Who Was Responsible For Othello's Downfall

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Responsibility for Othello’s Downfall
In one of Shakespeare’s plays--Othello--a well-respected general by the name of Othello meets a tragic end when his best friend Iago betrays him, his wife dies, and he himself commits suicide. But who should be held accountable for this tragic end? Many solely place the blame on one character. However, responsibility for Othello’s downfall truly lies on the actions of several characters, specifically Emilia for initially refusing to reveal her actions in stealing Desdemona’s handkerchief, Iago for seeking vengeance against Othello, and Othello for being too prideful.
Emilia plays a major role in the path leading up to Othello’s death by not telling the truth about taking Desdemona’s handkerchief and therefore is partially at fault for the tragedy that takes place. In act three, Emilia steals the …show more content…

Emilia would rather follow her husband’s wishes and retain the image of a faithful friend than hold up her end of their friendship by making the difficult choice to reveal the truth about her thievery. Emilia does this despite the fact that Desdemona has a long conversation with her about how she would rather lose all the money in her purse than lose the handkerchief and is heartbroken by the loss of a sentimental gift. More importantly, by staying quiet about her filchering as Othello angrily interrogates Desdemona about the handkerchief, Emilia shows how little care she has for Desdemona and Othello’s marriage. Emilia knows the value of the handkerchief and how it will put a strain on their marriage if

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