William Shakespeare’s Othello centers on the themes that envy drives: manipulation, prejudice and deception. These themes are misguided and lead to Desdemona’s tragic end. Iago is a clever man who can use the people around him to his advantage. He studies weaknesses of people and then tears them down like a psychopath. Othello’s unwavering trust in Iago gives him the ability to control his inner world and betrayal. Othello and Desdemona both play critical roles in this play. However, they each have vulnerable traits that cause them to interact with one another. Desdemona, just like many women back then, is very naive. Othello, on the other side is a general who is impulsive. Othello as well as Desdemona are unable to see the reality around them and have only known what they know. Iago, a manipulative character, makes false statements concerning Cassio. Cassio also accuses Iago of having dreams about Desdemona. William Shakespeare specifically designed Iago’s role to be a malevolent one that stimulates emotion in the audience and encourages them to make decisions.
Because of his lifestyle, the Moor was vulnerable for manipulation. I’m telling you. Iago’s words suggest he is trying to be seen as dependable when he tells Othello to “calm down and be patient, things may change.” This reveals how Iago is using gaslighting techniques to manipulate Othello throughout the play. Iago made false statements about this affair from the beginning, in order to appear innocent to Othello.
Othello trusts Iago with an unwavering trust. This is mainly due Othello’s high regard for Iago and his ‘trustworthy friend’ status. Iago’s term for himself is “Honest Iago”, and so does Othello. Othello is noble and spirited, and assumes others are the same as him. Othello not only holds him high in regard but all others see him as trustworthy and loyal. We as the audience are given a glimpse into Othello’s reasoning for placing Iago so high in his heart. Iago is aware that Othello has a strong trust relationship with him. This allows him to exploit every opportunity to manipulate Othello. Ironically, Othello’s trust in Iago is strengthened by the pathological lies he tells him through the play.
William Shakespeare’s main idea was that in 1600, it was normal for the wife of a man to remain silent and loyal. Desdemona was an extremely young, naive girl, who had been shielded from all reality her entire life. Desdemona’s demise is caused by Othello’s stubbornness as well as his impulse decisions and refusal to obey. She is noble even though she is dying and continues to trust Othello. Desdemona’s decision to keep her loyalty to Othello and her faith there until the end shows that she is a woman driven to her heart. She is also a woman who stands by the man she has promised before and she does not change her mind about it.
Othello’s jealousy is often believed to be what caused the tragedy in Othello by William Shakespeare. But it was actually Iago who made it possible for Othello and Desdemona to fall short. Iago is very analytical. He uses the weaknesses of others to his advantage. These personality traits are prominent and distinct from other characters, which allows the audience the opportunity to indulge in Iago’s clever psychological way to think. William Shakespeare depicts Iago, a villain with evil intentions that would do any thing to destroy the people around them at all costs.
