Resumo de Shakespearean Tragedy Involving Jealousy, Trust, And Pride

William Shakespeare''s play "Othello" is a perfect example of classic
Shakespearean tragedy. The tragic hero in this play is the main
character, Othello. Othello''s misfortune comes about because of his
jealousy, trust, and his pride.

Jealousy is the main factor that appears to destroy Othello. Iago
is the initiator of the chain of events that sparks jealousy in
Othello, and eventually leads to the downfall of not only the main
character, but also of most of the significant characters in the book.
In the beginning of the book, Iago is known as "honest Iago", however,
throughout the play, he constantly lies and conspires evil plans to get
even at Othello. "Despise me if I do not. Three great ones of the city,
in personal suit to make me his lieutenant, off-capped to him, and by
the faith of man, I know my price; I am worth no worse a place. But he,
as loving his own pride and purposes, evades them with a bombast
circumstance. Horribly stuffed with epithets of war; Nonsuits my
mediators; for, ''Certes,'' says he, ''I have already chosen my officer.''
And what was he? Forsooth, a great arithmetician, one Michael Cassio, a
Florentine, that never set a squadron in the field?" (pg.27-28). This
quote demonstrates that Iago has a grudge against Othello.

It may seem as if Iago caused Othello''s downfall, however this is not
the case. It can be argued that if Othello had not been so blindly
jealous and trusting in Iago, he would have seen his evil plan to
destroy him. Throughout the book, Iago constantly convinces Othello of
things that aren''t true. Othello believes Iago because he has so much
trust in him. Othello believes everything that Iago tells him without
actually seeking the truth. This leads Othello to kill Desdamona
without actually finding concrete proof that she was promiscuous. Not
once did Othello doubt Iago''s words. He even believed Iago over his own
wife without a doubt.

As events unfold and Iago has nicely set up a counterfeit affair
between Desdemona and Cassio, Othello shows extreme signs of jealousy.
"Lie with her? lie on her? We say lie on her when they belie her. Lie
with her! Zounds, that''s fulsome. Handkerchief, confessions,
handkerchief! To confess, and be hanged for his labor; first to be
hanged, and then to confess! I tremble at it. Nature would not invest
herself in such shadowing passion without some instruction. It is not
words that shakes me thus. Pish! Noses, ears, and lips? Is''t possible?
Confess? Handkerchief? O devil! Falls in a trance." (p. 109). Then Iago
follows by saying "My lord is fall''n into an epilepsy. This is his
second fit; he had one yesterday." (p. 109). Othello is so jealous that
he must "get even". He sends Iago to kill Cassio and he himself kills
Desdamona. At the end of the book, Othello finally realizes that Iago
set it all up and that his blind rage destroyed his wife. After this he
kills himself. "I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this,
Killing myself, to die upon a kiss." (p. 154).

It is these events that not only create the suspense in the story,
but together, they prove that it is purely Othello''s blind trust and
extreme jealousy that lead to not only his wife''s death, but his own
downfall, executed by only himself.

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