Another characteristic that Othello checks off is that he is blind to reality. ... She then speaks of how Iago planted the handkerchief in Cassio's possession, which is when Othello realizes what he does is wrong. ... This meets another one of a tragic hero's characteristics: he must die. ...
My parts, my title and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly. (1054) As grand as his internal characteristics are, he also stumbles with his own susceptibility to become betrayed. ... The mind bending Iago plants deep the seeds of wicked thoughts. ... He plays Cassio into a confession of his dealings with Bianca to make it look like he is speaking about Desdamona, and into planting the handkerchief onto Cassio without making himself look suspicious. ...
Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners; so that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce, set hyssop and weed up thyme, supply it with one gender of herbs or distract it with many-either to have it sterile with idleness or manured with industry-why, the power and corrigible authority of this lies in our wills. ... Iago manages to appear honest partly because of natural characteristics and partly because he purposely sets out to look honest. ... This would suggest that this is a fundamental characteristic of his. ...
