The general could not control what was happening around him, and it can hardly be considered his fault that Iago did not want to admit the circumstances. Furthermore, Iago is selfish when he tells Othello, I am yours for ever (3.3:479). On top of all the evils he had done to othello iago also manipulated Roderigo from the beginning of the play to the end. First of all, she steals the hankie from Desdemona when she drops it and then hands it over to Iago even though she must know what hes using it for, My wayward husband hath a hundred times bid me steal it. Also, if Othello hadnt of took such extreme actions when he found out things such as that Desdemona was possibly cheating, then maybe so many people wouldnt have been hurt, as he still chose to act that way and strangle Desdemona. . "Who Is to Blame for the Tragedy of Othello by Shakespeare." He also doesnt handle situations that hes in very well or at least not in the right way. This is shown when he says I am most unhappy at the loss of it, when referring to the loss of the hankie. As she states, ideology develops to defend the action rather than the action being motivated by ideology (Sassi 49). Iago's plan is to cause Michael Cassio to fall out of Othello's good graces. this also shows how much anger he has for him and he truly wanted to hurt him. Genesis 11:8 Context. (2.) List the character trait. The audience already knows that Iago is a liar and loathes Othello, so the audience can tell when Iago is being two-faced and that Othello truly believes in him. Give us your email address and well send this sample there. By clicking Check Writers Offers, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. A tragedy is the story of an individual whose downfall is brought about by specific defects in his character, tragic flaws. Topic: Iago isn't completely to blame for this tragedy as Cassio was wrongly appointed by Othello and this caused the tragedy. (2023, June 23). Who Is to Blame for the Tragedy of Othello by Shakespeare. He makes the most of his sir.. eaten up with passion and does not lead directly to the door of truth showing his overt responsibility is the death and destruction that his plans propel. The final words of Lodovico shows that Iago bears much blame, after all this is [his] work, referring to the now dead lieutenant and his true and loyal wife. to help avoid the tragic end. Iago is portrayed to be an intelligent and deceptive character whom exposes his. Sierra Davenport Mr. Gingery CP English 1 6 March 2013 Romeo and Juliet Tragedy of Fate or Tragedy of Character Romeo and Juliet is a story of a forbidden love,. His comedies have made many laugh, his tragedies many have cried over and romances that have touched millions.. Iago is one of the most complex and interesting characters in this play. https://studycorgi.com/who-is-to-blame-for-the-tragedy-of-othello-by-shakespeare/. Despite this, Othello can be sympathetically treated because he does not want this scenario to take place. Emilia takes the handkerchief from Desdemona which sets up the supposed proof of the accusations Iago makes against Desdemona. Iago is the villain of the tragedy Othello but to what extent is he a tragic villain? He also adds to all the conspiracy by using Bianca, then laughing about her in front of Othello, while talking to Iago, causing him to believe Desdemona was having an affair, So hangs and lolls and weeps upon me ha, ha, ha. Iago was largely to blame for all the tragedy, possibly the most, as he was the character that caused people to be deceived and was shown as truly a conniving person. Othello also trusts Iago more than he trusts Desdemona, this is a really bad thing for him to think as it allows him to be tricked by Iago and to believe all the lies he is fed are true and causes him in the end to kill Desdemona. However they gave into the deception manipulation of others and must accept this as a fault. More fatalities occur as the drama progresses through its tragic conventions. encouraging her to break her promise to her husband. When writing about black male characters, writers frequently use language to explore their animalistic tendencies or their real nature revealed in the midst of adversity or struggle. He does though at the end claim Othello was great of heart. Roderigo admits It is [his] shame to be so fond [of des] but not my virtue to amend it but is pushed into pursuing Desdemona even after his money is spent and he admits to having little wit left. This is shown when he says Iago is most honest. Web. Additionally, Othello doesn't like fighting and labels it a 'Christian shame barbarous brawl and says a man who cant calm his rage is worth little yet his later actions contradict this. Iago murders Roderigo, a wealthy but naive figure, as well as his wife Emilia when she discloses the truth about Desdemonas innocence. However, it is never mentioned that Iagos intentions were murder. StudyCorgi. He claims both that he is honest iago and that he freely gives Othello his wit, hands and heart to serve his Lieutenant though Iagos actions differ from his words. In addition, physical abilities are seen as taking precedence over moral ones, in line with Shakespeares description of Othello. As Woolf and Webster observe, LeBron bears striking resemblance to the legendary image of King Kong bearing a white woman, a racially laden metaphor that plays on white concerns about male hypersexuality and violence (6). 2. Iago outlines the weakness . However, there are rebuttal views among critics, which are worth mentioning. StudyCorgi. Blackness may be considered Othellos feature that is his, and that has caused a sense of inadequacy, resulting in silent unease and anguish. Dont waste Your Time Searching For a Sample. Every. Save time and let our verified experts help you. He uses all their weaknesses to bring them down. This foreshadowed her death and almost showed a forfeit by this character. Iago is the only person at fault for what had happened to othello, desdemona, emilia, and roderigo (also cassio but he ended up getting a better life after all of this was done). Everyone else in the play, including Iago's wife, believes that he is honest and true " " Othello and Iago are both egotists, obsessed with proving how clever and capable they are, and hell bent on revenge when they feel they have been wronged " Othello: "Othello is the principal agent of his own downfall" (1994) " Othello is . O brave Iago, honest and just, / That hast such noble sense of . Essay on Romeo and Juliet Tragedy of Character or Tragedy of Fate? Silly Questions and Arguments for the Implicit, Cinematic Narrator. The Palgrave Handbook of the Philosophy of Film and Motion Pictures. Cassio could also be blamed for the tragedy that happens as he makes people suspicious of him and does not help with Othellos distrust of him. Need urgent help with your paper? He is manipulative and tells Othello to observe her [Desdemona] well with Cassio (Shakespeare, 3.3:197). Though seemingly, Customarily, an author will construct a narrative in which the protagonist, a character contrived to be implausible, as well as honorable is destined to decline along the path of tragedy leading to suffering and misfortune. Instead of confronting Iago and explaining his decision to promote Cassio, Othello ignores the obvious animosity and lies to Iago pretending all is fine. and even if she doesnt, she knows it is an important object in her friends relationship. Another person that purposely deceives people and adds to the lies is Emilia; she knows exactly what shes doing and yet continues to lie to her friends. , Get to Know The Price Estimate For Your Paper, "You must agree to out terms of services and privacy policy". Because Roderigo is in love with Othellos wife Desdemona, Iago is just using him in order to achieve his goal. 5, 2021, pp. He was the person who brought up the idea of killing Cassio and Desdemona and he employed Iago to actually kill Cassio. Iago feeds Othello with countless lies and makes him miserable with something that is not factual. However, Othellos only defect of eventual catastrophe stays unknown, and hence the tragedys driving force is never clearly exposed. Although, Othello discovers that Desdemona was in fact innocent it is too late and blames it on Iago for tricking him. Knowing that if he foolishly attacked such a respected man directly, he would be sentenced to death. Despite the fact that the two are similar in their powerful language and, Why Iago Is To Blame In Shakespeare's Othello, There were many reasons for the tragedy in the shakespearean play Othello. The Moor misses his wife greatly, however, and comes to loathe the sight of his ensign. However, it could also be argued that Iago is not completely to blame for the misfortune of Desdemona. In conclusion, in my opinion, more than one person is responsible as if certain people did not help Iagos story and follow along with it, then all the tragedy would not have occurred. Iago was largely to blame for all the tragedy, possibly the most, as he was the character that caused people to be deceived and was shown as truly a conniving person. Therefore, the guilt of the general in what has happened is also obvious since he is not able to adequately assess reality. Charlotte, NC 28210, He demotes him, and refuses to have him in his company. Also by only giving Othello a small piece of information, he allows his mind to think up its own story and think of the information what he wants and through all of this he continues to act very innocent, Cassio no, I cannot think he would steal away so guilty like, this quotation shows this. Once Iago comes up with a plan for revenge it does not take very long for him to set it into motion. He also adds to all the conspiracy by using Bianca, then laughing about her in front of Othello, while talking to Iago, causing him to believe Desdemona was having an affair, So hangs and lolls and weeps upon me ha, ha, ha.. Shakespeare uses qualities of the Aristotlian tragedy to express this shared vulnerability, and Iago is the villain required to show the destructive capacity of hatred . She showed her awareness and such an in tune woman should have suspected her husbands purpose with the handkerchief and known it would not be noble and never have given the sacred token to him. Is lago evil or does he have logical or even good motives? 97-117. Who Is to Blame for the Tragedy of Othello by Shakespeare. Othellos suicide is an admission of his guilt and Desdemona going to her room after Othello warned he would kill her shows an all too easy acceptance of her fate. Dont know where to start? Him getting drunk caused there to be a lot of problems, as a fight occurred and it started off the huge ordeal. When Iago attacks him saying what poor are they that have no patience he is determined to continue his pursuing when he should give up (and outed iago to Othello instead! In Othello, the men are in Cyprus to fight a war. 3 Othello's soliloquy shows the audience that he is strongly debating Desdemona's faithfulness. He admits his desire from the start to make a net to catch them all. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2018. The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice is a sexual jealousy tragedy that pioneers the investigation of racial discrimination. 2. He also thinks that he can buy Desdemonas affections with any amount of money that he owns, put money in thy purse., even though she is a married woman. One of Shakespeare's most intriguing and plausible villains, Iago frequently takes the audience or reader into his confidence, a device that encourages close observation of his skillful manipulations and their disastrous results. Amongst Fitzgerald and Shakespeares central characters, Jay Gatsby and Othello, both filled with passionate love for their significant other are corrupted by their lack of judgement causing them to lose the one they lust over. His furiousness with Cassio is brought across when he says, Nothing can or shall content my soul til I am even with him. The author also notes that Shakespeare resorted to the traditional idea of depicting blacks, who were presented to society as a real threat, which, nevertheless, was a common perception in that era (Maillet 66). Without all of Othello's weakness' he would never have experienced his tragedies but Iago is also to blame for encouraging the "green-eyed monster" inside of Othello. Iagos deception can be spotted as early as act two. He was, it is suggested, not deserving of the promotion and thus Iagos jealousy and anger is made somewhat understandable. He listens to Iagos trifles he trusts Iago over his beloved. Comparison of Anton Rosicky and Rip Van Winkle, Oedipus as a Tragic Hero of Sophocles Play, The Bread Givers Novel by Anzia Yezierska, Harrison Bergeron: The Fear of Socialism, The Saving the Bones Novel by Jesmyn Ward, The Impact of Technology in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin, * Hyperlink the URL after pasting it to your document. Lastly, it seems as though she is trying to irritate Othello, by continuously mentioning Cassio to him and almost boasting about him, I woud do much tatone them, for the love I bear Cassio. You can already tell that Othello has been fooled when he calls him a man [of] honesty and trust. Instead of trying to talk, he just lashes out and doesnt let anyone explain whats happening, he shows this quality when he learns that Desdemona is supposedly cheating on him he just lashes out and he strikes her, as the stage direction says. But she lies to her good lord about the handkerchief claiming it is not lost when to her knowledge it is. Othello is a play that is a mainstream Shakespearean tragedy and therefore is an obvious text for Paper 1. Firstly, when he gets drunk even though he knows he cant control the things he does when he is inebriated, I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking. He is married to Emilia,. June 23, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/who-is-to-blame-for-the-tragedy-of-othello-by-shakespeare/. Iago is, for as unusual as it is for a Shakespearean villain, refusing to reveal his motives for his evil plan. He previously said she was his good wench but turns on her quickly. lago is evil because good. Nevertheless, when analyzing the play, one may note that Othello is not the only one who forms the image of weakness in the reader. His motives cannot be called good according to any definition of the word. At the start he says he won Desdemona through his whole curse of love and not drugs, charms.. magic and values her opinion encouraging the court to send for the lady, let her speak as his is confident her word will support his claims it was his tales of boyish days that seduced her when he spoke of being taken and sold into slavery and came by cannibals.. she devoured of [his] discourse and "she loved [him] for the dangers [he had] passed. Reading Othello as Catholic Tragedy. 6000 Fairview Road, Save 25% Why Does Othello Trust the Word of Iago Over Desdemona? He is determined to get revenge and he does not realize Iago stands insincere. Othello Plagiarism scanner Do the Check Writing help Ask for Help Read my essay Go to Read Who is responsible for Othello's downfall? It is not Iagos hand that smother his wife, but Othello himself; he had a choice. 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. She claims Cassio is 'an honest face' but she "truly loves" Othello and that her heart is subdued even to the upmost pleasure of [her] lord so that she defies the status of woman as quite, claims her voice and speaks in court and demands to be allowed to go to war with him; let me go with him. Shakespeare continues to craft the mystery behind Iagos motives when Iago describes Othello as a man with constant loving noble nature/ and he dare think hell prove to Desdemona/ a most dear husband (II, I, 214-216). She brings him up in the most inappropriate times, almost as if on purpose, such as when she and Othello are arguing. His age and physical appearance along with the fact he has just married a young beautiful wife make Othello self-conscious and nervous that his wife may not love him. TurnItIn the anti-plagiarism experts are also used by: King's College London, Newcastle University, University of Bristol, University of Cambridge, WJEC, AQA, OCR and Edexcel. And this love blinds her. 1. Iago was largely to blame for all the tragedy, possibly the most, as he was the character that caused people to be deceived and was shown as truly a conniving person. 5, 2020, pp. He says make me to see itprove it with no loop to hang a doubt on and give me a living reason she is not honest but there is none but he refuses to see it, to him the handkerchief is proof enough. Write Don't use plagiarized sources. Character determines human qualities, but it is their action that makes them happy or wretched. Othello the Moor of Venice. In cases where two or more answers are displayed, the last one is the most recent. Type your requirements and I'll connect Shakespeares Othello corresponds perfectly with Aristotles idea, and critics have long sought to locate the wrong or frailty inside his character. Iago throughout the play manipulates majority of the characters while still informing the audience of his actions. He is necessarily a racial outsider, leaving him with access to tragedy and fatality, notwithstanding his virtues of bravery, intellect, and ability as a soldier (Woolf and Webster 5). 1. Shakespeare's play, which the great playwright wrote in 1603, presents the image of Othello, a general of African descent. Roderigo could have talked reason into Iago but instead allowed iago to talk lack of reason and deception into his mind. Therefore, the tragic events were not necessarily associated with racism, but rather, the subsequent manifestations of racism could be caused, among other things, by Shakespeares plot. Tragedy is typically a natural disaster that there was literally no control over and religion preaches that there is some master plan at work and if there is a master plan then everything has a mea. However, as he never knew about Othello overhearing he cant really be blamed for this because he never knew he was doing it. Lastly, it seems as though she is trying to irritate Othello, by continuously mentioning Cassio to him and almost boasting about him, I woud do much tatone them, for the love I bear Cassio. Othello is the one to blame for all that has happened to him. He let himself be blinded by his emotions and let them run him, first with his love for Desdemona and secondly by his anger for being betrayed or wronged in some way. Apology from Iago NYT Crossword Clue Answers are listed below and every time we find a new solution for this clue, we add it on the answers list down below. Clearly Cassio had to be more perceptive to avoid his part in his Lieutenants death. Speaking about Othello and Iago relationship, Othello trusts Iago so much that he is blinded to clearly distinguish what is worth and that which is baseless and that is the answer to question how does Iago manipulate Othello. Who Do You Blame For The Tragedy Of Book IV Of The Aeneid? His obsessive love is shown when he says You must speak of one that lovd not wisely but too well, this quote also shows how much he thinks of love and how highly he thinks of it. "Who Is to Blame for the Tragedy of Othello by Shakespeare." So he did and in the end othello killed desdemona and then himself, and while he is killing himself emelia figures it all out and iago kills her as well so in the end iago is the one who is really the sole factor in all of this, if it wasn't for him wanting his revenge none of this would have happened and 3 people would not be dead. There is a time when we can hope that Othello may not believe Iagos lies anymore- when he demands Iago prove [Othellos] love a whore but then Iago pretends to be hurt claims honestys a fool.. since love brings such offence suggesting Othello lack of belief in his ensign emotionally wounds Iago. But over all of these traits Iagos jealousy is what drives him to scheme and plot to take down othello and. Both Iago and Richard III are Shakespeares most thrilling and sinister figures. Thirdly, he is the one who plants the seed of doubt into Othellos mind, in turn causing all of the disastrous events after. Firstly, Iago kills Emilia and Roderigo and he attempts to kill . In William Shakespeare's seventeenth century play Othello readers can see that Iago isn't the only one responsible for the tragedies within this text as he didn't actually kill the Othello or . Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/othello-essay-topic-iago-isnt-completely-blame-tragedy-cassio-wrongly-appointed-othello-caused-tragedy/, Run a free check or have your essay done for you, Hire experts, get original paper in 3+ hours. This social climate breeds insecurity in the minds of its people. Although Iago wants to exterminate Othello over of his jealousy of his popularity, he also wants to sabotage him because of the promotion that he thinks was mistaken, he uses Desdemona as a sin. (3) Later, when Iago is promptly caught after fleeing the scene, he is interrogated by Othello about his scheme. As a result, Iago, showing his villainous nature, uses the fears and experiences of Othello as a weapon against the latter. What you know, you know. Curran cites Aristotles words, who states that a man who is not eminently good and just, but whose misfortune is brought about not by vice or depravity, but by some error or frailty (99). Iago is a unique and complicated character. She also had the opportunity to let everyone know what it was that he was doing but she never took it and allowed everyone to carry on believing that other people were in the wrong, such as Othello thinking that Desdemona had lost the hankie, when really it was Emilia that had taken it, I am most unhappy at the loss of it. How and why does Iago convince Othello of Desdmona's infidelity? Othello also trusts Iago more than he trusts Desdemona, this is a really bad thing for him to think as it allows him to be tricked by Iago and to believe all the lies he is fed are true and causes him in the end to kill Desdemona. Reconceptualizing Shakespeare: Who Is to Blame for The Tragedy of Othello? 27-28). This is where Iago tells Montano how much he loves Cassio and wants to help him, but as the reader you know that he hates Othello and Cassio bit tricks Montano and others to get his revenge. This statement directly relates to how Iago is targeting Othello's major weakness, which is jealousy. Iago is an evil person but that is all he is guilty of being. There are several characters that I consider to play a part in Othello's downfall, one of which is Desdemona. Iago tells Othello "O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! The play puts Iago at two incidences that explain his conflict with Othello; the falling in love and marriage between Desdemona and Othello and the Cassio's promotion to the lieutenant position. Sassi, Imed. Shakespeare is often referred to as the greatest playwright that ever lived. Though she is maybe too loyal going to bed even after he charges her as being a strumpet and committing adultery. Do you agree? Emilia said to Desdemona before her ladys death yes, the worlds a huge thing and people in it are bad and women do deceive. June 23, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/who-is-to-blame-for-the-tragedy-of-othello-by-shakespeare/. Shakespeares play, which the great playwright wrote in 1603, presents the image of Othello, a general of African descent. Iago appears to think of Othello as an incredible man, but he still wants to cause his ultimate downfall. Who Is to Blame for the Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet? Othello is a play written by William Shakespeare; that takes place in Venice, Italy. She says she found that handkerchief and did give it [to her] husband and when Iago tells her he told Othello what [he honestly] thought about Desdemona she cannot stand his lies anymore and says his reports have set the murder and [he] has killed the sweet and innocent and gives her life to save the name of the woman she loved but also the one she helped to kill. Whether or not you believe Othello is the one to blame for the tragic outcome of Othello, you must admit that he at least had a part in the tragedy. Othellos profound faith in Iago is demonstrated when he feels Iago is not fully sharing his beliefs: Thou honesty and love doth mince this matter (Shakespeare 4.3.18 48). This is shown when he says I am most unhappy at the loss of it, when referring to the loss of the hankie. Although Othello is named after the Moor of Venice, Bloom comments that it is Iagos play because he predominates the stage and remains in ones mind long after one has finished reading or watching the play (433). According to Iago, Othellos excessive credulity is unjustified: That thinks men are honest who only appear to be so (Shakespeare 4.4.18 48). It is certain that Othellos flaws and qualities, all of which make him human, played a significant role in the deaths of his wife and himself. She also had the opportunity to let everyone know what it was that he was doing but she never took it and allowed everyone to carry on believing that other people were in the wrong, such as Othello thinking that Desdemona had lost the hankie, when really it was Emilia that had taken it, I am most unhappy at the loss of it. and then Add to Home Screen. One of the main reasons for Othellos excessive gullibility in relation to his servant can be considered the formers low self-esteem, which prompted him to believe in his wifes unfaithfulness. In Shakespeare's play "Othello" the main characters Othello and Desdemona suffer a tragic fate due to their actions and unforeseen circumstances. Although Iago played a major role in bringing about the disaster evident in this script, other characters played a supporting although vital role. Such a position in relation to his commander indicates that Iago understands and seeks to use Othellos gullibility and simplicity. Instead of trying to talk, he just lashes out and doesnt let anyone explain whats happening, he shows this quality when he learns that Desdemona is supposedly cheating on him he just lashes out and he strikes her, as the stage direction says. He also doesnt handle situations that hes in very well or at least not in the right way. Although the differences between the cited characters from literature and sports are critical, these writings reveal common features of the image of a black man who is seen as a provocateur but not a peace-loving person. This is shown when he says Iago is most honest. Iago also had three different key representatives throughout the city of Venice voice their opinion that he is deserving of the job to Othello, Three great ones suit to make me (1. Othello was a proven warrior and was respected by high ranking officials because of his proven leadership. Many characters fall into Iago 's web of deception throughout the book. 5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. you to an academic expert within 3 minutes. So the simple things people did, like Desdemona not immediately wanting to look for the hankie, he blew majorly out of proportion and this then caused him to overreact with his emotions. In William Shakespeares seventeenth century play Othello readers can see that Iago isnt the only one responsible for the tragedies within this text as he didnt actually kill the Othello or Desdemona and all people have free will and must choose to accept manipulation. This final act of defiance does nothing. Her deceptiveness is shown when she lies to Othello about the hankie, claiming that it is not lost, it is not lost but what if it were? when she knows it is, this does not help as not only does it show how capable she is of lying to the man she loves but it also shows how deceptive she can be and this did not help Othello to believe her when she was being truthful. Who Was Most To Blame For The Death Of Eva Smith? First, he uses derogatory terms to describe Othello such as a moor. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. A quote that shows him being a murderer is when the stage directions say Iago stabs Emilia from behind and exit, showing him being responsible for more tragedy than any other character. He could not keep a calm mind and reason things out. One of Othello's weakness' is his .