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Othello literary analysis

Love is pure, painful, sweet and dreadful. In William Shakespeares play, Othello, the

antagonist, Iago, destroys all of the central characters because hes jealous of them. Iagos hatred

of Othello leads him to destroy the moor using lies and suspicions to create jealousy and mistrust

in those he loves.

Iago destroys Cassio because Othello promotes and prefers Cassio over him. Iago tells

Roderigo he bears hatred against Cassio because Othellos promoted him above Iago. One

Michael Cassio, a Florentine, a fellow almost damned in a fair wife, that never set a squadron in

the field (Ii20-22). Jealousy can turn into rage, and you might end up doing something bad that

youll regret like Othello did to Desdemona.

Iago destroys Desdemona by lying about her. Iago destroys her because of the great love

Othello has for her. But that I love the gentle Desdemona (Iii27). Emilia stole Desdemonas

handkerchief and it ended up in Cassios room. What handkerchief? Why, that the moor first

gave to Desdemona, that which so often you did bid me steal (IIIiii341-343). Getting that

handkerchief from Emilia was the icing on the cake for Iagos maniacal plan to destroy

Othello. If Desdemona wouldve never lost that handkerchief then maybe Othello wouldnt have

snapped like he did ultimately ending Desdemonas life.

Iago finally gets Othello by listening and believing Iagos false accusations. Iago got

Othello by himself and lied to him by saying Cassio had a dream about sleeping with Othellos

wife, Desdemona. I lay with Cassio lately and being troubled with a raging tooth, I could not

sleep. There are a kind of men so loose of soul that in their sleep will mutter their affairs. One of

this kind is Cassio. In his sleep I heard him say Sweet Desdemona, let us be wary, let us hide

our loves (IIIiii458-465). Iago pushed Othello to the edge when he told Othello that the
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handkerchief his mother gave him was in Cassios room. I know not that, but such a

handkerchief I am sure it was your wifes- did I today see Cassio wipe his beard with

(IIIiii484-486). Iagos plan came together perfectly and he got what he wanted in the end.

Iago had a sinister plan to destroy Cassio, Desdemona, and Othello and it went exactly as

planned because Iago feels denied and cant process. Iago took Cassio out simply because

Othello likes Cassio more; Iago had to take Desdemona out of the picture by lying about her

because of the great love Othello has for her; Finally Othello manipulated by listening to Iago

and believing his false accusations. In the end Iago got exactly what he wanted. After all, love is

something we strive for, and something that we mourn the loss of.