Othello is hated by Iago, as he has appointed Cassio as his lieutenant, much to the dismay of Iago, who hatches a plan to kill Othello. This plan is made easier by the number of weaknesses that Othello contains. As mentioned before, Othello has a seemingly uncontrollable love for the 'divine' Desdemona. As his love is so strong for her, it seems unthinkable that Desdemona will be eventually killed by Othello, yet his strong love may make him be overprotective of Desdemona, to an extent that he is prepared to die and kill other people rather than see someone else with her. Iago takes advantage of this and uses it against Othello in a way that will see him die at the end of the play. Othello's failure to recognise Iago's scheming ways irritates the audience, and creates sympathy for Othello.
By the end of the play, it is also clear that Othello and Iago have become virtually the same person, hate-driven and jealous. This shows us exactly how strong Iago's power is, if he can turn such a person like Othello into someone like Iago. Othello himself may have a high reputation on a military level, but he is extremely isolated on a social scale due to his race. He is continually afraid of what people in society think of him, which can be considered as a weakness as he would also be prepared to do anything to be accepted on a social level. Othello also is a man who trusts his close friends very much. This can also be classed as one of Othello's weaknesses, as his trust towards Iago is so strong that he will believe almost anything that is told to him by Iago. This trust is another factor that leads towards Othello's downfall, as Iago's continual lying is believed by Othello, manipulating him to think that Desdemona is being torn away from him.
Another person that is easily manipulated by Iago is Roderigo. Roderigo is a key figure in Iago's ruthless plan. It is clear that he is being used by Iago to create tension between other characters, such as when he starts a fight with Cassio, which eventually results in the demoting of Cassio, which is exactly what Iago wished to achieve. The irony in that particular event is clear when Othello demands an explanation for what happened, he turns to 'Honest Iago'. This shows us that Iago's plan was working, as Cassio's reputation has been destroyed, and furthers the idea that the play can end in tragedy. Roderigo also bears a resemblance to Othello, in a way that he also has a love for Desdemona. Iago also uses this to his advantage as he makes Roderigo think that Desdemona and Othello's marriage is useless. This is shown in act one scene three when he quotes 'it cannot be long before Desdemona continues her love for the Moor'. This is clearly a lie, yet it is believed by Roderigo. This reveals to us Iago's manipulative ability, which he will use on other characters as well, such as Othello, to bring them to their downfall and end the play in disaster.
Yet at times, it seems that all is not going well for Iago. Roderigo grows impatient by act II, and shows his vicious nature towards Iago, demanding why Desdemona has not come to him yet. At this point we the audience believe that Iago's plan will fail, as Roderigo is beginning to doubt his ideas and therefore we come to believe that the play will not end in tragedy. What occurs after this washes away all the previous hope the audience had that the play would end happily, as Iago is able to change Roderigo's attitude and thinking with a simple, calm, effective speech that calms the beast that was Roderigo and unfortunately allows Iago's plan to continue.
Animal imagery is used frequently by Iago. By calling Othello 'The Moor' and 'The thick-lips' he reveals his racist hate for Othello, another reason for his plan to take place. This may also show that Iago is jealous of Othello, as Othello holds a high-ranking, respectful spot in the army, unusual for a foreign person, especially one who is black, while Iago is continually playing second fiddle to Othello. His racist ideas may add to Iago's desire to kill Othello.
The imagery used by other characters can be used to foreshadow the tragic events that will occur later in the play. An example of this is when a storm has wiped out the entire Turkish fleet. The way that the characters describe and talk about the storm in act II scene one and the effects that it had on the Turks, can also be used to describe what will eventually happen to Othello and Desdemona. The storm itself can be linked to Iago, as it is the main element that destroys and creates havoc. The love between Othello and Desdemona links to the Turkish fleet, as they will ultimately be destroyed at the end of the play. The character Montano also mentions that the storm is 'impossible to bear out' which could prove truthful about Iago, as later in the play, Iago does seem unstoppable and will destroy everything in his path. Iago's soliloquy in act one scene three mentions a 'monstrous birth' in the rhyming couplet at the end which is linked to the eventual downfall of Othello. The word 'monstrous' is used further on in the play by none other than Othello during act II scene three in a juxtaposition.
It seems impossible that Desdemona will actually die at the end of the play. She is described by Cassio as being 'divine' and 'paragorns description and wild flame' and does not seem to be unfaithful at all, as she loves and trusts her husband very much. However, her death has nothing to do with anything she has done, she is a victim of what other people feel for her. The fact that she is linked to heaven ironically proves to be one of her weaknesses, as Othello doubts whether he should be with her, as he is a plain moor, while she has been linked to heaven and god. This furthers his suspicion that she has had an affair with Cassio coupled with the fact that Cassio is 'built to make women unfaithful', as he seems to be more worthy of her than Othello. Her father, Brabantio also warns Othello after she married him by saying 'Look to her, Moor if thou eyes to see: she hath deceived her father and may thee.' Othello could also base suspicion upon this which makes it easier for him to see why she would have an affair with someone else, deceiving him. Desdemona also points out to her servant Emilia that her mother had died while singing a song called 'Willow'. It is curious that Desdemona also sings the same song on the night that she will eventually die herself, and this can be used to predict her eventual death.
After looking at all of the facts that I have listed in this essay, it is clear that there are numbers of elements that foreshadow the tragedy occurring. The fact that Iago tells the audience what he intends to do in a soliloquy in the beginning of the play is crucial as the audience is prepared for a seemingly tragic ending.
