"Othello"

     "Othello" was written by one most influential writer in all of English
literature, William Shakespeare during his great tragic period. Othello is set
against the backdrop of the wars between Venice and Turkey that raged in the
latter part of the sixteenth century. The subject of Othello is "Love and Death",
while the theme suggests "The Incompatibility of Military Heroism & Love".
"Othello" consisted of three major characters including: Othello, Desdemona,
and Iago, each of which play a key role in the play.
     Othello is the protagonist in the play "Othello". Othello is the general of the
armies of Venice, He's a supreme and powerful figure with extreme charisma. Because of
Othello's race and age, one must bielive that Othello had to work his way up, and be a
dominating soilder to hold such ranking. Due to the jealousy torwards such a character,
Othello was the target of the tragedy. Although Othello possessed a strong and calm
character, his obvious weakness was shown through trusting and being guliable torwards
Iago. After many mind games and descruction that Iago used against Othello, Othello's
strong character became weak as he committed suicide at the end of the play.
     Iago is known for being the most heinous villain in Shakespeare.
Iago is fascinating for his most terrible characteristic: his convincing others to fall into his
plans and skems to work against them. In the first scene, he claims to be angry at Othello
for having passed him over for the position of lieutenant, which seems almost worthy of
an excuse for his behavior. Soon the reader realizes that there are no justifications for the
actions of Iago. Iago seems to be the most intellegent character in the play because of his
manipulative abilities. Iago is compared to some as Satan because of his powerful and
compelling ways of manipulating the minds and thoughts of nearly all characters
presented in "Othello". Iago uses Othello's most lethal trait against him, trust.
     Desdemona is the wife of Othello. She in many ways seems like Iago's tool to use
against Othello. Desdemona is obviously a beautiful woman because of her charisma
torwards the men. Desdemona is a truthful and submissive character. She seems almost
willing to accept responsibility for her own murder which she was in no way the cause of.
When Emilia, (Iago's wife and Desdemona's attendent) asks her "O, who hath done this
deed" Desdemona replys "Nobody, I myself. Farewell." Othello's obviously love for
Desdemona and her qualities was the key conflict in making the play a tragedy.
     Without the qualities possessed in Othello, Iago, and Desdemona the play
"Othello" couldn't have been a tragedy. Each character played a major role in making
"Othello" one of Shakespeare's most loved and famous tragedy's.