All of the characters who experience misfortune in Othello bring it upon themselves. Discuss the truth of this statement.

Roderigo, since the commencement of the play, has given the audience the impression of his foolish and trusting nature. His foolishness comes from believing that Iago will fulfill his apparent love for Desdemona, despite knowing the wickedness in his plans. Initially, Roderigo complains, “I take it much unkindly/ That thou Iago, who has had my purse/ As if the string were thine, shouldst know of this.” (1.1.1-3). Immediately, Roderigo’s dependence in Iago is shown; he has given him full control of his money but he is resentfully complaining that Iago is not telling him everything about his stories. Roderigo explicitly states that his money is practically Iago’s money, but at the same time he protests that he is not being told what he wants to know. This already foreshadows that Roderigo will be kept out of Iago’s plans; however he will continue to unknowingly provide him with money, having ultimate trust in him. The irrational trust Roderigo has for Iago remains to such a degree that he is seen to his downfall unexpectedly. Being the sole character knowing Iago’s sinful plans, he does not act upon it; in fact he helps Iago achieve his malevolent wants, simply because of a thoughtless desire for Othello’s wife. As Iago assures Roderigo not to give up on the brilliant plan on multiple occasions, Roderigo easily becomes convinced just by the imprudent thought Desdemona. He even goes as far as saying, “I’ll sell all my land.” (1.3.384). Not only does this possible hyperbole describe the great trust he has in Iago, and the extremes he is willing to go to, it merely proves how easily he comes to his downfall, simply by blindly putting a huge deal of dependence in Iago. When previously failing to become Desdemona’s suitor, he rarely does something upon it and instead, he puts all of his trust in the ‘honest’ Iago. Eventually, Roderigo’s fatal weakness plays such a fatal role that he becomes part of Iago’s evil plot. Ironically, in the end, Roderigo finally comes to realization in his weakness of being foolish and too trusting in Iago as he regrets, “Oh, damned Iago! Oh, inhuman dog!” (5.1.64).

Desdemona, the innocent wife of Othello, begins to demonstrate striking submissiveness and a precarious type of naivety which brings her to an imminent and almost foreshadowed death. The early scenes of the play, however, display otherwise; before she exhibited a bold, independent personality by choosing to marry the ‘Moor’. Known as the typical white Venetian woman, Desdemona was too naïve; she does not even realize that Othello was capable of having such jealousy towards her. When Emilia asks her if Othello is jealous, she knowingly replies, “Who, he?/ I think the sun where he was born/ Drew all such humors from him.” (3.4.29-30). The way Desdemona metaphorically exaggerates how the sun drew all the jealousy from Othello’s state of being, causing it impossible for him to become jealous, displays the naivety she possesses. This immature belief of Desdemona congruously intervenes with her own ability to give rationale and defend herself when Othello would talk to her about her being unfaithful to him. As Desdemona confirms her obliviousness in her husband’s ability to become jealous, he ironically begins to doubt more of Desdemona’s fidelity, and he starts to treat her harshly by addressing her as the “cunning whore of Venice” (4.2.93). Shortly after Othello slaps her in public, her submissiveness in matters of her husband’s fury towards her is depicted as she says, “My love doth so approve him/ That even his stubbornness, his checks, his frowns…have grace and favor in them.” (4.3.20-21). At this point, despite her knowing how angry the Moor is, and that her death may be approaching, she continues to find love in him. The deep contrast in diction used with ‘stubbornness and frowns’ to ‘grace and favor’ erases the possibility of Desdemona to think negatively about her husband. Even when death is all but certain, she eliminates the chance of her fighting back for the righteous life she deserves. Likewise, her final words manifest her unconditional love for Othello by taking the entire misunderstanding upon herself. Thus her submissive nature and her naïve notions imprudently bring her to her death.  

Misfortunate downfalls were almost certain in each of the three characters due to a fatally defective weakness. Each character of the play eventually met their hapless deaths, proving the ability of their acknowledged weakness to bring misfortunes upon themselves. Othello, who had an open mind to being mislead into developing treacherous insecurities in his wife’s love met his downfall by firstly killing his wife, then himself. Roderigo, a foolish natured suitor for Desdemona, blindly put his trust in Iago to such an extent that he experienced his own murder by Iago himself. Lastly, Desdemona, submissive in character and naïve in thought, allowed herself to fall into Othello’s vehemence by being strangled in her own wedding sheets. Conclusively, these characters, having a grave deficiency in character, all met with their misfortunate downfalls by the end, supporting the true nature of Shakespeare’s tragic plays in history.