Iago's Tragedy In Othello

Othello kills his wife Desdemona falsely believing that she has cheated on him. The reader knows that Desdemona has been faithful to her husband, but Othello thinks his wife has cheated on him because he is tricked by Iago. Iago is able to trick Othello because Othello does not think he is worthy of Desdemona’s love. Iago tricks Othello into believing Othello’s wife has cheated on Othello using a handkerchief. Iago has his wife Emelia steal the handkerchief and he leaves it for Michael Cassio to find. When Othello sees Cassio has the handkerchief he assumes Cassio is sleeping with Desdemona because Iago has told him that Cassio admitted to sleeping with Desdemona.

Othello believes Iago and the reader could interpret Othello as gullible, but

Oh, curse of marriage

That we can call these delicate creatures ours

And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad

And live upon the vapor of a dungeon

Than keep a corner in the thing I love

For others ' uses. Yet ’tis the plague to great ones,

Prerogatived are they less than the base. 'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death.

Even then this forkèd plague is fated to us

When we do quicken. Look where she comes. (3.3.263-282)

Othello says that Iago is honest and that Iago knows a lot about people. Othello questions if Desdemona has actually cheated on him, and says he will send her away if she has cheated on him. He questions if she really loves him because he is black, getting old, and because he is not like the Venetian chamberers. Othello seems to decide that she in fact has cheated on him when he says “She’s gone, I am abused, and my relief / Must be to loathe her

Othello is willing to extend faith and trust to Iago, and Othello mistakenly believes that Iago loves him. Othello’s crime is not trusting his wife, and trusting a dishonest character. When Iago tells Othello “Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice?” (4.1.137). Iago is telling Othello that Cassio laughs when he admits to having slept with Desdemona. Othello thinks this is true because Othello trusts Iago, but it would have been possible for Othello to think Cassio was lying to Iago. Othello talking with Iago decides he will kill Desdemona with poison, but changes his mind and decides to kill her by strangling her in bed at Iago’s suggestion. After Othello finds out he has been tricked by Iago into killing his faithful and loving wife he says:

Soft you, a word or two before you go.

I have done the state some service, and they know ’t.

No more of that. I pray you, in your letters,

When you shall these unlucky deeds relate,

Speak of me as I am. Nothing extenuate,

Nor set down aught in malice. Then must you speak

Of one that loved not wisely, but too well.

Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought,

Perplexed in the extreme. Of one whose hand,

Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away

Richer than all his tribe. Of one whose subdued eyes,

Albeit unused to the melting