Othello

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The Tragedy of Othello
The Shakespeare’s play “Othello,” is driven by trust. There is an intense relationship among Othello, Cassio, and Lago. Othello has a sturdy relationship to Lago and therefore he believes that whatever Lago says is gospel truth. To Othello, Cassio is just a good young soldier. However, as the play develops, Othello is fed with untrue information concerning Cassio and consequently begins to loathe him. Surprisingly Othello is not aware that Lago hates him. Lago thinks that Cassio is unqualified and therefore he doesn’t deserve a promotion given to him by Othello. Lago believes that he is the best for the promotion and this makes him jealous of Cassio. Trusting Lago, Cassio finds himself in trouble with Othello. Also, Othello faces tragedy for having much trust on Lago. The play clearly shows how trust can be used for hostile motives. Not knowing when to trust and when not to trust people lands Othello in serious trouble that leads to his death and death of his wife. Though trust is what keeps relationships, it is not advisable to always trust people.
Roderigo is a rich man who is attracted to Desdemona. Desdemona is already married to Othello. Roderigo uses Othello’s trusted friend Lago to help him win Desdemona to his side. Roderigo and Lago call at Desdemona’s father and informs him that Othello has married Desdemona. Brabanzio gets officers to look for Othello. When Othello is heading for a meet with the Duke, Roderigo, Brabanzio, and others reaches the house of Othello accusing him of marrying Brabanzio’s daughter.

Brabanzio decides to raise the issue before the gathered Senate. Othello defends himself by clarifying that he never used witchcraft to win Desdemona, but his strength and performance in war wooed her. Desdemona defends herself by announcing to her father that he is married to Othello. Othello’s and Desdemona’s explanation confirms that Brabanzio’s claims are null and void prompting the Senate and Duke to dismiss the allegation. Brabanzio is exasperated but allows the meeting to continue. Othello is assigned the duty to support the protection of the Island. Desdemona decides to accompany Othello on that trip. The attempts to have Othello separate with Desdemona is well planned by Lago, a friend who Othello trusts most.
Desdemona, Lago, Roderigo, Cassio, and Emilia, Lago’s wife arrive in Cyprus. As they are waiting for Othello, Cassio clasps Desdemona’s hand while greeting her. Lago claims that he is planning to use as little a web as this hand-holding to entangle Cassio (Shakespeare 69). When Othello arrives, he informs them about a celebration that night. Everybody leaves except Roderigo and Lago. Roderigo protests to Lago that there is no chance to separate Othello and Desdemona. However, Lago reassures Roderigo that Desdemona will soon lose interest in Othello and strive for sexual contentment from somebody else. Lago’s worry is that Cassio may be the only alternative Desdemona can go for. Roderigo is advised by Lago on how to discredit Cassio during the celebrations. Lago has plans to ruin Othello, but the first step he has is to eliminate Cassio. During the celebrations, Lago gives Cassio beer then he advises Roderigo to disturb him. Roderigo triggers the fight and Cassio stabs, Governor Montano, as he tries to cool him down. Roderigo is sent by Lago to call for help. Othello arrives at the scene to silence the commotion. He demands to know how the fight began and Lago quickly explains implicating Cassio. Because of the incidence, Othello demotes Cassio from his rank of lieutenant. Cassio is tremendously disappointed, and he feels that his reputation is ruined. Lago steps in and convinces Cassio to use Desdemona as an intermediary to win back Othello’s blameless elegances. This is Lago’s move to frame Desdemona and Cassio as lovers so as to make Othello jealous. Cassio’s troubles are originating from his friend Lago. Othello makes the decision of demoting Cassio because he always trusts Lago.
Cassio meets with Desdemona who promises to do whatever possible to make Othello pardon him. Before he leaves, Lago and Othello arrive. Cassio feels troubled, and therefore he leaves devoid of talking to Othello. Othello asks if Cassio is the one who has just parted from his wife. Lago, who is out to make Othello jealous replies, “No, sure, I cannot think it,/That he would steal away so guilty –like,/Seeing your coming” (Shakespeare 38). Lago also informs Othello that there is a love affair between Cassio and Desdemona and this upsets him. When Desdemona pleads with Othello to restore Cassio, He feels that Desdemona is unfaithful. Desdemona calls Othello, but she finds he is unwell. She offers her small handkerchief to help her husband but unfortunately it falls to the floor (Shakespeare 91). Emilia, who is Lago’s wife picks the handkerchief claiming that her husband always wants her to steal the handkerchief for him. Emilia gives her husband the handkerchief. He takes it to Cassio’s room to be his evidence for his claims that there is an affair between Cassio and Desdemona (Shakespeare 65). Othello demands proof that Desdemona is unfaithful. Lago informs him that Desdemona’s handkerchief is being used by Cassio and therefore Othello decides to revenge. Lago promises his support to Othello as he executes the revenge. Othello meets Desdemona and requests her to give him the handkerchief. She replies that she doesn’t have the handkerchief and continues to press Othello to forgive Cassio. This makes Othello storm out. Cassio, who is wondering where the handkerchief he found in his chamber came from; he is greeted by a prostitute who elopes with the handkerchief.
Lago’s plans succeed to the extent that Othello falls and squirms on the ground. At this time Cassio arrives, but Lago informs him to leave and come back later for a talk. Othello recovers and Lago tells him that he has planned a meeting with Cassio. Lago requests Othello to watch from a distance as he interviews Cassio on his affair with Desdemona. Lago meets Cassio and tries to extract information about the prostitute Bianca. This makes Cassio laugh throughout the conversation confirming to Othello that he is in an affair with Desdemona. Othello thinks that the conversation between Cassio and Lago is about Desdemona as promised by Lago. Surprisingly, they are not discussing anything about Desdemona. However, Othello trusts Lago and accuses Desdemona of being unfaithful wife. Othello says, “Yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men. Put out the light, and then put out the light: If I quench thee, thou flaming minister, I can again thy former light restore” (Shakespeare 6). Desdemona maintains that she is innocent, but Othello remains unmoved. Lago reassures Roderigo that everything is going well as planned. Othello kills Desdemona claiming that she is unfaithful and that was brought to his attention by Lago. Lago’s plans lead to the death of Roderigo, Desdemona, Emilia, and Othello. All these problems happen because Othello trusted Lago so much assuming that whatever he says is true.
Before killing himself, Othello finds the truth about the handkerchief through Emilia. He feels disappointed by Lago and decides that he should be killed. His action haunts him, and that is why he murders himself with a sword. If Othello did not trust Lago, he would not kill his wife, or even demote Cassio. Therefore, it is not good to always trust people. It is advisable that people choose when to trust and when not to trust others because one may be fed with framed lies as it happened to Othello.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice. Project Gutenberg, 1990.