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.