Who Was Responsible For Othello's Downfall

In a tragedy, a hero is usually destroyed by a fatal flaw or weakness within himself. In Williams Shakespeare’s play Othello, Shakespeare demonstrates the havoc a man’s mind can create just by the whispers of another. Can we say this is true about Othello’s destruction, or is his downfall strictly due to Iago’s scheming? Othello’s destruction can easily be viewed as an outcome of Iago’s manipulation, but his destruction could have been his own fault. Iago's lies are based largely on Othello’s status of his insecurities of being an outsider in the Venetian society. Othello’s feelings of isolation, these insecurities he carries within himself were enough to give Iago the perfect arena for his deceitful plan. Iago merely poured gasoline on the

Jealousy. Jealousy was the cause of Iago’s reasoning to deceive and lie to Othello. Othello had chosen Cassio, a well respected and loyal soldier, to become a lieutenant. When Iago finds out of Cassio’s new position Iago states, “He has done my office: I know not if't be true/But I, for mere suspicion in that kind/Will do as if for surety.” (1.3.12) Iago becomes enraged with jealousy, enough jealousy to take a mans life, and that life was to be Othello. Iago took that same jealousy he felt and planted it into Othello psyche. “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy/It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock/The meat it feeds on;” (3.3.15) Othello did try to rebut what Iago was proclaiming. Othello goes on to tell Iago, “Think'st thou I'd make a life of jealousy/To follow still the changes of the moon/With fresh suspicions?”(3.3.177-9), but soon after, Iago understands that Othello’s insecurities will get the best of him, “… trifles light as air/Are to the jealous confirmation strong/As proofs of holy writ.”(3.3. 320-2) At this point Othello’s gears of insecurity begin to turn, he imagines Desdemona’s infidelity with Cassio, and his jealousy awakens the green eyed

So, Can we say Iago was strictly the reason for the demise of Othello? There are many way to look at the story, but as I see. Othello’s, pride and bad judgement of character was his demise. A great leader is always is keen of the people surrounding him. As history shows us you can never trust those closest to you, because the one closest to you can bring out the worst of you. Othello was a well recognized and respected for his admiration and battles won, but the most important battle he could not win, was the battle with his greatest of deceivers, his