Literature Assignment: Fall of Othello as a Tragic Hero (Essay Sample)

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Fall of Othello as a Tragic Hero
In the first scene of Act-I of the “Drama” the treacherous and diabolic character of Iago is shown to the audience. Shakespeare was painted Iago in the shade of a “Machiavel”. Iago is a character very typically matches to the teachings of Machiavelli and does not allow anything stand in his way of selfish quest. He announces the audience his devilish plotting against Othello though Othello has not been brought to the front of the audience yet in the scene I. It is Iago who presents Othello with his diabolic words. He is a villain and he bears resemblance to the “character of Vice” in the Morality plays of Medieval time.
Othello is being referred as a moor and a barbarian as Iago declares that Othello has eloped with Desdemona. Iago the devilish character implicitly spreads the news through Roderigo about the elopement of Desdemona with Othello. Iago’s description about the moor, the African Black and the barbarian eloping with Desdemona creates a picture of aggressive courtship of the moor with Desdemona. Audience is forced to imagine that the barbarian must be a villain who fled away with Desdemona by doing some magic spell. Brabanzio too believes that his daughter might have been put under some witchcraft otherwise; Desdemona would have never fled with the barbarian. The audience knows about Othello through the conversation between Iago and Roderigo. In the first two scenes of Act I, Iago’s explicit villainy is remarkably enjoyed by the audience as he warns the audience about his plotting against Othello. Iago spreads infame of Othello and he uses Roderigo as a device to insult Othello. Roderigo is the jealous lover and seeks to take revenge on Othello. Iago persuades Roderigo to shout beneath the window of Brabanzio and expects his plotting will work. Brabanzio is aroused to fight against the uncivilized who perhaps taken away his daughter by invoking some magic.
Iago works as the driving force in every plots of the Act I. Iago is a typical Shakespearian “Machiavel” who shows two faces throughout the scene. He is the persuader for attacking Othello and in front of Othello; he is the most trusted man close to Othello. Iago informs Roderigo where he can meet Othello. Shakespeare compares his hero with Christ implicitly when Brabanzio along with his men reaches Othello. Othello finding the group with sword says that; “Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust ’em”. Othello’s words are the reflection of his courage and authority. Brabanzio demands imprisonment in front of the Duke not in accusation of eloping .with his daughter but for doing some magic spell on his daughter. Brabanzio cannot believe that any nobleman’s daughter with run away with such an uncivilized individual.
Othello is the Lieutenant of the Venetian army and Iago not being able to win this position is jealous of Othello. Whenever Iago gets opportunity starts plotting against Othello which the Shakespearean audience witnesses in the Act I. When Brabanzio accuses Othello in front of the Duke, the Duke after knowing the accused is Othello provides opportunity to Othello to present his part. Othello tells about his going to Desdemona’s home due to Brabanzio’s invitation. Brabanzio frequently invites Othello to learn about his courage he showed in the battle. Desdemona overhears the courageous story of Othello and asks Othello to retell the story. Desdemona enters the scene and confirms her marriage with Othello. She assures her father about her duty towards her husband. She tells; “But here’s my husband, and so much duty as my mother showed. To you, preferring you before her father, So much I challenge that I may profess. Due to the Moor my lord” (Shakespeare). Now she like her mother wants to serve her husband. The Duke understands the situation and instructs Othello to take care of the Turks who are preparing to attack Venice.
ACT II
Iago is seen plotting behind Othello and Cassio. Iago is filled with jealousness and diabolic characteristics. When on the shore of Cyprus, Montano watches storm, he concludes that the Turk fleet of ships cannot survive the storm. Cassio, newly promoted to the position of lieutenant witnesses Turkish Ships losing to the storm. All the ships from Venice return to the shore but they are not sure about Othello’s ship. Another ship carrying Desdemona, Iago, Cassio and Emilia reaches the shore and asks about the ship of Othello. When Cassio interacts with Desdemona in a friendly gesture only to ask about Othello, Iago gets another ground for create his plotting against Cassio. Nowhere Iago leaves a single opportunity to create plot against anyone who has a good military position. He tells Roderigo about Desdemona only to arouse Roderigo against Cassio. Iago as a Machiavellian character plans against Cassio as Cassio has been newly promoted to the position of lieutenant. Iago tells Roderigo about Desdemona’s inclination to stay with a more refined man when she experiences Othello for too long time. Iago goes to any extent in providing remarks against any personage irrespective of the prevailing truth.
Though Othello returns from the ship, Iago keeps on crafting a relationship between Cassio and Desdemona. He again uses Roderigo as his device to start a quarrel with Cassio. Iago is seen with a colour of jealousy, lust and doubt on his wife. With all these vices, he goes on crafting against everyone he hates. Iago then invokes Roderigo to quarrel with Cassio when Cassio is tempted to drink. Cassio many often seen as a drunkard but behaving as if he is sober, gets trapped by the plotting of Iago. He chases Roderigo to beat him. Montano interferes to stop the quarrel but is attacked by Cassio. Iago then instructs Roderigo to shout “mutiny” and then to leave. When Montano wants to take control of Cassio, he stabs Montano. In the meantime, an alarm bell rings and Othello arrives with armed soldiers. Now, Othello wants know about the quarrel and Cassio is unable to remember anything about beginning of the quarrel. Montano was in great pain and he insists Iago to tell the cause of the quarrel. With all his cunningness, Iago makes Cassio fall in his trap. Othello decides about taking away lieutenantship from Cassio.
As Desdemona is disturbed and awakened from sleep. Iago imagining that Desdemona will be favouring Cassio, starts creating a relationship between Cassio and Desdemona. Now his soliloquy involves telling Emilia to convince Desdemona to convince Othello about Cassio’s innocence. The Iago will arrange the situation which will be in favour of a relationship between Cassio and Desdemona.
ACT III
In the Act iii, Iago becomes successful of taking the advantages of human frailties. He uses every personage to present a false courtship between Cassio and Desdemona. Iago becomes successful in implanting the seeds of adultery. As Desdemona convinces Cassio about her stances to prove him innocent, Cassio leaves what Othello sees. When Othello asks about Cassio’s truthfulness to Iago, he hesitates to tell anything about Cassio. Iago talks everything about adultery and unfaithfulness though he does not tell anything about Desdemona, he corrupts the mind of Othello. He advises him to watch the interaction between Desdemona and Cassio. Iago makes Othello think that his wife does not love him. Othello thinks the reasons of his wife not loving him are perhaps because he is too older to his wife and he is black. He laments;”she’s gone” (Shakespeare)..
In the next scene, Emilia steals Desdemona’s handkerchief when her handkerchief falls down. She was trying to tie that handkerchief around the forehead of Othello as he complains of a headache. Iago uses this handkerchief to raise Othello against his wife and Cassio. Iago tells Othello about Cassio calling Desdemona’s name in his dream. Now he also says that he saw Cassio wiping his beard with the handkerchief that Othello gifted Desdemona.
Othello knows every friend, enemy and his own wife; still he becomes the victim of his own frailty. Due to his weakness lying in his fostering, he assumes his wife does not love him. He fails understand his wife’s love and takes an oath to take revenge on Cassio and Desdemona for the infidelity. Due to his own weakness, Othello gets convinced about his wife’s infidelity.
In the last scene of this act, the handkerchief becomes the important symbol. Desdemona’s inability to produce the handkerchief, the presence of the handkerchief in Cassio’s lodging and copying of the embroidery of the handkerchief together represents that Desdemona has lost all her virtue. Iago being able to take advantage of human weakness becomes successful in creating Desdemona as...