM, Explain this quote from act 1, scene 3 ofOthello: "Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see: she has deceived her father and may thee. By clicking Continue, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. Iago has been selfish and takes it upon himself to get revenge against Othello. Instead it is Iagos ability to persuade the other characters and manipulate them by using their weaknesses that makes him responsible for Desdemonas death.To start off with, Othello himself is the most to blame since he was the one who physically strangled his wife. Is Othello Responsible for His Own Downfall Book Analysis Othello Who is responsible for Desdemonas death? The sentence structure is repetitive and could benefit from more varied sentence structures to improve readability. Iago tells Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him and provides circumstantial evidence for this. Iago has been to blame for the downfall of Othello because he is the one that created the jealousy within Othello. What are examples of Desdemona and Emilia being abused in Othello? All falling acting results from this decision. Iago was partly responsible, but the main fault lies in Othellos mistrust of his wife and inability to dismiss idle scandal for what it really is. Who Is Responsible For Othello's Downfall - 1725 Words | Bartleby It is in her dialogue with Othello after he has murdered Desdemona that Emilia contributes the most to the tragic ending. By convincing Cassio to go seek help into restoring his position from Desdemona, Iago can begin manipulating Othello into believing that Desdemonas reasons of showing preference over Cassio are less than honourable, leaving Iago free to strengthen the sense of doubt and jealousy in Othello.