Othello Critical Essay

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Recommended: Othello is a tragedy of misunderstanding discuss the validity

“Othello” by William Shakespeare is a classic tragedy in which the flawed eponymous hero Othello is exploited and tricked by his foil Iago who uses lies and manipulation to defeat Othello’s reputation. His foil Iago is set out to destroy Othello by any means, Subterfuge is an integral part of Iago’s character and is also one of the themes of the play and this element of subterfuge contributes highly to my appreciation of the play.
The first act of treachery that Iago takes part in is when he goes to Desdemona’s father and tells him about the relationship between Othello and Desdemona and describes Othello with quite derogatory words:
“Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe.”
Iago uses racist imagery to discredit Othello and emphasise the negativity of the relationship between the two, we now learn that he is jealous of Othello and will use any means to destroy him. Iago skilfully plays on sexual stereotype here to reinforce a picture of Othello which angers Brabantio and invokes his sporadic racism and disgust inside him. Iago’s animal imagery has aroused Brabantio’s misunderstanding and only made it worse. Iago is brilliant in this field of work, Iago uses subterfuge at every opportunity possible to destroy Othello.
Later, Iago convinces Othello that Cassio is in love with his wife, Iago is telling lies to Othello and Othello believes every word of this, his credulousness his now his enemy:
“In sleep I heard him say 'Sweet Desdemona,
Let us be wary, let us hide our loves;'
And then, sir, would he gripe and wring my hand,
Cry 'O sweet creature!' and then kiss me hard,
As if he pluck'd up kisses by the roots
That grew upon my lips: then laid his leg
Over my thigh, and sigh'd, and kiss'd; and then
Cr...

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...tured by jealousy, this insinuation is tempting Othello to do the complete opposite of what Iago is saying and this is Iago’s plan. Othello is already convinced of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness and now cannot move from his mind-set, Iago has ingeniously used Othello’s credulousness and his own subterfuge to destroy him. Iago is desperate to have Othello commit murder to his own wife; Iago is determined to destroy Othello’s reputation, to make him lose his wife and his job.
Subterfuge is used in the play by the foil character Iago to execute the downfall of the eponymous tragic hero Othello. This allows us to fully understand the power of both jealousy and envy. The play Othello shows us how just man can be responsible for the complete downfall and destruction of another character. Othello effectively illustrates how Iago has used subterfuge to destroy Othello’s life.

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