Chapter Themes of The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice - Study Guide by William Shakespeare

Iago does not understand the love between Othello and Desdemona. Even if he can perceive it, it is something that he has never felt for anybody. This explains his cruel treatment of his own wife. This explains his inability to manipulate any of the women in the way that he can manipulate men. Finally, it may explain some aspect of his malignity: he is jealous that there is no such love or "beauty" in his own life. His failure to understand this sort of love is, eventually, his downfall for it is out of love for her mistress that Emilia betrays her husband.

Desdemona’s love of Othello is not one that thrives on "sport". She was not wooed by the suggestive word games that Iago plays in Act II, scene 1 but out of love for the very soul of the Moor. This love is clear throughout the play and never more so than when, with her dying breath, she lies to protect him. Othello, likewise, loves her not just for her beauty and her talents but also for her soul. He acknowledges, "what she is; so delicate with her needle, an admirable musician…of so high and plenteous wit and invention" (4.1.184ff) but he sees her soul as tainted and it is this that drives him to murder her. This, he says is "the pity of it" (4,1,192). This great love of theirs that is derived from the very core of their souls is also their undoing.