How Does Iago's Use Of Dramatic Irony In Othello

In Othello, the play takes place in two different location. The beginning of the play is set around Shakespeare time in Venice. Venice was a prosperous Italian city that was centered in the middle of many trading networks. The second half of the play is set in Cyprus, which is an island controlled by Venice. On this island is where things start to fall apart to all the characters. Everyone goes from a very structured society to a very violent and chaotic situation. Othello is the only African or Moor in a predominantly white society and was in a romantic relationship with Desdemona, a white woman. Her father does not believe that they are in love and that Othello had bewitched his daughter. Although Othello is respected by many,
On Cyprus, Iago, who is angered that Othello promoted Cassio plans to destroy Othello by convincing him that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio.

If I could study a single aspect of the play is Shakespeare's use of dramatic irony. An early example of that in the play is when Iago reveals his detailed plans to destroy Othello and the people Othello cares about. The audience witnesses and hears the entire plan and they are helpless to stop him. As Iago's plan unfolds on stage, it becomes difficult to watch Othello accuse Desdemona of infidelity and watch him kill her at the end of the play. This aspect only makes the entire play seem more tragic because the audience knew that Othello is going to die, but they still end up watching him spiral out of control. If I were to study