Windsor 1
Gabrielle Windsor
HELA II
Rager 2
4 December 2013
The Ability of Iago to Emphasize Othellos Hamartia
Often Associated with Greek tragedy and Aristotles Poetics, as well as the work of
several Christian theologists, the term Hamartia has been deeply intertwined with written culture.
Hamartia literally means to miss the mark, and often refers to either the tragic error or flaw of
a character. It is the force that drives the protagonist, the hero, to their catastrophic downfall.
Throughout the whole of the Shakespearean tragedy Othello, it can be perpetually argued that the
namesake has a multitude of tragic flaws. Such flaws range from the unquenchable jealousy
burning inside the old Moor to the astounding gullibility that he holds. However, in Act II Scene
III, another flaw has been illuminated to the readers; Othellos appallingly poor judgment. One is
quite frustratingly capable of observing the ever increasing disaster occur as every word uttered
by the antagonist Iago is soaked up and committed to memory as true and honest. This hamartia,
this fatal flaw that leads to ones inevitable demise, that Othello holds, faulty judgment, is only
emphasized by the presence of the ever deceitful Iago and his cunningness, charisma, and faux
loyalty.
Iago is a cunning man, having a truly devious and scheming mind. It is obvious to the
reader throughout every act of the tragedy that the man has something up his sleeve in order to
achieve his ends. Myself, the while, to draw the Moor apart and bring him jump when he may
Cassio find soliciting his wife. Ay, thats the way. Dull not device by coldness and delay (107).
In the end of Act II Scene III, Iago describes the beginning of his plan to bring about the
Windsor 2
downfall of Othello. He arranges to have the Moor observe Cassio and Desdemona alone
together, strategically placing himself with Othello to make it appear like he is the only one the
old man has left to trust. As expected, because Othello believes too readily as a result of his
rotten judgment, he falls right according to Iagos brilliantly crafted plan. Thus, Iagos
cunningness accentuates Othellos fatal flaw.
The ever so honest Iago is nothing if not charismatic, gifted with a silver tongue and the
ability to charm his way out of any situation that he has been faced with as of yet. The man uses
swaying tones, pretty words, and elegant phrases in order to cast a pawn under his spell and use
them for personal gain. Such as he does in the following quote. Confess yourself freely to her;
importune her help to put you in your place again. She is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a
disposition, she holds it a vice in her goodness not to do more than she is requested. This broken
joint between you and her husband entreat her to splinter, and, my fortunes against any lay worth
naming, this crack of your love shall grow stronger than it was before (103). Praying on
Cassios weak state of mind, Iago attacks, presenting the grieving man with a brilliant
suggestion. He praises Desdemona, lifting the young women on an unreachable pedestal, as he
charms a bright eyed Cassio right into his master plan. Concluding, Iago is an overly charismatic
character, causing Othello to fall for the wordy charms despite that fact that Iago has a diabolical
agenda, which in turn highlights Othellos poor judgment.
Although Iago is not truly loyal to Othello, Cassio, Desdemona, or the various other
characters created by Shakespeares brilliant mind, he still very much gives off the appearance of
having the utmost loyalty to his superiors. I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth,
than it should do offence to Michael Cassio (97). In the quote, Iago proclaims that he does not
want to speak ill of Cassio, even going as far to say that he would harm himself before it came to
Windsor 3
such. Obviously, this is merely a pretense to make it seem like Iago understands the foreign, to
him, concept of loyalty, and that he has such a virtuous trait. It is through this false charade of
loyalty that Othellos fatal flaw is highlighted, because even though Iago hates the Moor with a
full capacity of venomous passion, Othello still believes Iago to be worthy, showing absolutely
horrid judgment.
Othello, like every other tragic hero, suffers from hamartia. Similar to many protagonists,
there was more than one tragic flaw presented throughout the piece of literature. However,
during Act II Scene III, Iagos presence highlighted the weakness by ten folds. The old Moor was
shown to have the flaw of poor judgment that was proven to be quite fatal as it led him to a
catastrophic demise. This flaw was merely emphasized with the presence of Honest Iago and his
antagonistic character traits; cunningness, charisma, and a deceitful loyalty.
