In the world of Shakespeare(TM)s play, is the greatest suffering reserved for those who take it upon themselves to become avengers?
In the world of Shakespeare's play, is the greatest suffering reserved for those who take it upon themselves to become avengers?
If vengeance as described by Merriam's Webster's dictionary is the punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offence then it could be rightly said that it is one of the major motives of the characters in the play Othello. However, the issue of whether it is the avengers who receive the greatest suffering is not exactly clear-cut. In the light of this argument, the characters of Iago, Othello, and Emilia, (those who seek revenge) will be discussed and the extent to which they receive the greatest suffering will be considered.
The treacherous villain Iago justifies all his evil doings as a way of revenging all those who have either betrayed him or come as an obstacle against his ambitions. His prime victim was Othello whose marriage he does not only destroy, but whose life he indirectly takes. He aims at destroying Othello because he failed to make Iago his lieutenant but rather told him that 'I have already chosen my officer'. In this statement, we see Iago's bitterness and hatred for Othello. It also anticipates the fact that Cassio, who is the officer in question, will also suffer Iago's wrath and will be used as an instrument for Othello's destruction.
Iago's other motive of revenge to Othello lies in his 'mere suspicion' that 'it is thought abroad that twixt my sheet he's done my office'. The sheet here is a metaphor for his marital obligation to Emilia his wife. His assumption of infidelity from his wife is not only an excuse for his plot against Othello but it also depicts a common fear of cuckolding which the men of Shakespeare's time had. Through this, the reader is also prepared for the tragic death of Emilia by her husband Iago.
Iago successfully deceives Othello to believing that ...
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Iago's other motive of revenge to Othello lies in his 'mere suspicion' that 'it is thought abroad that twixt my sheet he's done my office'. The sheet here is a metaphor for his marital obligation to Emilia his wife. His assumption of infidelity from his wife is not only an excuse for his plot against Othello but it also depicts a common fear of cuckolding which the men of Shakespeare's time had. Through this, the reader is also prepared for the tragic death of Emilia by her husband Iago.
Iago successfully deceives Othello to believing that Desdemona and Cassio are having a secret affair and 'the moor already changes' with his poison. Through his fragmented stories, he almost gets control over Othello's emotion as well as his intellect. He finds his way into Othello's most inner thoughts as Othello considers him a friend and seeks his comfort. While Othello seeks his consolation, he tells him to 'beware my Lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feds on'. In this statement, Shakespeare does not only tell his audience of the past and the present about the dangers of jealousy, but the person who the statement is given to, makes it ironic and paradoxical. Iago can be seen as the green-eyed monster while Othello is the meat, which he mocks for most part of the play. This could also be seen as a way by which Shakespeare shows that Iago's actions are highly unjustified because they stem from his jealousy.
In terms of those who get the most suffering, it will be fair to say that Iago does not exactly receive any punishment above or even in proportion to that which he deserves. One of the last lines that he says still shows resistance and no sign of defeat. He says 'I bleed sir, but not killed'. This may show that Iago's punishment when he is taken away at the end of play is not assured. However, during Shakespeare's time, villains such as Iago were not tolerated but rather sentenced. Therefore, the readers are left to assume that such may have been the faith of Iago.
Othello on the hand could be said to be a victim of Iago's desire to 'diet his revenge'. From the moment Iago deceives him, he takes it upon to himself to 'whistle Desdemona down, and let her down to prey at torture'. He also orders Iago to take the life of Cassio because of his supposed affair with Desdemona. He goes further to call upon 'black vengeance, from thy hollow cell'.
Prior to his final breakdown, which occurs when he takes his own life, he goes through a series of breakdown especially emotionally. His suffering begins from the point he is convinced that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him. This leads him to denounce his happiness as well as his occupation. He says 'O now, for ever farewell the tranquil mind! Farewell content! Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone.' His 'mind, content, and occupation' are basically everything which he lives for. Therefore, the loss of all these things shows that he is as good as a man dead already. His suffering does not end physically but rather Shakespeare presents us with the religious view that he will be damned in 'hell'. Othello requests to 'hold me in sulphur! Wash me in steep-down gulls of liquid fire'.
Othello's character undoubtedly does justice to the view that it is those who seek vengeance that get the greatest suffering. However, it could be argued that the last speech which he gives prior to his death 'speak of me as I am...of one that loved not wisely, but too well' which regains his reputation and grabs the sympathy of the audience, tampers his sufferings.
Lastly, in the character of Emilia we yet again see another who loses her life while trying to clear the name of her mistress and place the blame on whom it is due. She 'spoke as liberal as the north', 'let heaven and men, and devils, let them all, all, cry shame against me, yet I'll speak'. In this statement, she lists all the people who could either condemn or commend her for exposing Iago's evil plot. In this statement, Shakespeare reflects the Christian belief that men do lie between two extremes, which is heaven the highest order, and the devil (hell) which is the lowest. However, it may be unfair to assume that Emilia receives one of the greatest sufferings. This is because, she was prepared for the worse that will happen as far as she shows that Desdemona was 'heavenly true'. On the contrary, she could be said to be one of the most fulfilled characters in the play.
It is no argument that all Shakespeare's tragedies all end up with the death or punishment of the tragic hero and the villain(s) in the play. However, the view that the greatest suffering is reserved for those who seek vengeance in my opinion is not justified. This may simply be the case because not all those who seek revenge are 'evil'. With the characters of Hamlet and Laertes in Hamlet, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, vengeance arguably comes with suffering. However, this view is opposed with likes of Calliban in THE TEMPEST, and Emilia in Othello.
