Othello’s downfall comes about, probably because of his pride. Iago talks about Othello’s pride in the first scene when he plots against him: -
“But he, as loving his own pride and purposes,”
I .i – l.12
Othello also over reacts when he’s convinced that the rumour is true, about Desdemona having an affair with Cassio.
“Get me some poison, Iago, this night. I’ll not expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again – this night, Iago”
IV .i – ll.203 – 205
Othello in this quote says to Iago to get him some poison so he can kill Desdemona, who earlier in the play was the love of his life. Although he may be overreacting to what he thought Desdemona did, because of the love he felt for her, and he did not believe she could do something like that, so this means that he really did love her and was overly distraught.
Iago Manipulates Othello by telling him story’s about Desdemona and Cassio, this is because he wants revenge on Othello so he is trying to break him down. But I do believe that Iago’s lying is believable, this is because Iago is very subtle about telling Othello his made up stories.
“In faith, I fear it has.
I hope you will consider what you spoke………
To grosser issues, nor to larger reach
Than to suspicion.”
III .iii – ll.215 – 220
Iago’s subtleness is his way of carrying out his plan, He gives Othello Ideas about what he might thing is happening, but he never tells him something is happening. Iago uses and betrays Othello’s trust, and lies to him for his own personal game, and this is why I believe that Iago is believable in his actions and words.
The question with Iago is that would he do all of the evil things he does just for revenge? In my opinion I think this is believable. Although Iago seems over the top in his reactions and what he does, I still believe that somebody could do all of this evil just for revenge.
“Thus do I ever make my fool my purse:
For I mine own gained knowledge should profane
If I would………it is engendered. Hell and Night.
Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light.
I .iii – ll.377 – 398
Iago is the character in the play that causes all the deaths, and it seems that it was too drastic for revenge. But Iago could have been doing it for the thrill of being a `Puppet master`.
Another point about Iago is that he does many things that are quite obvious in some respects, but I do not believe that he would go that long without getting caught, nobody knew about the scam he was getting up to and several lives were taken before they realised what was going on.
“Behold, I have a weapon:
A better never did itself sustain………
Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire!
O Desdemona! Dead Desdemona! Dead! O! O!”
V .ii – ll.257 - 279
People normally would catch on that there was someone doing this, so this is why I think this play us not believable.
In conclusion I believe this play is not believable on the whole. There are to many major points in the play that are to unrealistic. Although the play was written for an audience and it would of have to of been more unrealistic to keep the audience watching. This is the same now with soap operas.