The obvious person to blame for the tragic outcome of the Shakespearean play “Othello” would be Iago. Iago is essentially the root of all evil, and without his wicked mind and vicious plan, the tragedy wouldn't exist. But wait… Couldn’t Iago’s twisted ways have been prevented? Yes. Many times, and by many people too. And for solely that reason, Iago is not to blame. Othello is the person charged of this tragedy because of his pathetic naiveness and his belief that nobody would lie to him. If Othello would’ve just considered his own thoughts and actually pondered the lies he was being told, he could’ve prevented many deaths – including his own!
Othello begins the play by being a seemingly strong and powerful character. He’s a moor; he technically has the most domination within the play – until the turning point in Act III. In Act III, power roles begin to change; Iago takes over and Othello’s once dominant demeanor begins to diminish. Shakespeare cleverly creates Iago to be a cunning and scheming character, who wins Othello’s trust by cooing, “My lord, you know I love you” (III.iii.134). Othello then admits to believe in Iago’s “exceeding honesty” (III.iii.299). At this point in the play, Othello has essentially been casted under Iago’s spell; this is Othello’s turning point and the time that he could’ve avoided the tragedies to come by questioning Iago instead of being so ignorant.
Iago tells Othello yet another lie about Desdemona giving Cassio her handkerchief, and Othello believes everything he hears. Iago tells Othello: “such a handkerchief – did I today see Cassio wipe his beard with” (III.iii.497-498). Othello then immediately responds with “O, blood, blood, blood!” (III.iii.512). Othello could’ve easily prevented this crisis by confronting his wife, or not getting so instantly absurd about the situation. For this reason, (his rapid rage and negligence of asking before reacting) Othello is to blame for the tragic outcome of this play.
Othello was also faced with the situation of killing his own wife. Not very often do we see the protagonist of a play murder his loved one, and for this reason, many can argue that Othello was not the protagonist. Othello started off the play as the hero; he was the Moor of Venice and obtained substantial power over his peers. After Iago gained control, Othello essentially went psychotic, hence the reason he jumped to conclusions and was set on murdering his wife. Because Othello was so convinced that his wife was unfaithful and ended up strangling her in bed, that is the reason many can insist that he is in fact the antagonist. Othello being the antagonist justifies the theory of him also being at fault. Could other people be blamed for the tragic outcome? Definitely. But Othello's lack of prevention puts him at fault more than any other of Shakespeare's characters.
Othello begins the play by being a seemingly strong and powerful character. He’s a moor; he technically has the most domination within the play – until the turning point in Act III. In Act III, power roles begin to change; Iago takes over and Othello’s once dominant demeanor begins to diminish. Shakespeare cleverly creates Iago to be a cunning and scheming character, who wins Othello’s trust by cooing, “My lord, you know I love you” (III.iii.134). Othello then admits to believe in Iago’s “exceeding honesty” (III.iii.299). At this point in the play, Othello has essentially been casted under Iago’s spell; this is Othello’s turning point and the time that he could’ve avoided the tragedies to come by questioning Iago instead of being so ignorant.
Iago tells Othello yet another lie about Desdemona giving Cassio her handkerchief, and Othello believes everything he hears. Iago tells Othello: “such a handkerchief – did I today see Cassio wipe his beard with” (III.iii.497-498). Othello then immediately responds with “O, blood, blood, blood!” (III.iii.512). Othello could’ve easily prevented this crisis by confronting his wife, or not getting so instantly absurd about the situation. For this reason, (his rapid rage and negligence of asking before reacting) Othello is to blame for the tragic outcome of this play.
Othello was also faced with the situation of killing his own wife. Not very often do we see the protagonist of a play murder his loved one, and for this reason, many can argue that Othello was not the protagonist. Othello started off the play as the hero; he was the Moor of Venice and obtained substantial power over his peers. After Iago gained control, Othello essentially went psychotic, hence the reason he jumped to conclusions and was set on murdering his wife. Because Othello was so convinced that his wife was unfaithful and ended up strangling her in bed, that is the reason many can insist that he is in fact the antagonist. Othello being the antagonist justifies the theory of him also being at fault. Could other people be blamed for the tragic outcome? Definitely. But Othello's lack of prevention puts him at fault more than any other of Shakespeare's characters.