Who Was Responsible For Othello's Downfall

In a tragedy, a hero is usually destroyed by a fatal flaw or weakness within himself. In Williams Shakespeare’s play Othello, Shakespeare demonstrates the havoc a man’s mind can create just by the whispers of another. Can we say this is true about Othello’s destruction, or is his downfall strictly due to Iago’s scheming? Othello’s destruction can easily be viewed as an outcome of Iago’s manipulation, but his destruction could have been his own fault. Iago's lies are based largely on Othello’s status of his insecurities of being an outsider in the Venetian society. Othello’s feelings of isolation, these insecurities he carries within himself were enough to give Iago the perfect arena for his deceitful plan. Iago merely poured gasoline on the

flickering flame in Othello conscience. Throughout time, many great kings, generals and leaders have fallen to the most powerful enemy a man can have—himself.

The character Iago is not strictly the cause of all the Othello’s demise which comes to fruition in this play. Iago is described as a master manipulator, opposing Othello not directly to his face, but through other characters whom he deceives in order to get to Othello. Iago has what Othello lacks and that is a clear view of reality, “Virtue! a fig! 'tis in ourselves that we are thus/or thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to the which/our wills are gardeners:” (1.3.5) From the way his manipulation plays throughout the play, one can see that Iago has the gift of manipulating others to further his own schemes. Iago foreshadows that he is not all that he seems when he says:
For when my outward action doth demonstrate

The native act and figure of my heart
In complement extern, 'tis not long after
But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
For daws to peck at. I am not what I am. (1.1.4)

Not only is this true of who he is, but of what he believes in. He chooses not to reveal his true self out of fear of other taking advantage, as Othello does. This also relates to man’s existence in general. We as human have two sides - the side that we show everyone and appear to be, and the reality of who we really are, which results in exposure of our insecurities.
Although Othello is not Venetian, he has his place in the Venetian society as a great warrior and is so respected that he becomes appointed leader of Cypress. He doesn’t truly believe that he deserves such admiration because he is a Moor. This is where Iago sees the opportunity to take advantage of Othello’s weakness. Throughout the play, Othello is said to have cast a spell on Desdemona to make her to fall in love with him. He is seen as the face of evil because of his skin color. Desdemona’s father Brabantio shows his disbelief:
O thou foul thief, where hast thou stow'd my daughter?
Damn'd as thou art, thou hast enchanted her;
For I'll refer me to all things of sense,
If she in chains of magic were not bound (1.2.2)

In all reality, Desdemona falls in love with the great warrior that he is from all the stories of triumph, “I saw Othello's visage in his mind/And to his honour and his valiant parts” (1.3.2)Their love gives truth to appearance versus reality seen in the play. If Desdemona had truly fell in love with the real Moor, the Moor that lives in doubt, insecure and isolated, maybe Othello would had confidence in himself and could have seen through Iago's lies and prevented his tragic demise.

So, what was that caused Iago to deceive his “friend” and leader?

Jealousy. Jealousy was the cause of Iago’s reasoning to deceive and lie to Othello. Othello had chosen Cassio, a well respected and loyal soldier, to become a lieutenant. When Iago finds out of Cassio’s new position Iago states, “He has done my office: I know not if't be true/But I, for mere suspicion in that kind/Will do as if for surety.” (1.3.12) Iago becomes enraged with jealousy, enough jealousy to take a mans life, and that life was to be Othello. Iago took that same jealousy he felt and planted it into Othello psyche. “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy/It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock/The meat it feeds on;” (3.3.15) Othello did try to rebut what Iago was proclaiming. Othello goes on to tell Iago, “Think'st thou I'd make a life of jealousy/To follow still the changes of the moon/With fresh suspicions?”(3.3.177-9), but soon after, Iago understands that Othello’s insecurities will get the best of him, “… trifles light as air/Are to the jealous confirmation strong/As proofs of holy writ.”(3.3. 320-2) At this point Othello’s gears of insecurity begin to turn, he imagines Desdemona’s infidelity with Cassio, and his jealousy awakens the green eyed

monster,

Othello:
Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace,
Shall ne'er look back, ne'er ebb to humble love,
Till that capable and wide revenge
Swallow them up. (3.3.455-8)

Consequently, Iago’s intention to pollute Othello’s mind with lies of Desdemona’s infidelities was as successful as he envisioned. Othello is naive to believe Iago, without investigating the situation on his own, and so he was so quick to believe the poison that poured out Iago’s mouth, Othello is to blame. His way of thinking could be compared to that of a child in middle school. He takes everything what he is told for what it appears to be, without questioning any ulterior motives. Generally, when you are told an outlandish lie, you investigate yourself so you can come to your own conclusion and not rely on the words of others. This was Othello’s tragic flaw.
Instead of validating Iago’s lie, Othello’s rants and raves about Iago being a mighty God of honesty to the very end. When Iago’s wife Emilia finds out why Othello has killed Desdemona, Othello assure her that her husband was the one with truths, he states, “My friend, thy husband; honest, honest lago.”(5.2.146) This delusion was key for the destruction of Othello. The pride Othello had about “honest” Iago blinded his mind, and this coupled with jealousy and insecurities resulted in actions. Now the proud and brave warrior Othello is unable to come to terms of what he has done, kill himself.
Othello’s character shows how quickly a lie can open up pandora's box and reveal the capability of the human mind.

So, Can we say Iago was strictly the reason for the demise of Othello? There are many way to look at the story, but as I see. Othello’s, pride and bad judgement of character was his demise. A great leader is always is keen of the people surrounding him. As history shows us you can never trust those closest to you, because the one closest to you can bring out the worst of you. Othello was a well recognized and respected for his admiration and battles won, but the most important battle he could not win, was the battle with his greatest of deceivers, his

mind.