At three years old we were taught to never point fingers at people, never to place blame on one party—but this is the twenty first century and sometimes fault must be accepted. In Shakespeare’s Othello we find that each character plays a role in the tragic outcome of the play—although from many perspectives it was one person’s flaw that caused all the demise experienced in Act V. To find the heart of the monster, we must revert to the beginning and the star of the play itself: Othello.
Predetermined failure is founded in character, and in Othello’s case his unfailing ability to trust and act on a suggestion within seconds—“what works for a soldier is tragic for a husband” (Snyder, 292). At the start of the play, Othello is portrayed with a calm yet deadly approach to life and a track record of winning wars, narrow escapes. He is essentially the perfect general. What does that say of a husband to a beautiful, young and skin “smooth as monumental alabaster” (5.2.5) when he himself is referred to as a “beast” (1.1.130)? Othello is in love with Desdemona’s virtuous and chaste nature. Yet he is doubtful of his own standing in society—he knows without his “feats and broil in battle” he would have no standing whatsoever (1.3.89). This little flaw provides a crack in the mortar of his marriage, and it destroys their thin foundation with jealousy using Othello’s insecurities as a jackhammer.
Blaming Othello for the tragic play’s end stems from the fact he never second guesses anyone’s input, but also because once he is provided even unstable proof he will not change his mind. When Iago comes forth to say Desdemona has eyes for the younger and more handsome Cassio, Othello at first accepts, then demands proof of the accusation. At this point Iago’s master plan has already obtained the prized handkerchief Othello gave Desdemona as a wedding gift, and he has placed it in Cassio’s chamber. When Cassio’s lover Bianca comes forth with the token, Othello is at first in utter disbelief, then without questioning a third party takes Iago’s words to heart and immediately jumps to “get me poison Iago” (4.1.223).
If Othello had paused for just an instant to ask Desdemona if she was unfaithful, or even come forth to ask Cassio about the handkerchief, Iago would be demoted for his lies and all the happiness of the world could ensue. And yet his war like tendencies had his strategy planned out, not to stray or change. In the end, Othello has Desdemona under his control in their wedding sheets, and despite her repeated “I never did offend you in my life” (5.2.74), Othello will have none of it and promptly smothers her out of deep seated malice and lies fed to him unknowingly.
In the end, it was Othello’s gullible and trusting nature that brought death and sadness to Cypress. While Iago may have been the evil genius, Othello was the real catalyst to finish one of the most complicated Shakespeare plots of his career.
Predetermined failure is founded in character, and in Othello’s case his unfailing ability to trust and act on a suggestion within seconds—“what works for a soldier is tragic for a husband” (Snyder, 292). At the start of the play, Othello is portrayed with a calm yet deadly approach to life and a track record of winning wars, narrow escapes. He is essentially the perfect general. What does that say of a husband to a beautiful, young and skin “smooth as monumental alabaster” (5.2.5) when he himself is referred to as a “beast” (1.1.130)? Othello is in love with Desdemona’s virtuous and chaste nature. Yet he is doubtful of his own standing in society—he knows without his “feats and broil in battle” he would have no standing whatsoever (1.3.89). This little flaw provides a crack in the mortar of his marriage, and it destroys their thin foundation with jealousy using Othello’s insecurities as a jackhammer.
Blaming Othello for the tragic play’s end stems from the fact he never second guesses anyone’s input, but also because once he is provided even unstable proof he will not change his mind. When Iago comes forth to say Desdemona has eyes for the younger and more handsome Cassio, Othello at first accepts, then demands proof of the accusation. At this point Iago’s master plan has already obtained the prized handkerchief Othello gave Desdemona as a wedding gift, and he has placed it in Cassio’s chamber. When Cassio’s lover Bianca comes forth with the token, Othello is at first in utter disbelief, then without questioning a third party takes Iago’s words to heart and immediately jumps to “get me poison Iago” (4.1.223).
If Othello had paused for just an instant to ask Desdemona if she was unfaithful, or even come forth to ask Cassio about the handkerchief, Iago would be demoted for his lies and all the happiness of the world could ensue. And yet his war like tendencies had his strategy planned out, not to stray or change. In the end, Othello has Desdemona under his control in their wedding sheets, and despite her repeated “I never did offend you in my life” (5.2.74), Othello will have none of it and promptly smothers her out of deep seated malice and lies fed to him unknowingly.
In the end, it was Othello’s gullible and trusting nature that brought death and sadness to Cypress. While Iago may have been the evil genius, Othello was the real catalyst to finish one of the most complicated Shakespeare plots of his career.