Othello Blog 2

• Blog – Aristotle teaches us that all tragedy should lead to catharsis. Now that you have finished the play, how do you feel toward the characters? Are you sorry for Othello? Enraged at Iago? Do you pity Desdemona or Cassio? What emotions of your own – if any – has the text helped you process? Can you imagine anything in your life that is similar to what has transpired here?


Aristotle’s theory is true; all tragedy should lead to catharsis. After reading Othello I have mixed emotions. Starting with Othello, he is the character I am most sympathetic for. This is because he was completely oblivious to Iago’s plan and the fact that it worked on him. However, I also have sympathy for Othello, but I do feel that if Othello would have trusted Desdemona then he wouldn’t have killed her. Another one of the characters I have sympathy for is Desdemona. Desdemona was the only honest character in Othello, she was accused of cheating on Othello, and she tried her best to live through it. Othello does not listen to Desdemona when she tries to tell him that she has not committed the crime. The last of the characters I have sympathy for it Cassio. While he is an appealing man to women, he never slept with Desdemona. Cassio’s character was a nice, peaceful man and that is what him the perfect target for Iago’s devious plan. While Iago’s plan ended up working, Rodriego had a note explaining Iago’s plan. Once I figured out Iago’s plan his character made me angry. He ruined people’s lives and caused unneeded chaos. So, after reading this book, sympathy and anger were the two most common emotions while reading this book. The story shows how some people are ruthless, and how those ruthless people can easily manipulate other peoples lives. Judging from that, there is nothing really that has happened in my life that I can relate to this.