Shakespeare wrote Othello, the Moor of Venice, at a time when the English, in their expansion around the world, encountered cultures that were different to their own and also at a time when many in Europe were feeling threatened by the continuous expansion of the Ottoman Turk empire. An analysis of the play Othello reveals it to be a tragedy: from the beginning of this play to its end, the stage is set for the eventual downfall of Othello, the main protagonist, at the hands of none other than Iago, a man who he trusts and considers a friend. The tragedy that can be observed in this play is observed through human nature and it is possible that Shakespeare’s intention was to show that despite the differences in race, all human beings are of the same nature and display the same characteristics. In this play, Shakespeare tackles subjects such as racism, love, hate, jealousy, pride, trickery and persecution to develop his characters as well as to make the audience see these characteristics in themselves.
In this play, although it is not blatantly displayed, is the theme of persecution which eventually leads to and is a part of the tragedy. Shakespeare's depiction of persecution in this play is based on racial stereotypes that depict the Venetians as a peace loving and courteous people in opposition to the violent and warlike tendencies of the Turks and the Moors. It is because of this that the Venetian senate decides to bring in Othello, a Moor and an outsider, to help them fight their wars against the Turks. It is further seen that it is difficult for outsiders to fit into Venetian society due to the fact that despite Othello having served Venice for a very long time, he has not established any strong personal relationships with any of those around him. If he had known these people well, then he would not have been swayed by the lies that he was told by Iago, a man who he trusted blindly. It can further be said that his blind trust of Iago was an attempt to fit into Venetian society and it is quite possible that Iago was the first Venetian to ever listen to him concerning things which were not military in nature. It is against this background that the tragedy of the play is set because Iago uses Othello’s feeling of being an outsider as well as the stereotype of his race being violent to plot his downfall.
In this play, there is a focus on the differences in age and color between Othello and his wife Desdemona and Shakespeare does this to escalate Othello’s isolation from Venetian society and to display his vulnerability towards manipulation. Othello had spent many years on the battlefield and had therefore not had the time to indulge in normal society and to develop the skills necessary for understanding and surviving within it. His wife was much younger than him and this may have made him feel inadequate due to his thinking that she may have preferred somebody younger. Furthermore, she is the daughter of a senator, meaning that he had married way above his social station in Venice and this only because he was a great general and not because he was regarded as a Venetian, since despite his lengthy service to it, he was still not a native of the city. Sid Smith in his 1995 article in the Chicago Tribune states that Othello’s race and culture may also have had a part in his feeling inadequate and his having a lack of understanding of his wife because it was quite different to that of the Venetians and this leads to Iago taking advantage of this to convince him that Desdemona is having an affair, a part of his scheme to destroy Othello.
All the relationships in the play shows the vulnerability of the characters within it when these characters get personally involved with each other. Each of these relationships, centered around one character, Iago, displays the insecurities around each of the other characters, and it is these insecurities which Iago uses in his evil plot for the demise of Othello. The marital relationships between the various characters in this play show their vulnerability because they bring out the best hopes and the worst fears of the characters involved. Othello’s marriage to Desdemona shows that although two people can truly love each other, the need for one or both partners to have control over the other can destroy such a relationship and will instead cause heartache and turmoil in their lives.
The tragedy in this play is based on Iago’s attempt to destroy every bit of happiness that Othello has by gaining psychological and emotional control over those people who are around Othello or are closely associated with him. Iago’s actions can only be compared to the Christian depiction of the devil because he not only wants to destroy Othello but also everything and everyone he values, without any logical explanation except a vague one in Act I line 60 when he states “I am not, what I am.” Shakespeare uses Iago’s character to show that is a very dangerous thing to believe completely in what anybody tells you without finding out all the facts for oneself. Iago skillfully used his relationships with the other characters in the play to manipulate their emotions and desires to suit his purposes. If Othello had been willing to listen to all the parties involved as Iago’s pawn in the makings of his downfall instead of listening only to Iago, then the tragedy that occurred would not have happened.
In conclusion, the play Othello can be considered, from its very beginnings to have the makings of a tragedy. All of Iago’s machinations against Othello come to fruition at the end of the play when Othello kills his wife due to his belief that she was cheating on him, something which he has not proven to be true. When Iago’s wife Emilia confesses her husband’s scheme against him, Othello kills himself due to the regret and shame he feels for killing his innocent wife. Furthermore, the play also ends in tragedy for Iago, whose deeds are eventually exposed and he is taken away to be tortured and most likely to be eventually killed. Therefore, the events of this play end in tragedy not only for the protagonist, but also for the antagonist.
In this play, although it is not blatantly displayed, is the theme of persecution which eventually leads to and is a part of the tragedy. Shakespeare's depiction of persecution in this play is based on racial stereotypes that depict the Venetians as a peace loving and courteous people in opposition to the violent and warlike tendencies of the Turks and the Moors. It is because of this that the Venetian senate decides to bring in Othello, a Moor and an outsider, to help them fight their wars against the Turks. It is further seen that it is difficult for outsiders to fit into Venetian society due to the fact that despite Othello having served Venice for a very long time, he has not established any strong personal relationships with any of those around him. If he had known these people well, then he would not have been swayed by the lies that he was told by Iago, a man who he trusted blindly. It can further be said that his blind trust of Iago was an attempt to fit into Venetian society and it is quite possible that Iago was the first Venetian to ever listen to him concerning things which were not military in nature. It is against this background that the tragedy of the play is set because Iago uses Othello’s feeling of being an outsider as well as the stereotype of his race being violent to plot his downfall.
In this play, there is a focus on the differences in age and color between Othello and his wife Desdemona and Shakespeare does this to escalate Othello’s isolation from Venetian society and to display his vulnerability towards manipulation. Othello had spent many years on the battlefield and had therefore not had the time to indulge in normal society and to develop the skills necessary for understanding and surviving within it. His wife was much younger than him and this may have made him feel inadequate due to his thinking that she may have preferred somebody younger. Furthermore, she is the daughter of a senator, meaning that he had married way above his social station in Venice and this only because he was a great general and not because he was regarded as a Venetian, since despite his lengthy service to it, he was still not a native of the city. Sid Smith in his 1995 article in the Chicago Tribune states that Othello’s race and culture may also have had a part in his feeling inadequate and his having a lack of understanding of his wife because it was quite different to that of the Venetians and this leads to Iago taking advantage of this to convince him that Desdemona is having an affair, a part of his scheme to destroy Othello.
All the relationships in the play shows the vulnerability of the characters within it when these characters get personally involved with each other. Each of these relationships, centered around one character, Iago, displays the insecurities around each of the other characters, and it is these insecurities which Iago uses in his evil plot for the demise of Othello. The marital relationships between the various characters in this play show their vulnerability because they bring out the best hopes and the worst fears of the characters involved. Othello’s marriage to Desdemona shows that although two people can truly love each other, the need for one or both partners to have control over the other can destroy such a relationship and will instead cause heartache and turmoil in their lives.
The tragedy in this play is based on Iago’s attempt to destroy every bit of happiness that Othello has by gaining psychological and emotional control over those people who are around Othello or are closely associated with him. Iago’s actions can only be compared to the Christian depiction of the devil because he not only wants to destroy Othello but also everything and everyone he values, without any logical explanation except a vague one in Act I line 60 when he states “I am not, what I am.” Shakespeare uses Iago’s character to show that is a very dangerous thing to believe completely in what anybody tells you without finding out all the facts for oneself. Iago skillfully used his relationships with the other characters in the play to manipulate their emotions and desires to suit his purposes. If Othello had been willing to listen to all the parties involved as Iago’s pawn in the makings of his downfall instead of listening only to Iago, then the tragedy that occurred would not have happened.
In conclusion, the play Othello can be considered, from its very beginnings to have the makings of a tragedy. All of Iago’s machinations against Othello come to fruition at the end of the play when Othello kills his wife due to his belief that she was cheating on him, something which he has not proven to be true. When Iago’s wife Emilia confesses her husband’s scheme against him, Othello kills himself due to the regret and shame he feels for killing his innocent wife. Furthermore, the play also ends in tragedy for Iago, whose deeds are eventually exposed and he is taken away to be tortured and most likely to be eventually killed. Therefore, the events of this play end in tragedy not only for the protagonist, but also for the antagonist.