Consequences Of Othello's Downfall

The definition of downfall is the loss of power, prosperity, or status. In many Shakespearean tragedies the main character 's downfall is usually a consequence of their own action or weaknesses and Othello is no different. In Shakespeare’s Othello, it is shown that Othello’s downfall is a consequence of his own weaknesses. Othello’s downfall is caused by his lack of judgment, insecurity, and trusting nature.
Othello is constantly aware of how different he is from everyone around him no matter how much they respect him and Iago was able to use this insecurity to his advantage and bring Othello to his downfall. Even though Othello is a respected general and is liked by everyone around him, he is still seen as different and out of place. No character …show more content…
Iago refers to Othello as “an old, black ram” and Desdemona a “white ewe.” By calling Desdemona a white ewe it makes it seem as if she is very young and innocent because white is usually associated with purity and ewes are thought to be very gentle and vulnerable creatures. Black is associated with fear, death and evil and rams are thought to be very aggressive. Iago also refers to how much older Othello is than Desdemona and he also plays into the stereotype that black men are animal like. This shows the huge contrast between Othello and Desdemona. Since Othello is continually shown that he is not attractive and he is a savage he does not find himself appealing he believes there is no way Desdemona could find him appealing because there are so many other better people she could move on to. This is one of the reasons why he believed Iago so quickly. Later on in the play when Othello thinks that Desdemona is cheating on him he thinks she was being unfaithful to him because he is old and black. “Haply, for I am black/ And have not those soft parts of conversation/ That chamberers have, or for I am declined/ Into the vale of years—yet that’s not much—/ She’s gone, I am abused, and my relief/ Must be …show more content…
When Iago was trying to get Cassio fired he got Cassio drunk and made Roderigo fight him. After Othello broke up the fight between Montano and Cassio he asks Iago what had happened. Iago says: “For that I heard the clink and fall of swords/ And Cassio high in oath, which will tonight/ I ne’er might say before. When I came back-/ For this was brief- I found them close together/ At blow and thrust, even as again they were/ When you yourself did part them./ More of this matter I cannot report./ But men are men; the best sometimes forget./ Though Cassio did some little wrong to him,/ As men in rage strike those that wish them best” (Act 2, Scene 3, Lines 228-237). Iago makes it seem as if everything was Cassio’s fault. Before Iago got Cassio drunk Cassio had said that he did not drink very much. Cassio is also shown to be very gentle, he is never aggressive or trying to pick fights. So it seems strange that just this once he decided to drink a lot and get into fights. Othello knew this but he was so mad that he did not even think about what actually happened. If he talked to Cassio and logically thought about it he would have given Cassio a second chance and would not think that he would sleep with Desdemona. Since he thinks that Cassio could do one bad thing he now thinks that he is capable of doing anything. “Do it not with poison. Strangle her in