Othello mini essay
Hannah Gush
Iago’s devious plan that ultimately saw the demise of Desdemona and Othello, the main
protagonists of the play, clearly depicts the power of evil. In addition the full extent of
Iago’s manipulative power is only exposed at the conclusion of the play, after
Desdemona and Othello have fallen victim to his plan.
Iago is driven by both jealousy and a greed for power. He employs various tactics in
order to destroy Othello, including pretending to be an honest soldier in order to
manipulate and exploit Othello. Iago says that “[he follows] him to serve [his] turn upon
him”. Once Iago has gained Othello’s trust, all power then resides with him as he is able
to persuade, control and deceive Othello. Iago distorts the truth and feeds Othello’s
imagination with plausible deceptions. The power of evil in Iago combined with Othello’s
insecurities and jealousy leads to the success of Iago’s planned destruction of Othello.
“Honest Iago”, as ironically referred to by Othello, is able to delude Othello into believing
that his wife is unfaithful with Cassio. Iago uses both the power of Othello’s imagination,
and his own cunning manipulation in order to cause Othello’s downfall. Iago plants
Desdemona’s handkerchief, given to her by Othello as an sign of their love, into
Cassio’s chamber. The handkerchief symbolizes Iago’s evil deceit. Up until this point,
Iago has used insinuation and suggestion to fuel Othello’s insecurities and jealousy.
This moves Iago’s actions beyond innuendo to immoral deceit.
Othello is the obvious victim in the play. He is a victim not only of Iago’s dishonesty and
malice, but he is also a victim of his own insecurities and jealousy which together result
in his downfall. Desdemona can be seen as an innocent victim both of Iago’s evil and of
Othello’s jealousy. She unknowingly sets Iago’s plan in motion by imploring Othello to
reconsider his harsh treatment of Cassio. She reassures Cassio that she will "talk him
[Othello] out of patience; / His bed shall seem a school … I'll intermingle everything he
does / With Cassio's suit"
Emelia and Roderigo also fall victim to Iago’s evil plan. When Emelia understands
Iago’s role in Desdemona’s death, she exposes Iago saying that “your reports have set
the murder on”. She regrets the part that she played in Desdemona’s death, and is
determined to reveal Iago’s evil, ultimately resulting in her own death.
Iago’s evil is the cause of great distress to his victims. Othello questions Desdemona’s
love and Cassio’s loyalty. Desdemona, Emelia and Roderigo are all innocent victims of
Iago’s malicious plan. Iago is only confronted after Desdemona’s death, once Emelia
exposes him. Knowing the truth at this stage is too late.
Hannah Gush
Iago’s devious plan that ultimately saw the demise of Desdemona and Othello, the main
protagonists of the play, clearly depicts the power of evil. In addition the full extent of
Iago’s manipulative power is only exposed at the conclusion of the play, after
Desdemona and Othello have fallen victim to his plan.
Iago is driven by both jealousy and a greed for power. He employs various tactics in
order to destroy Othello, including pretending to be an honest soldier in order to
manipulate and exploit Othello. Iago says that “[he follows] him to serve [his] turn upon
him”. Once Iago has gained Othello’s trust, all power then resides with him as he is able
to persuade, control and deceive Othello. Iago distorts the truth and feeds Othello’s
imagination with plausible deceptions. The power of evil in Iago combined with Othello’s
insecurities and jealousy leads to the success of Iago’s planned destruction of Othello.
“Honest Iago”, as ironically referred to by Othello, is able to delude Othello into believing
that his wife is unfaithful with Cassio. Iago uses both the power of Othello’s imagination,
and his own cunning manipulation in order to cause Othello’s downfall. Iago plants
Desdemona’s handkerchief, given to her by Othello as an sign of their love, into
Cassio’s chamber. The handkerchief symbolizes Iago’s evil deceit. Up until this point,
Iago has used insinuation and suggestion to fuel Othello’s insecurities and jealousy.
This moves Iago’s actions beyond innuendo to immoral deceit.
Othello is the obvious victim in the play. He is a victim not only of Iago’s dishonesty and
malice, but he is also a victim of his own insecurities and jealousy which together result
in his downfall. Desdemona can be seen as an innocent victim both of Iago’s evil and of
Othello’s jealousy. She unknowingly sets Iago’s plan in motion by imploring Othello to
reconsider his harsh treatment of Cassio. She reassures Cassio that she will "talk him
[Othello] out of patience; / His bed shall seem a school … I'll intermingle everything he
does / With Cassio's suit"
Emelia and Roderigo also fall victim to Iago’s evil plan. When Emelia understands
Iago’s role in Desdemona’s death, she exposes Iago saying that “your reports have set
the murder on”. She regrets the part that she played in Desdemona’s death, and is
determined to reveal Iago’s evil, ultimately resulting in her own death.
Iago’s evil is the cause of great distress to his victims. Othello questions Desdemona’s
love and Cassio’s loyalty. Desdemona, Emelia and Roderigo are all innocent victims of
Iago’s malicious plan. Iago is only confronted after Desdemona’s death, once Emelia
exposes him. Knowing the truth at this stage is too late.
