UNIVERSITY OF EL SALVADOR

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

DISTANCE EDUCATION

ENGLISH LITERATURE I

OTHELLO'S REACTION PAPER

COORDINATOR’S NAME:

LICDA. GLORIA MARLENE MÉNDEZ

TUTOR´S NAME:

LICDA. MARÍA EUGENIA HIDALGO RIVAS

STUDENT’S NAME:

Marta Alicia Menjívar Rivera – MR19151

DUE DATE: November 5th, 2022

INTRODUCTION

Othello is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, believed to have been roughly in

1603. The main characters in the play include Othello, Iago, Cassio, Desdemona, Emilia,
Brabantio, Roderigo, and Bianca and it is the story of a noble military who makes a woeful error,
manipulated by his friend Iago. Othello believes that his woman is treacherous, and because of
that, he murders Desdemona and kills himself after her.

What's Iago’s abomination grounded on? How important is his part in the play?

The incident puts the protagonist and antagonist on a collision course as Othello chooses
Cassio as his assistant. Iago is furious at being overlooked and plots revenge on his general
Othello. First, he did not receive the expected position, when he believed that he was better
prepared than Casio to carry out the position. This is probably the most egregious reason.
Second, he suspects that Othello is sleeping with his wife Emilia, although he has no proof of
this. Third, there are some indications that Iago loves Desdemona. Cassio was appointed
Othello's lieutenant, although he did not have much experience. Iago is the antagonist character
and creates a plan to destroy Othello, making him believe that Desdemona is having an affair
with Cassio. Iago hates Othello for choosing Cassio as his lieutenant. Iago's behavior represents
betrayal, ambition, and frustration at not getting what he wants. Nonetheless, there does seem to
be a deep-seated insecurity underlying reasons for hating Othello. The disagreeing forces of
good, represented by Othello, and wrong, represented by Iago, come into direct contact at the
end of Act III, scene iii when Othello kneels with Iago and pledges his unswerving desire to take
vengeance on those who have cuckolded him.

When Iago suggests Othello strangle Desdemona in the bed in which she was allegedly
treacherous, Othello exclaims “Good, good, the justice of it pleases!” (Act IV, scene i). Othello
still loves his woman passionately, but rather than considering her merits as arguments against
Iago’s allegations, rather sees them as reasons to be more worried by her alleged infidelity “O
Iago, the pity of it, Iago!” (Act IV, scene i). Othello: “I kiss thee ere I killed thee. No way but
this, killing myself to die upon a kiss.” (Act V, scene ii). I think this quote represents how he
could no longer live with the understanding of his actions for killing his wife, he will kiss her
one last time and kill himself.
 Iago and Cassio

Iago and Cassio want to be on par with Othello, but each one for different reasons. Iago
wants to be on Othello's good side, so he doesn't suspect what he was doing behind his back.
Cassio just wants to be on Othello's good side because he means well. Cassio is made lieutenant
by Othello, so after falling out of favor with Othello, goes to great lengths to try to turn to the
good side to maintain Othello's respect and maintain his position as lieutenant. Iago shows
terrible behavior caused by his dissatisfaction. In the first scene, he claims to be angry with
Othello for not giving him the position of lieutenant (Act I, scene i).

In the play, Cassio is a different story. Cassio relies on Iago's advice to try to get on
Othello's good side. The difference between these two is that they both have truly different
personalities. Iago's personality is fascinating but in a crude way.

Iago is often funny, especially in his scenes with Roderigo, but he also reveals an evil
personality, when Iago in the final scene kills his wife (Act V, scene ii). Iago is a scheming and
manipulative person; he shows his ability to deceive other characters so that they do not suspect
him but take him into account as a truthful person.

Cassio's gesture is embedded in a deep sense of honor as Iago tries to get him to lewdly
about Desdemona. He insists on being considerate, noting "An inviting eye, and yet it seems very
modest to me" (2.3.). Cassio compliments Desdemona to Iago as the two men praise
Desdemona’s beauty. Cassius is a loyal, good-looking man with a great personality and friendly
with the ladies and is therefore believed to be attracted to Othello's wife. Oh, I have lost my
character! I have lost the immortal part of myself and what remains is brutal. (2.3.). Cassio
knows that he has lost his public image and Othello's respect, both of which hurt him. The quote
shows how important Cassio's value is to his honor and character, and how he would in no way
be willing to do disgraceful things.

The impact of the backstabbing and violence displayed by other characters has
presumably turned Cassio into a man who will be much more conservative, but possibly become
a better leader as a result.