William Chiu

This week, I completed the reading of Othello. Throughout the story, one cannot help but feel sorry for Othello who cannot see past the schemes of Iago. It is clear that Othello is a good leader, but he appears to thinkbonly with his heart without his brain. It comes a shock that Iago is able to carry out his web if lies to the end of the story. Othello's lacking in the ability to take command and make proper decisions becomes apparent in these final scenes. From Iago's words alone, Othello goes into a mad rage without proof. He disregards whatever pleas his wife Desdemona makes forcing him to first kill the innocent man Cassio. From this alone is is clear that Iago has Othello's mind completely shut off from the opinions of the real world. He is under the spell of anger which will lead to aggression towards his general Cassio. However, Cassio's death at the hands of Othello is only the first of much death and downfall to come. Iago's tricky words leads Othello to even kill his very wife. After which he decides to sadly take his own life. The protagonist and antagonist of this story is Iago and Othello respectively, however from the looks of the story,it seems the roles have switched. Othello is a good warrior and leader but he simply does not posses the mental capacity to outwit Iago.