Othello Essay

Tragedy is often defined by the sympathizing with the humanity of the antagonist, and the hatred for the forces that turn against him. Shakespeare's Othello is no exception to this rule. Othello, though a murderer, is still seen as a hero. The audience is able to feel sorrow for the madness and jealousy that was thrust upon him by opposing factors. It is the use of antagonistic people and objects that create the tension and suspense within the play. 1

In the very first act, one can spot multiple antagonists, the main one being the character of Iago. The audience is introduced to him as a schemer, a man who is willing to go to every length to achieve his goals, and to punish others. It is Iago who plants the seed of doubt in Othello's mind regarding Desdemona's faithfulness to the bond of marriage. Iago is portrayed as a master puppeteer; a man who can manipulate everyone and everything around him to his advantage. Shakespeare created a person for this task, rather than subjecting Othello to the will of a higher power. Though effective in theory, a god would not be able to foil the protagonist as well as a man could. For how could a god show the inhumanity of even the "best" men, without being human himself?2

Even with Iago prodding and plotting, Othello has himself to blame as well. He is an antagonistic force in his own demise. Othello, though a warrior and husband, has flaws. It is in his jealousy that he slays his wife. It is in his lack of information and mistrust that he loses himself. As a writer, Shakespeare realized that without these simple imperfections Othello, as a character, would not be able to identify with an audience. It is not sad to see a murderer die- this is justice in the divine sense. However, to see a man die, broken and torn with grief for his mistakes, is a tragedy indeed. 3

Humans could not all be antagonists in this drama. There is one key object that holds the very fate of the play in its hands: the handkerchief. This small bit of cloth held importance through the whole of the play. A symbol of Othello's love for Desdemona, it is the one thing that could convince the hero of his wife's unfaithfulness. Here, Shakespeare plays on the importance of material goods to humans. He shows that value in one object can change the minds of gentle men, and in turn create demons to destroy loves and lives. Furthermore, Othello introduces the concept of a curse on the handkerchief. When in the hands of a loved one, the love will never fade. If lost and found by another, tragedy would strike the one who lost it. Is this curse another antagonist? Were it human faults that struck the tragedy in the tale? Or was it really the weave-work of an ancient curse that fated these beings to die?