At this stage Iago is successful in his plan. This is because Brabantio believes exactly what Iago and Roderigo have told him and is very upset so Othello is made to prove himself to the Duke who says, “What in your own part can you say to this?” (Act 1, sc 3, line 77-79) which gives Othello the opportunity to defend his actions which is not entirely what Iago wanted but Brabantio still ended up disfavouring the marriage. Consequently, Brabantio and Desdemona fall out, “I had rather to adopt a child than get it,” (Act 1, sc 3, line 189). This basically states that Brabantio has been deeply hurt by Desdemona’s allegiance to Othello.
During Iago’s speech in Act One, he makes many references to the fact that Othello is. To Iago, Roderigo and Brabantio, Othello’s colour and racial background- particularly in relation to his marrying a white female- are alarming. Their references to a “sooty bosom” (act 1, sc 2, line 70), “the thicklips” (act 1, sc 1, line 65) and “an old black ram” (act 1, sc 1, line 87) who practices witchcraft in order to subdue a terrified maiden construct a negative stereotype of the hero. The Othello which they describe does not exist of its own accord but begins to appear when Iago persecutes him; he is superstitious (the handkerchief), passionate and he does become violent but theses are characteristics that he shares with the white devil who torments him, Iago.
Shakespeare uses a vast amount of imagery in Othello to establish the dramatic atmosphere in which the play takes place. It also helps us to understand characters and events. There are a number of images of poisoning, which we come to associate with Iago and his methods of manipulation. In Act 1 Scene 1 the ensign says that he wants to “poison his [Brabantio’s] delight” (act 1, sc 1, line 68) so he can make trouble for Othello. In act 2 we learn that Iago’s hatred of Othello is so strong that it “Doth like a poisonous mineral gnaw my inwards” (act 2, sc 1, line 295). Iago resolves to “pour this pestilence into his ear” (act 2, sc 3, line 351) and destroy Othello’s “sweet Sleep” (act 2, sc 3, line 335). These references to poison are appropriate to Iago, whose actions to fulfil his plan are swift insidious and deadly. Iago is also shown to relish in the pain he causes. Iago is also associated with images of hell and the devil. He forges the link himself at the end of his soliloquy in Act 1 Scene 3 Line 385-6. Iago frequently makes offhand references to hell or the devil, especially when talking about Othello or Desdemona, “Divinity of hell!” (Act 2, sc 3, line 317), where he is talking about Othello and Desdemona’s marriage. Shakespeare also produces imagery in the form of animals and insects. This is exceptionally shown where Iago and Roderigo are persuading Brabantio of his daughters marriage, “Barbary horse”, (act 1, sc 1, line 110) and “white ewe” (act 1, sc 1 line 88). He does this so that the events are clearer to the audience and are easier to understand. Shakespeare uses figurative language and linguistic patterns to help to reinforce the themes and ideas that the dramatist wishes to explore.
In Act 3 Scene 3, Iago is trying to convince Othello of Desdemona’s infidelity. To do this Iago uses a large number of hints, arguments and insinuations in order to persuade him of a lie. Iago says, “Ha! I like that not.” (Act 3, sc 3, line 35) where he is referring to Desdemona talking to Cassio. He does this to make Othello feel insecure about his relationship with Desdemona and to make Othello demote Cassio so that he is kept away from Desdemona in order for Iago to gain Cassio’s position. He also says, “he would steal away so guilty-like seeing you coming.” (Act 3, sc 3, line 43-44) This makes Othello suspicious of Cassio as well as angry with Desdemona for supposedly cheating on him. He then tries to convince Othello that he is an honest man and in no way jealous of anything, “My lord, you know I love you.” (Act 3, sc 3, line 118). He does this so that Othello thinks he can believe all that Iago says as the truth. Iago then attempts to make Othello suspicious of Desdemona’s every action so Othello decides to watch her constantly. He gets Emilia, Iago’s wife, to do this for him, “Set on thy wife to observe”, (act 3, sc 3, line 242). Othello is suspicious of Desdemona because Iago has commented on her friendship with Cassio, “observe her well with Cassio” (act 3, sc3, line 199). This has planted a seed of doubt in Othello’s mind making him believe that there is more to this friendship than can be seen on the surface. Iago is also making Othello feel that Desdemona should love someone of her own colouring and society, “Of her own clime, complexion, and degree” (act 3, sc 3, line 232), over a black person. This means that Othello now begins to believe that Desdemona no longer loves him and is having an affair with a white man, namely Cassio.
The play Othello presents many moral, cultural, social and philosophical issues among which, race and homosexuality are apparent. Homosexuality is shown when Iago constantly professes to love Othello (act 3, sc 3, line 118). Also, when the play was first staged, a man would have played Desdemona. This shows homosexuality within the play, especially in scenes where the couples profess their love. Race is also a strong issue that is raised in Othello and is still strongly relevant in today’s society. Morally, the views shown by Iago towards or about Othello are wrong and unjust however; Othello seems to accept these because this was the attitude at the time. Iago’s views are shown strongly at the very beginning of the play (in his reference to a “black ram” and a “white ewe”) however, his views become slightly more discrete as the play draws to an end. Othello demonstrates a large social significance in how to deal with people who are different from you. Whether the differences occur through race, homosexuality or gender, each issue is dealt with prominently and in a fashion which can be described as serious yet slightly comic. Othello murders Desdemona and many people would believe this to be acceptable considering the circumstances that he thought that he was in. However, morally it is wrong, unjust and too extreme. It portrays the message that violence is the answer when communication would have been the best option for the scenario.
Within the play, there are many short scenes which seem slightly pointless however these were carefully crafted into the plot to allow the cast time to change into their next costume or collect a prop or for set to be changed. An example of this is Act 2 Scene 2 where Othello’s herald addresses a crowd about a party to celebrate the marriage. This allows the scenery to be changed from a set displaying the quayside to a room in the castle. However, if these short scenes were not included the plot would be harder to understand as the settings would be less obvious. As with all Shakespearean tragedies, the tragic hero has a fatal flaw, which, in this case, is jealousy. This flaw is what caused so many deaths therefore deeming the play a tragedy. Also, most characters at some point or another use Iambic pentameter. If a character is not using this process it can indicate his or her position of importance.
Othello’s reactions to these ideas tend to be ones of grief, rage, anger, suspicion and belief. These reactions are ones that Iago is striving to achieve. Every time another seed of doubt is planted in Othello’s mind, Iago becomes one step closer to achieving his goal. Overall, Othello’s displays of emotion show that Iago’s plan is being successful. His belief is shown where he decides to kill Cassio because he believes Iago’s claims that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair, “Cassio’s not alive.” (Act 3, sc 4, l 474). If Othello reacts with words that show suspicion of others in Iago’s latest claim, Iago will strengthen the emotion by using emotive language to make the current situation a lot worse. This is shown where Iago first voices his suspicion over Cassio and Desdemona, “jealousy: It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The mean it feeds on” (Act 3, sc 3, l 167-169). In an act of extreme suspicion, Othello makes Emilia watch all of Desdemona’s actions along with her interactions with others. However, Othello does not totally believe Iago and curses him if his suspicions are without proof.” Make me to see’t; or, at the least, so prove it that the probation bear no hinge or loop to hang a doubt on- or woe upon thy life,” (act 3, sc 3, l 365-367). To supply the evidence that Othello needs to believe Iago, Iago steals Desdemona’s strawberry embroidered handkerchief and plants it in Cassio’s room.
When Othello suspects that Cassio has the handkerchief, he threatens to murder Cassio because he thinks that he has seen proof of his affair with Desdemona. This makes him overcome with jealous grief, “ My lord has fallen into an epilepsy,” (act 4, sc 1, l 48). He feels like this because he loves Desdemona and wants her for himself however he feels that he has to kill her because if he can not have her, no one can.
These revelations have, inevitably, changed Othello’s attitude towards Desdemona. Their intimate relationship has vanished and Othello can no longer stand having her near him. This is shown when she tries to mop his brow with her handkerchief but he pushes her away saying, “Your napkin is too little. Let it alone,” (Act 3, sc 3, l 289-299). This means that his sorrows can not be wiped away by her handkerchief or her at all. He has also lost all trust in her and feels that nothing about her is true and she is a false person, showing that, yet again, Iago’s plan was succeeding.
Within the play, Othello, the strawberry-embroidered handkerchief plays a large roll in Iago’s plan and in Othello and Desdemona’s relationship. Othello gave the handkerchief to Desdemona as a gift when they first became a couple and since then it has become a symbol of their love. Therefore, if it is given away then their relationship would end and their love would take separate paths. Ultimately, the handkerchief marked the beginning and the end of the relationship because it gave Othello the proof that he needed to persecute Desdemona.
Throughout the play Othello, more and more of Iago’s ambitions appear to emerge. He did succeed in getting Cassio demoted, he did destroy Othello and Desdemona’s relationship and he did gain money from Roderigo so overall his plan was a success. However, none of this occurred without personal losses, he killed his wife and was injured. To a certain extent this did lessen his success because in the end he sacrificed a lot and gained nothing. Othello died knowing that he was not betrayed by Desdemona, he could not gain Cassio’s ranking because the job no longer existed and money is no use in prison, however he did ruin many lives. Iago mentions a variety of intentions openly however it is possible that he had darker ones that he did not expose to the audience. These may have included taking over Othello’s ranking, being romantically linked to Desdemona or perhaps Othello himself considering the homosexual meaning of the play. Ultimately, it was jealousy that caused the bulk of Othello and Desdemona’s misfortune however this jealousy was formed from thin air by Iago. If Othello had not been so troubled by jealousy then their relationship may have survived.
In Shakespeare’s Othello, the character Iago is fairly successful in fulfilling his ambitions however he did not do it purely himself. He played on others weaknesses so as to get what he wanted. His success would have been far greater if it had not caused so many casualties and fatalities.
