Essay/Term paper: Othello act 5 analysis

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Othello

Othello Act 5 Analysis

Iago"s intelligence causes the self destruction of Othello. He
appears to be the most intelligent person in the play, Othello, by the way
he acts and handles some situations. Iago is set to plan revenge on
Othello for not making him lieutenant. He gains the trust of Othello by
telling lies to him, and these lies cause the destruction of Othello.
Othello should have investigated on some of the outrageous things
Iago has told him. Iago is simply just trying to gain Othello"s trust. This
is shown when Iago talks about killing Roderigo because he was saying
bad things about Othello. "Nine or ten times I had thought t" have
yerked him here under the ribs." (1:2, 4-6). The same thing happens
again, this time about Cassio. "With her - on her - what you will." (4:1,
42). Iago tells Othello about Cassio sleeping with Desdemona. This
appears to be Iago"s smartest move because this causes the death of
Desdemona and Cassio. This part also appears important to Iago
because he is finally made lieutenant.
Othello changes dramatically when he hears all these lies from
Iago. He is now less patient. He hurries through many decisions to be
made. Such as the one to kill his wife. He also jumps to conclusions too
quickly. This is shown when Iago and Bianca are talking about Cassio
and Othello misinterprets them talking about Desdemona. "Ay, let her
rot and perish and be damned tonight, for she shall not live." (4:1, 200-
201. Othello is planning Desdemona"s death. He appears to be very
stressed out, by the way he acts and talks. He tries to think that
everything is all right but based on what he hears from Iago, it really
isn"t.
Iago"s many plans to destroy Othello and others work well. The
destruction of Othello was mainly caused by himself because he believed
all the stories told by Iago. This can show how the power of trickery can
work on almost anything.