Othello Essay Topic Iago Isn’t Completely to Blame for This Tragedy as Cassio Was Wrongly Appointed by Othello and This Caused the Tragedy. Do You Agree?
Topic: Iago isn’t completely to blame for this tragedy as Cassio was wrongly appointed by Othello and this caused the tragedy. Do you agree?
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 Desdemona and all people have free will and must choose to accept manipulation. Although Iago played a major role in bringing about the disaster evident in this script, other characters played a supporting although vital role. The Elizabethan play is set during a time of war and racial conflict. This social climate breeds insecurity in the minds of its people.
Of course Iago plays a major role in the tragedy that is this play. He admits he ‘hate[s] the moor’ and whispers ‘pestilence’ in Othello’s ear. The metaphor is important as Iago admits he knows what he is doing is wrong and realises the power his toxic words will have and still goes ahead. He claims both that he is ‘honest iago’ and that he freely gives Othello his ‘wit, hands and heart’ to serve his Lieutenant though Iago’s actions differ from his words. He tells us he is ‘not what [he appears to be]’ and that "there are many events in the womb of time" which is a metaphor for the fate he attempts to write for himself-"hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the worlds light." He plays on the racism of the time saying "if [Desdemona had] seem blessed, she never would have loved the moor" and uses this to build insecurity within Othello- suggesting Moor Othello could never satisfy the ‘appetites’ of a fair skinned woman, him being ‘black Othello’ and their union thus ‘unnatural’ and assumed ‘witchcraft’ by many. He shows his preference for personal gain over honour when Cassio is worried about damaging his reputation after the ‘barbarous brawl’ and Iago rebuts that physical wounds are worse than a damaged reputation which can be easily mended. While he claims to ‘speak to
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 Desdemona and all people have free will and must choose to accept manipulation. Although Iago played a major role in bringing about the disaster evident in this script, other characters played a supporting although vital role. The Elizabethan play is set during a time of war and racial conflict. This social climate breeds insecurity in the minds of its people.
Of course Iago plays a major role in the tragedy that is this play. He admits he ‘hate[s] the moor’ and whispers ‘pestilence’ in Othello’s ear. The metaphor is important as Iago admits he knows what he is doing is wrong and realises the power his toxic words will have and still goes ahead. He claims both that he is ‘honest iago’ and that he freely gives Othello his ‘wit, hands and heart’ to serve his Lieutenant though Iago’s actions differ from his words. He tells us he is ‘not what [he appears to be]’ and that "there are many events in the womb of time" which is a metaphor for the fate he attempts to write for himself-"hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the worlds light." He plays on the racism of the time saying "if [Desdemona had] seem blessed, she never would have loved the moor" and uses this to build insecurity within Othello- suggesting Moor Othello could never satisfy the ‘appetites’ of a fair skinned woman, him being ‘black Othello’ and their union thus ‘unnatural’ and assumed ‘witchcraft’ by many. He shows his preference for personal gain over honour when Cassio is worried about damaging his reputation after the ‘barbarous brawl’ and Iago rebuts that physical wounds are worse than a damaged reputation which can be easily mended. While he claims to ‘speak to