Othello

The Shakespearean play "Othello" is a fascinating tale, and especially becomes intriguing in the latter sections of the play. Iago, clearly an evil schemer, manipulates Othello in order to achieve his own wicked purposes. The failing of Othello is intriguing in this respect, since as a soldier he appears to be very in charge of his own life and the lives of those around him. His failing in this sense is not pride or hubris, as illustrated in many Greek plays, but instead in being a trusting individual. It appears that Shakespeare is warning those who take too much faith in the words and suggestions of others will fall prey to evil intentions that others may have. Iago uses underlying insecurities to pull Othello around as he sees fit, eventually convincing him to kill his own wife. After Desdemona is killed, Othello finally becomes aware of Iago's scheming and villainy, but cannot come to terms with the actions he has taken, and kills himself. This play resolves itself in a very curious manner, since the characters we have been identifying with have all revealed great flaws in character and actions; the hero at the end of the play is named Graziano, with whom we have not spent nearly as much time as say Othello or Iago. It is an interesting change to the established winnings of the hero and the typical villainous evildoer.