In many ways, you could simply lay the blame on the most obvious choice: Iago. After all, he was the puppeteer, the mastermind and game master. After all, Iago worked his "purpose" (I. iii. 434) on Othello well. "Honest Iago" (II. iii. 189) was so hell bent on getting revenge on Othello for the fact that he did not "make [Iago] his lieutenant" (I. i. 9). Iago eagerly proclaimed to "hate the Moor" (I, iii, 429), particularly to Roderigo, who he manipulated into causing much of this pain and anguish which distinguishes this as a tragedy.
But I think that the story goes deeper than just one villain. I think that, to truly understand the story, you have to place the blame equally on every character's shoulders. Everyone would immediately claim Iago to be the great antagonist of the story, which is an easy way out.
Hold on for one second, and think about this: in most stories, you see the hero, clearly and unarguably the character with (usually) the least amount of flaws. However, in Othello, the protagonist is not so clear. So, couldn't the same be said of the antagonist?
Let's say that Roderigo was the one to blame for the whole debacle, for his undying, pesky and unrequited love for Desdemona. After all, he was, as Iago refers to him, simply a "fool" (I. iii. 426), Iago's "purse" (I. iii. 426). His nature, like an abused dog, led to the death of the one he loved, as well as his own death, and quite possibly Othello's.
You could say that Rodergio was the antagonist, the one to blame for the tragic ending, then. Or, you could blame Desdemona.
Desdemona quickly forgives Othello for the slap in Act IV, rather than asking what she was hit for. This, in itself was a breach of honesty, because she knew that she did not deserve it, as she said "I have not deserved this" (IV. i. 269).
Maybe it was Desdemona's fault.
Maybe. Or maybe it was Othello's fault, for going blindly with Iago rather than simply asking his wife what had transpired between Cassio and her. Perhaps all of this could have been avoided had someone stepped forward with the truth.
But not a single character was straightforward with one another. Cassio preferred to get Desdemona to win Othello back for him rather than going to Othello himself. Desdeomona would have rathered Othello not know why Cassio was whispering to her behind his back than to tell him the truth. Iago was an all around pathological liar. Roderigo was hidden in the shadows for the majority of the play. Emilia gave Desdemona's handkerchief to Iago rather than returning it to Desdemona.
Each and every character deserves equal part in the blame.
But I think that the story goes deeper than just one villain. I think that, to truly understand the story, you have to place the blame equally on every character's shoulders. Everyone would immediately claim Iago to be the great antagonist of the story, which is an easy way out.
Hold on for one second, and think about this: in most stories, you see the hero, clearly and unarguably the character with (usually) the least amount of flaws. However, in Othello, the protagonist is not so clear. So, couldn't the same be said of the antagonist?
Let's say that Roderigo was the one to blame for the whole debacle, for his undying, pesky and unrequited love for Desdemona. After all, he was, as Iago refers to him, simply a "fool" (I. iii. 426), Iago's "purse" (I. iii. 426). His nature, like an abused dog, led to the death of the one he loved, as well as his own death, and quite possibly Othello's.
You could say that Rodergio was the antagonist, the one to blame for the tragic ending, then. Or, you could blame Desdemona.
Desdemona quickly forgives Othello for the slap in Act IV, rather than asking what she was hit for. This, in itself was a breach of honesty, because she knew that she did not deserve it, as she said "I have not deserved this" (IV. i. 269).
Maybe it was Desdemona's fault.
Maybe. Or maybe it was Othello's fault, for going blindly with Iago rather than simply asking his wife what had transpired between Cassio and her. Perhaps all of this could have been avoided had someone stepped forward with the truth.
But not a single character was straightforward with one another. Cassio preferred to get Desdemona to win Othello back for him rather than going to Othello himself. Desdeomona would have rathered Othello not know why Cassio was whispering to her behind his back than to tell him the truth. Iago was an all around pathological liar. Roderigo was hidden in the shadows for the majority of the play. Emilia gave Desdemona's handkerchief to Iago rather than returning it to Desdemona.
Each and every character deserves equal part in the blame.