The first of Othello’s character flaws that led to his downfall is his misplaced trust –especially in Iago. “Honest Iago;” (I.iii.294) as he is referred to by many of the characters in the play, especially Othello, is a master of manipulation. After Iago convinces Othello of Desdemona’s infidelity, Othello says that he is “bound to [Iago] for ever,” (III.iii.214) before ever hearing Desdemona’s side of the story. Even after murdering Desdemona, Othello tells Emilia that it was “[Othello’s] friend…honest, honest Iago,” (V.ii.154) that had told him of Desdemona’s alleged impurity. This proves that Othello trusts Iago so much, that even in such a consequential situation like this, he believes Iago –even when there is a reasonable doubt. This goes even further when Desdemona, awaiting her death (which one would consider to be a time when one is most honest) says “I never did/Offend [Othello] in my life,”(V.ii.58-59) yet Othello neglects to believe her. This is due to his profound trust in Iago, whom takes advantage of this and uses it to manipulate his thoughts and plant the terrible thought of Desdemona’s impurity in his mind. This proves that Othello’s misplaced and extreme trust in Iago has caused his mistrust in others and ultimately led to his downfall in the play.
The second of Othello’s character flaws, which can be best attributed to his downfall, is his jealousy. While fooling Othello into believing in Desdemona’s unfaithfulness, Iago warns Othello of the “the green-eyed monster, which doth mock/The meat it feeds on.” (III.iii.165-167) Thus implanting the idea that there is something to be jealous of in Othello’s mind. Othello at firsts insists he must “see before [he] doubt[s],”(III.iii.190) Desdemona. Although near the end of this scene we find Othello convinced of Desdemona’s betrayal with Cassio, yet there is no proof given. Out of jealousy and anger, Othello vows to, “tear [Desdemona] all to pieces,” while wishing that Cassio “had forty thousand lives,” because killing him “once is...too weak for [Othello’s] revenge.” (III.iii.435, 446-447) Although he asks Iago for proof, he becomes fully convinced after hearing only Iago’s lies. This proves that Othello is a man who is very quick to become jealous. This is further seen after Desdemona speaks of the “love [she] bears to Cassio,” in terms of friendship. Othello interprets it as her speaking of a romantic love and reacts violently, calling her a “Devil,” and striking her. (IV.i.221, 229) We can see that Othello is set on his plans to murder Desdemona and Cassio long before any reasonable proof has been presented to him. Thus proving that it is his jealousy that has caused his truly spiteful reaction, and in the end, his downfall.
The final of Othello’s character flaws is his irrationality. More specifically, Othello’s irrationality when discussing an emotional topic that he has a firm view on. It has already been discussed that Othello is very trusting of Iago; who has convinced him of Desdemona’s infidelity causing him to become jealous and angry. He is fixed in his belief that Desdemona is unfaithful. He is so firm in his belief, and irrational in his being, that even when there is a reasonable doubt, he disregards it without a single thought that it might be true. When Emilia tells Othello that, “[Desdemona] is honest,” and that he may, “Lay down [her] soul as stake,” Othello brushes it off, aside thinking that, “Emilia is a simple bawd,” who must be covering up for, “a subtle whore,” who is Desdemona. (IV.ii.12-13, 20-21) Emilia is swearing on her life to Othello that Desdemona is faithful, yet Othello is already so sure of the opposite that he instantly fabricates the idea that Emilia must be covering up for Desdemona. Later in the play, as Desdemona is pleading her innocence to Othello, as he is about to murder her, she tells Othello that she “never gave [Cassio] a token,” and that he should, “Let [Cassio] confess the truth.” Othello once again, has no thought in his mind that what he believes is wrong; he believes that she is lying, and happily tells her “[Cassio’s] mouth is stopp’d.” From this scene, we once again see Othello’s lack of critical thinking and disregard of any reasonable doubt that Desdemona is telling the truth. Othello uses Cassio’s apparent death as an excuse not to look into it. It is this lack of exploration into both sides of the situation that causes Othello to act quite rash in his plot to murder Desdemona and Cassio, and finally lead to his own death.
Othello is a man of elegance and level-headedness. It is because of his abilities as a soldier and leader that he has been able to become a general of Venice. However, just like every tragic hero, he has a hamartia. Othello puts an astonishing amount of trust in Iago, who then maliciously takes advantage of this, convincing Othello of Desdemona’s supposed unfaithfulness. Othello is quick to become jealous and then quite spiteful of Desdemona. Othello is then blinded by rage, being unable to think critically about the situation at present. He is therefore unable to distinguish what the truth is, and believes the man he has trusted for so long, Iago. It is the combination of these qualities that have amounted to Othello’s downfall in the play. Iago simply planted an idea into the mind of Othello, whose jealousy, anger and irrationality sprouted it into something tragic.