Betrayal In Shakespeare's Othello: The Moor Of Venice

The human species have exhibited the tendency to be fascinated into the darkest parts of the human psyche, to explore the facets of human behavior that go against one's baser instincts. This includes the tendency to gravitate towards depictions of tragedy, be them real of fictitious, as they present the darker corners of human nature without dwelling too far into them oneself. Betrayal poses a particularly captivating conundrum as humanity’s residual instincts and moral compass suggest that such acts go against humanity’s very fiber as a just and interdependent being. The concept of betrayal is explored in Shakespeare's tragedy Othello: The Moor of Venice, wherein the characters are faced with the consequences of the actions set forth by the betrayal of Othello’s “loyal” standard bearer, Iago. The paramount moment in the play in which the full consequences of Iago’s scheme are realized come in the final act. During which, the full course of his actions are revealed by

In a discussion with his companion Roderigo, wherein he describes that “[he is] not what [he is],” first introducing his two-faced nature to the audience (1.1.71). The reveal of Iago’s treacherous nature results in dramatic irony for the reader and viewer as he or she witness Othello’s gradual descent into madness spurred on by Iago’s continued insinuations of Desdemona’s infidelity. Furthermore, the base reasoning for his betrayal of Othello is revealed, citing his lack of promotion on Othello’s side in favour of the promotion of Cassio. Iago’s feelings about Iago are best summed up in his famous lines, “I hate the Moor. My cause is hearted; thine hath no less reason. Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against him” (1.3. 409-411). Iago claims that his reasoning for his actions come from his base hatred for Othello, yet he conceals his betrayal to the very end, for he is a man that “follow[s] but myself”