Iago, the Hero of Shakespeare's Othello? GCSE English Literature Coursework

Iago, the Hero of Othello?

In William Shakespeare's tragedy, "Othello" we are able to see different ideas from who are real hero could be, but for me the ovbius reading of the work is that Othello is the hero, Cassio the innocent victim, and Iago the villain with no feelings in his heart. But could it be that we haven't been able to see the other side of this strong story? I believe that is the hero who suffers. He is the one who makes it. He fights, tries not to fall and does not give up, why should it be his fault, he might have been the one who had his wife and precious lady found sleeping with the one he admire the most his best friend Othello. And to make things worse Othello didn't gave him the position that they both knew he deserved. The only thing Iago had ever done was love Othello, and nothing else.

In my paper I want to be able to make the point, that we can't just come to one conclusion in a book. We have to be able to and go deeper into the meaning of what makes "Villian" a villian. The actual villian might just be Othello. We can't blame people for everything they do, especially when they have a reason to act the way they do. In the book "The Count Of Monte Cristo" we all understood that Edmond Dantes set people up and destroyed them. Because we are able to see how things had gone from the beginning and why Dantes hated the characters he destroyed. Without that understanding, in the play "Othello," we are not able to understand why things go the way they do. And for that reason we are not able to see clearly the way that Iago feels and suffer. For he had his own story before all this happen

Iago: "If I do not. Three great ones of a city,/ In personal suit to make me his lieutenant,/ Off-capped to him; and by the faith of man,/ I know my price, I am worth no worse a place./ But he, as loving his own pride and purposes,/ Evades them with a bombast circumstance,/ Horribly stuffed with epithets of war,/ And in conclusion,/ Nonsuit my mediators."/ ( act1, scene 1, line 9)

Othello and Iago both knew that he was the right one for the place as lieutenant. He was capable of handling things maybe even better then anyone else. But Othello wouldn't listen to what he knew was right. He had the power to do anything and because he might have thought that the bets thing to do was to listen and to put more attention to other people, Othello chose this so called Forsooth, this so called great arithmetician, one Michael Cassio, that came from Florentine. Why shouldn't Iago feel isolated, as though Othello had just stabbed him in his heart? Even though Othello knew that Iago wanted to have that position and he knew fitted perfectly for it, Othello decided to go by what others,strangers, told him, and in a few words he ended his friendship with Iago.

Iago: "Thus do I ever make my fool my purpose./ For I mine own gained knowledge should profane/ If I would time expend with such a snipe/ But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor,/ And it is thought abroad that 'twist my sheets/ 'Has done my office. I know not if 't be true,/ But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,/ will do as surety, he holds me well./ The better shall my purpose work on him./" ( act 1 scene 3 line 26)

who wouldn't get upset,even though he tries not to let he feel as though it bothers him a lot that he has heard that Othello has been under his sheets of his wife? Most people who would find out that there might just be a chance that your wife or spouse could have slept with your best friend would have their heart trash. He had every right to be upset, but now that it all come together, which has brought him to pass the point, and his anger was thrown out of the limit.

But the most questionable part of this entire book, I will have to say was the part when Iago kills his wife Emilia, which for me it was very hard to understand and even have an actual conclusion to put him as a hero, unless we try putting everything in a more realistic way, and trying to get into Iagos head.

Emilia: "You told a lie, an odious, dammend lie!/ Upon my soul, a lie, a wicked lie!/"....(act 5, Scene 2, Line 216)

Why did she just come out and betrayed her husband, Emilia had to know better then that, that wasn't her place, she didn't even knew the entire story, why did she have to come out from nowhere, when thetime was wrong. And there is a chance that she didn't even care about Iago, and she will do what ever she wanted when youless expected. When she came out with her story, Iago couldn't belive that the only person that still might be faithfull in his life, was the one who destroyed him as quick as the wind. Now the other question is what is Emilia's real story. But that will have to go in another essay.

I could never see Othello as a hero for he was hardheaded and ignorant, without any real reason he ended upkilling his wife, not having any real proof to do so. Cassio was liek the kid of the play, sweet and innocent, but if any one was to mess with him he will fall in their trap as quick as possible. Iago then had his own tale from before teh play began and this tale was the cause of all that occured. Though at the end he dies, he is able to die with his last wish, been quiet for ever and never letting any one know more then what they saw, by him keeping hsi secrets in his head. All of this from his mental strenght to his wisdom and being sucha good soldier, it all makes Iago the perfect "Hero."