The Deep Tragedy Within Othello

The tragedy of Othello, the Moore of Venice is a play written by Shakespeare. The play is talking about two characters, falling in love from different races and social hierarchies. It has a conflict between the protagonist and a powerful force that ended up in death.

The Secret Marriage

The play started with two soldiers called Iago, and Roderigo who loved Brabantio’s daughter Desdemona, but he finds out that she is married secretly to someone called Othello.

Both Iago and Roderigo decided to tell Brabantio the truth. Her father couldn’t believe it and ran quickly to look for her. He felt like his daughter was stolen from him by an old black man, who used witchcraft or black magic to attract her. Desdemona told her father that she loves this man and married him.

Othello starts defending himself, and telling that he is from a royal family and won't use black magic on her. He told her about his adventure, his life, and all the struggles he went through. Desdemona's father left and she was miserable because he used to be by her side.

Leaving Venice

Othello decided to leave Venice and start a new life by going to Cyprus. He sent his wife there with Iago as his trusted solider and he will come when he finishes his business. Iago was planning to destroy this love and their relationship from the beginning. They arrived in Cyprus and he met Cassio who is also a trusted soldier to Othello, which makes it easy to have such a plan against him.

Iago's Power

Iago with his powerful tongue makes Cassio get drunk by his own decision, and ran to tell Othello to see what his solider doing. Cassio lost his reputation and Othello now thinks that Iago is the only trusted man, and he will follow his words.

Iago starts making Othello wonder about Desdemona by telling him about his flaws and how an upper-class woman could love him and marry him. Iago asked his wife Emelia, which is Desdemona’s maid to bring her handkerchief, and then he gives it to Cassio. After that, he went to Othello and told him that Desdemona is cheating which makes Othello go crazy and decide to kill his wife.

Discover The Truth

While Desdemona sleeping, Othello entered her room with a lighter wondering if he is cursed with his love. Then he took a pillow and start choking her until she died. Emelia heard a struggling sound, and when she entered Desdemona‘s room, she finds out that she’s already dead.

Othello told her about Cassio and Desdemona’s handkerchief and she cheated behind him. At the same time Roderigo tries to kill Cassio and fails, so Iago stabs and kills Roderigo. This way, he won't be able to betray their scheming because he doesn’t want any loose ends. Iago entered Desdemona’s room hearing his wife telling Othello the truth and all his plans, he ran into her and killed her to not say more. Othello now knew the truth, but he killed his love by himself, so he commits suicide.

Iago's reaction

For Iago’s position, it was different according to the publisher, for example in some versions he was cold and didn’t move over Othello. While other versions shows that he ran to Othello’s body and cried.

References

Pacheco An & Johnson Da (eds) 2010, ‘The Renaissance and Long Eighteenth Century’, London.