Flaws In Othello
In the play, “Othello”, Shakespeare writes not only about the love between men and women, but exposes the character traits and flaws that are particularly vulnerable to the smooth talking of the archetypal devil or villain, Iago. Throughout the play we see and hear how the manipulation of character traits that we all possess can play out in all sorts of relationships. With each character, Shakespeare explores the possible outcomes for any person if he or she were to ‘feed’ that part of themselves (or allow other people to do the feeding for them). Each of us has the potential to be the hero, or the fairest, or the most conniving. We are each susceptible to being motivated by the same things that motivated each of the characters in the play.
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Emilia pleads to Iago, “ Disprove this villain, if thou be’st a man / He says thou told’st him that his wife was false / I know thou didst not, thou’rt not such a villain / Speak, for my heart is full (V.ii,193-196). “You told a lie; an odious damned lie / Upon my soul, a lie, a wicked lie (V.ii.201-202). “And your reports have set the murder on (V,ii,208).
From there, all of the deceptions of Iago are discovered by Othello, Emelia, and eventually Cassio. Othello learns of the handkerchief and Iago’s special interest in it and how it was planted as evidence of the affair, and on, and on. Othello attempts to stab and kill Iago, but only wounds him. When trying to explain himself to to Cassio, Othello says, “...and I ask your pardon / Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil / Why he hath thus ensnar’d my soul and body (V,ii,135-137).
In response, Iago communicates his last message. A final evil blow. He chooses to remain silent and never does explain why he manipulated so many people to come to so many false assumptions. With only his words - no real proof, no real action - Iago created a false world that he used to entrap the trusting, beguiled characters that surrounded him. This blind faith in one man’s words cost many lives. Shakespeare was, perhaps, commenting on the viciousness of gossip or at the very least, the devastating power of language if left
Emilia pleads to Iago, “ Disprove this villain, if thou be’st a man / He says thou told’st him that his wife was false / I know thou didst not, thou’rt not such a villain / Speak, for my heart is full (V.ii,193-196). “You told a lie; an odious damned lie / Upon my soul, a lie, a wicked lie (V.ii.201-202). “And your reports have set the murder on (V,ii,208).
From there, all of the deceptions of Iago are discovered by Othello, Emelia, and eventually Cassio. Othello learns of the handkerchief and Iago’s special interest in it and how it was planted as evidence of the affair, and on, and on. Othello attempts to stab and kill Iago, but only wounds him. When trying to explain himself to to Cassio, Othello says, “...and I ask your pardon / Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil / Why he hath thus ensnar’d my soul and body (V,ii,135-137).
In response, Iago communicates his last message. A final evil blow. He chooses to remain silent and never does explain why he manipulated so many people to come to so many false assumptions. With only his words - no real proof, no real action - Iago created a false world that he used to entrap the trusting, beguiled characters that surrounded him. This blind faith in one man’s words cost many lives. Shakespeare was, perhaps, commenting on the viciousness of gossip or at the very least, the devastating power of language if left