Sian Zhang

How is Iagos manipulation of Othellos position as an outsider in

Venetian society central to the tragedy?
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Iago manipulates Othellos social circumstances; his insecurities

about race, age and his marriage to Desdemona
Jealousy is derived from Iagos manipulation
However, although Iagos manipulation acts as the catalyst for
Desdemonas death, Othellos hubris is ultimately what condemns
him to murder Desdemona

Although Shakespearean tragedies often followed the archetype defined by

Aristotles seminal work, Poetics, Othello by Shakespeare deviated from
Aristotles blueprints. Traditionally, tragedy is derived from a tragic heros
flaw, his hamartia. Contrastingly, in Othello, the eponymous protagonists
downfall is, to a large extent, the consequence of the Machiavellian
machinations of Iago, the villain. Iago manipulation of Othellos position as
an outsider in Venetian society is the impetus for the main tragic event,
Othellos murder of his wife, Desdemona. However, there are other factors
that caused Othello to commit his crime. Along with Iagos manipulation of
Othellos social otherness, Othellos own hamartia of jealousy exacerbated
by Iagos manipulation of the people him, and Othellos hubris is what
ultimately compels Othello to murder his wife.
Although Othello is noble in deed, he is an outsider to Venetian society due
to his age, social standing and most significantly, his ethnicity. These are
three weaknesses that Iago exploits to incite Othellos insecurity about his
marriage. Othello is a moor, a people who Jacobean society believed to be
of primitive nature, a race whose actions were dictated base emotions such
as lust and jealously, as stated in Leo Africanus. This much is evident within
the play, where Othello is commonly referred to by racial epithet and bestial
imagery, such as the thick lips. (I:i: 68), and an old black ram (I: i: 90.)
Iago manipulates these social stigmas against Othello, saying that
Desdemona is altogether unnatural (III, iii), for choosing Othello, whose
clime, complexion and degree (III, iii) make him ill-suited to be
Desdemonas wife. While Iago is giving Othello an under-handed insult, he is
also simultaneously exploiting Othellos insecurities about his otherness for
his own purposes, leading Othello to doubt Desdemonas faithfulness. This
provides fertile ground for Othellos hamartia of jealousy to effloresce.
Once Iago has exploited Othellos social insecurities, Othellos jealousy is
easily sparked by mere suggestion. Iago suggests, by advising Othello to
be aware my lord, of jealousy! the cuckold lives in bliss. (III, iii. 170173), implying that Desdemona is cuckolding Othello with his lieutenant,
Cassio. This incites Othellos jealousy towards Cassio, leading him into
psychological turmoil, until the point where Othello can no longer stand his
inner chaos, and demands ocular proof (III, iii, 365) of Desdemonas

Sian Zhang

infidelity. Here, contrives to provide Othello with the ocular proof he

requires, by manipulating his wife, Emilia, in to stealing Desdemonas
handkerchief for use as evidence against Cassio. Unfortunately, things go
according to Iagos plan, which convinces Othello of Desdemonas
unfaithfulness, which provokes a jealousy so great that it manifests
psychosomatically as an epileptic fit.