With the death toll amounting to four at the conclusion of the play, the question arises of who is to blame. Of these four deaths, Othello can be held directly responsible for two: Desdemona, and himself, but Iago is only directly responsible for one: Emilie. Despite only killing his wife, Iago is often blamed for other murders because of his manipulation of characters who carry out the physical act. Although it would be easy to blame the tragic outcome solely on Iago, Othello does carry a considerable amount of responsibility. Othello’s responsibility is demonstrated through the foil character of Roderigo, and through his syntax.
Roderigo, used as a foil character, displays Othello’s responsibility for the tragic outcome. Roderigo is not often blamed for his faults because he is manipulated by Iago. Shakespeare reveals Roderigo’s vulnerability primarily through his syntax that shows his lack of education. Generally, most clowns or comic relief characters from the lower class speak in prose while other higher class characters speak in iambic pentameter. Roderigo, using prose in act two scene one, aligns himself with the uneducated commoners despite being labeled as a “Venetian Gentleman”. Subjected to the powerful rhetoric and manipulation of Iago, the vulnerable Roderigo cannot be held responsible for his actions. This characterization of Rodrigo provides a stark contrast to the highly respected Othello and demonstrates that Othello should be held responsible for the tragic outcome.
Othello undergoes the same manipulation from Iago, but possessing the strength, knowledge, and experience that Roderigo did not, should still be held accountable for his actions. Unlike Roderigo, Othello is an esteemed military leader. His oratory skills, as displayed in his speech to Brabantio and the Duke in act one scene two, are exemplary. Not only is he able to manipulate, distract, and convince crowds with his language, he is also a renowned leader charged with the task of leading an army to defeat the Turks. If Othello is capable of standing up to the Duke and to the Turkish army, he is fully capable of standing up to Iago. Unlike Roderigo, Othello is strong-willed and cannot be completely controlled by Iago’s manipulation. Othello ultimately acts on his own accord in killing Desdemona and holds responsibility in creating the tragic outcome.
Furthermore, Othello’s syntax shows that he did not commit a crime of passion, but rather had time to consider his course of action and must therefore be held responsible for his actions. Othello is conscious of Iago’s powerful manipulation skills and confesses that he struggles to properly evaluate his character as he says, “ I think that thou art just and thou art not.” (III.iii.439-440). Although he is aware of this dark side, Othello still allows himself to fall prey to the deceitful Iago. In his entrance in act three scene three, Othello is not concerned about Desdemona’s unfaithfulness as he says, “I saw’t not, thought it not; it harmed not me. / I slept the next night well, fed well, was free and merry” (III.iii.390-391). By line 518, however, Othello’s opinions have changed as he announces “My bloody thoughts, with violent pace / shall ne’er look back, ne’er humble love” (III.iii.518-519). This was not a rash decision like would be shown if these two phrases were spoken back to back. Rather, the syntax shows that Othello has a considerable amount of time to think through the circumstance and navigate his emotions. The large gap in these lines allows time for thought and reflection before planning his final course of action. Othello’s actions were not a rash act of passion, rather he had time to think and plan, denying the impact of manipulation and validating that Othello hold responsibility of his own actions.