Therefore, Iago comes up with a plan to get revenge on Othello by lying to him, and convincing him that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio. Through several conversations between Othello and Iago, Iago implies that he knows something that he refuses to divulge regarding Cassio and Othello’s wife, Desdemona. However, Othello denies that he would give himself over to jealousy (Shakespeare 2.1.134-146). Nonetheless, Othello does voice his concern from Brabantio's warning from earlier in the play. "Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see:/She has deceived her father, and may thee" (Shakespeare 1.3.242-243). This causes Othello to believe that if she deceived her father about their marriage, then she would have no problem lying and deceiving him. Iago later tells him that he is right to be concerned about Desdemona.
Therefore, by inserting this doubt it allows Iago to devise a scheme to take advantage of Othello’s insecurities and gullibility. Iago feeds Othello with lies and fallacious thoughts, and Othello gobbles the lies up like candy, readily believing them.
Then, little by little jealously fills Othello and he becomes enraged. Even though Othello denies his jealousy repeatedly, it is apparent that the feeling and thoughts have taken root in his mind. He tells "No Iago;/I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;/And on the proof, there is no more but this /Away at once with love or jealousy!" (Shakespeare 3.3.189-192) Since Othello believes that Desdemona is unfaithful with only suggestions, and no facts, shows he is prone to jealousy and is dreadfully gullible.
Later, after Iago has planted strong suspicions in his mind, Othello goes to dinner where Desdemona drops the handkerchief that represents their love. Emilia picks it up only for Iago to take it and plant it in Cassio’s things. He then tells Othello of seeing Cassio use it (Shakespeare 3.4.475-499). Since Iago accurately describes the handkerchief, Othello believes him and truly starts to believe that Cassio and his wife are having an affair. Afterward, with Iago's planted evidence, Othello’s jealousy is so strong that believes that this is undeniable proof that Desdemona was unfaithful.
Later, Othello accuses Desdemona of being unfaithful, and even though she profusely denies the accusation, Othello does not trust her. Othello thinks that the only way to resolve his doubt is to take justice into his own hands and murder Desdemona and Cassio (Shakespeare 4.2.50-72).
Then, since Othello fully trusts Iago, Othello asks Iago to get him some poison to murder Desdemona. Iago then advises Othello not to kill her not with poison. “Do it not with poison. Strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated.” (Shakespeare 4.3.158-192). By advising Othello on how to kill his wife, he reminds Othello that Desdemona cheated on him in his own bed. These words increase the jealousy, anger and irritation in Othello, and in a way, it gives him more courage to kill his wife, which he does by suffocating her.
After Desdemona’s death and Othello figures out the truth, he decides to commit suicide. When he gives his death speech, Othello tells the crowd that he wants to them to remember him not as someone who easily became jealous, but instead as someone who was misled. “Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate, / Nor set down aught in malice. Then must you speak/ of one that loved not wisely but too well; / Of one not easily jealous but, being wrought…”(Shakespeare 5.2.352-365). He blames himself for being so foolish, but he also blames Iago.
Othello’s jealousy causes gullibility and helps reveal his own insecurities, which all help lead to his downfall. Othello lets his own insecurities from jealousy keep him from questioning Iago's accusations and when finally he gives into Iago's lies, he sees what Iago wants him to see. This causes him to go mad and ultimately kill himself when he realizes the truth and what he has done.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. Tradgedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice. London: Oxford:
Globe Theater, 2008. E-book.