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Manipulation In Othello

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When one considers the play Othello by William Shakespeare, Othello stands out as the main character, the tragic hero, and Iago as the antagonist. The idea that “Othello’s killing of Desdemona is not murder, but a sacrifice. He is to save Desdemona from herself, not in hate but in honour”(Bradley, 1905) is true to the reader as Desdemona can be seen as a sacrificial hero and Othello’s murder act is due to the manipulation placed on him by Iago. This manipulation leads to him killing her as for her to keep her honour. Othello’s friendship with Iago is flawed as well as the actions committed, these actions either instigate out of individual choices or manipulation. In this essay I will discuss A.C. Bradley’s quote in context to the play as well as the actions of the main characters in the play and where they actions originate out of manipulation or personal choices. The statement made by Bradley refers to the murder scene in the production where Othello smothers Desdemona, however, it …show more content…

She does not commit any adultery in the way that Othello perceives it due to Iago’s deviousness. She is known for being kind and friendly, yet being to kind is her tragic flaw. Therefore Desdemona is a tragic hero as her sorrow is not caused by her errors, she is overcome by forces she has no control over. Being to friendly to Cassio causes a chain of events that lead to Othello’s jealousy, "This honest creature doubtless / Sees and knows more, much more than he unfolds." (Act 3, Scene 3). However, she is sacrificed for the benefit and help of others as through her death Iago’s true façade is revealed to all thus no one will believe in his words no more. Also her sacrifice is somehow fate as she does not run from it, she tries to bargain with Othello but does not call for help or avoid it, this shows her as a sacrificial heroin. This shows that it is not a murder but a sacrifice that will benefit more than just one

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If Othello had directly questioned Desdemona about her relationship with Cassio or told her about his insecurities about her faithfulness, their fate could have been avoided; however, Othello’s ignorance of Desdemona’s loyalty and Iago’s deceitfulness prevents him from reasoning and intensifies his rage towards Desdemona. Similarly, Desdemona’s failure to speak out against Othello’s unjust behavior or to tell the truth about the lost handkerchief enables Othello to believe Iago’s slanderous opinions, for there is no verbal evidence to say otherwise. The possibility of redemption for the couple is most possible in the end when had Othello not have been consumed by anger or had Desdemona not been overwhelmed by grief and despair, their conflicts could have been

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In Shakespeare 's play, Othello, the main character, Othello, displays actions that are classified as weak or strong emotionally. Throughout the play, Othello shows more weakness than strength when he turns over to jealousy, hits Desdemona, and calls her names shortly before wrongfully killing her. Othello’s first action of weakness shows when he turns jealous. Iago, his ensign, convinces him that his wife, Desdemona, has been having an affair with his lieutenant, Cassio. This is Othello’s response to Iago’s mortifying news, “She’s gone, I am abused, and my relief / Must be to loathe her.

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