Shakespeare has characterised Iago as one of the most manipulative character in literature, and as

such he is largely responsible for the tragic events in Othello. However, Othello himself is also
partially responsible in that Shakespeare develops him as a flawed hero. From this point of view, it is
the interaction of the two characters that explain the tragic events of the play. Such a view of the
tragedy and manipulation of Othello is supported by critic William Empson in which he states
everybody calls Iago honest once or twice, but with Othello it becomes an obsession; at the crucial
moment just before Emilia exposes Iago he keeps howling the word out.
Iago is characterised in the play Othello as the embodiment of evil, shown through his many false
motives and his hatred of the Moor evidenced when he says I hate the Moorhes done my
officewill do as if for surety. However, one must accept that despite all the evil, Iago is an
extremely intelligent character, his knowledge of other characters is complex, knowing their wants
and needs and also their flaws emphasized by his assessment of Cassio He hath a person and
smooth dispose, to be suspected, framed. Iago uses this knowledge to manipulate other characters
to do his evil bidding, emphasized when he says of Roderigo thus do I ever make my foolgaind
knowledge should profane. This manipulation of Roderigo in the first Act not only demonstrates his
knowledge and intelligence but is also dramatically effective because it serves to create more
sympathy for Othello later in the play. Furthermore Iago also manipulates other characters: Cassio
when he undermines Cassios integrity by getting him drunk ; Emilia when he woo(s) her to get the
handkerchief. Such actions not only highlight Iagos selfish and self-centred nature but prefigures his
ability to manipulate Othello and to be largely responsible for the tragic events in Othello.
While Shakespeare characterises Othello as a man of great statue and human he also portrays him
as a tragic hero. On one hand Othello holds his nobility in the venetian society, having gone through
several wars evidenced when he states that my services which I have done the signiory shall out-
tongue his complaints. Furthermore, Othello, being brought up in the military, has a sense of
honour and high class as is highlighted in the language that he employs my parts, my title, and my
perfect soul shall manifest me rightly. Most importantly, Othello employs his reasoning into his
decisions and thinking, the personality that makes him hero worthy shown in his argument with
Brabantio were it my cue to fight, I should have known it. On the other hand, like all heroes that
follow the zeitgeist of Shakespearean tragedies, Othello is characterised with certain flaws that make
it possible for tragic events to occur. One of the flaws is his hamartia jealousy, so strong that once he
succumbs to it, he cannot resurface as is emphasized as a jealousy so strong that judgement cannot
cure. This jealousy is extremely vulnerable due to Othellos numerous smaller flaws including his
ease of trusting others and his lack of understanding of how people behave in a civilized venetian
society. Such a trust and lack of understanding can be a result of Othellos growing up in the military
and his lack of sophistication and complexity. With such flaws Othello must take up some
responsibility in his own downfall, switching to his more animalistic side and using passion instead
of his clear reason.
However it is the interaction of Iago and Othello when they arrive in Cyprus that ultimately
determine the tragic events of the play. Through such interaction, Iago cleverly plants a seed into
Othellos deadly hamartia to begin the long torture as highlighted through Iagos first abuse(ing) of
his ear in note if your lady strain his entertainment. Such a seed grows and this can be seen
through the decrease of the level of language that Othello portrays throughout the rest of the play
such as and keeps the gate of hell! You, you, ay, you. Furthermore, during Othellos last straw of
the physical proof, so deep Othello is in his inner conflict that he begins to decline mentally as is
evidenced in Pish! Noses, ears, and lips Ist possible? Confess? Handkerchief? Odevil. Such brutal
treatment of Othello exposes Iagos true nature of evil, his uncaring for the pain and conflict that he
causes and the sequence of interactions between Iago and Othello lead to the tragic death of
Desdemona and Othello himself. Altogether, it is seen through Iagos manipulation not only the
decrease in the level of language from Othello, but also the stableness of his mental health, implying
that such a fatal flaw is so powerfully that it affects his complete personality.
Although it is implied that it is completely Iagos doing that brings about the downfall of Othello, one
must take into consideration that in the end it is Othellos jealousy that he allows his passion to
override his reason and such brings about the tragic deed that sealed his fate. Such a view can be
contrasted between the dichotomous characters and their personalities, Iagos intelligence and
manipulative ability and the flaws that Shakespeare implements into Othellos character. Such a
view is support by critic Wilson Knight who stated that Expressions of Othellos personal passion
holds a rich music all of its own.