Iago's motivations plus Othello's weaknesses equal tragedyIn a certain sense, Shakespeare's play, Othello, can be considered didactic because , in the case of classical tragedy, the hero's falls arise due to hamartia on his part, a fault that afflicts humanity. Indeed, over the course of the play, Othello is revealed to have many more flaws and weaknesses than a man of his stature should possess, providing a reason for his downfall. The play's main protagonist, the scheming Iago, ultimately has his reasons for his actions; actions that, at first glance, might seem intrinsically evil and without reason. A third variable, the role of the setting and its role in the tragedy, also helps explain the reasons. Through Iago's motivations and the weaknesses inherited from Othello, the tragedy of the play is significant to the audience. By examining Iago's actions and his soliloquies the audience is able to discern that Iago actually has reasons for his actions, however weak they may be. Although Iago recognizes that indeed the moor "is of a free and open nature" (Oth Act 1 Sc. 3 ll. 381), he continues to despise it. Iago needs to be examined more closely to discover his motives: obviously, he is jealous of Cassio's appointment as Othello's lieutenant and this in itself is an extreme irony as he later mocks Othello for his own jealousy, having given in to the "green-eyed monster". '. Of course there is also Iago's obvious racial slurs and hatred of Othello, and his paranoia regarding his wife's supposed infidelity, "And abroad it is thought that 'between my sheets I have done my office'" (Oth Act 1 Sc. 3 ll. 369-370). This last excuse, however, may seem less reasonable, given that Iago also later states that he believes that Cassio also slept with his wife Iago towards the topic, in contrast to Othello's view of sex as a unifying force, is that it is something inherently dirty and revolting, which increases his paranoia. Iago's main vice, however, is his lust for power Ultimately, his goal is not to rise to the rank of lieutenant, but to get as far as possible. This point is justified by his plot not only against Cassio, the man who holds his coveted position, but also against Othello. the same general of the Venetian army. In the end, Iago is surprised by how easy it is to manipulate Othello and at the end of the play he is also a little disappointed at how easily his plan was able to come to fruition...