Miscommunication And Manipulation In Shakespeare's Othello

Othello, by William Shakespeare, is one of the many plays that captures the phenomenal writing of Shakespeare. Similar to many of Shakespeare’s plays, Othello is a tragic tale of how a noble figure, Othello, goes from the peak of his life to the lowest point of his life because of miscommunication and manipulation. Every character in this story plays a significant role in the outcome of the story especially the antagonist Iago. He demonstrates that the most intelligent people are not always the nicest of people. Iago manipulates all of the main characters by using philosophical ideas to obtain his personal desires such as money, a higher job position, or gaining revenge on Othello’s wife. Othello becomes one of Iago’s main targets because Iago

Othello discovers Cassio’s possession of the handkerchief through eavesdropping on him and Bianca, Cassio’s prostitute, “Let the devil and his dam haunt you! What did you/ mean by that same handkerchief you gave me now/ I was a fine fool to take it” (IV.I. 141-143). Othello thinks Cassio slept with Desdemona, took the handkerchief, and gave it to Bianca as a gift. This makes Othello lose full composure and asks Iago, “How shall I murder him, Iago?” (IV. I. 161). Othello develops enough wrath within himself that it leads to his own desire to murder someone. Othello hiring Iago to murder Cassio creates this mafia mentality that is calculated and inexcusable. One of the biggest reasons on why Othello is guilty is because he doesn’t have any trust in Desdemona. According to Jean Porter, a person who studies Christian ethics, says, “Why is it so easy for Iago to persuade Othello that his beloved Desdemona has committed adultery with his lieutenant Cassio?” (Porter, 29). She believes that if a marriage is that strong, shouldn’t it be able to resist the beliefs that Iago told her? In Act One, Othello provides the most eloquent soliloquy for his new wife yet he has no faith in their love. Porter supports her argument by expressing there was gender inequality at that time. She says, “Women are characteristically deceitful, military men are generally truthful” (Porter, 29-30). It is ironic because Iago is the biggest liar in the entire play. Up to the 20th century, women were always known to be inferior to men. However, Othello falls under Iago’s belief because of the sociocultural beliefs which leads him to continues his scheme by telling Iago, “Get me some poison, Iago this night. I’ll not expostulate/With her, lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind/Again- This night, Iago!” (IV.I. 194-6). He is telling Iago that he threatens to kill Desdemona with poison because he can’t