The Tragedy of Othello

To what extent is Iago responsible for the tragedy of Othello?
William Shakespeares own traditional use of the themes, love, betrayal and tragedy creates the final outcomes of the play being easily predicted by the audience to know more than the characters themselves. Othello, the protagonist of the play is the great general of the army. Being black he is faced with racism and betrayal by many characters. Iago, the antagonist of the play is the jelous but most trusted friend of Othello. He is the catalyst of the tragic deaths of characters in the play. These two characters are placed in the Elizabethan era where the society brings in difficulties for the both of them.
Christianity was the main religioun during the Elizabethan era. This plays an important part in the tragedy as Iago uses this advantage to provoke Othello’s jelousey.
                    “It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock,
                    The meat it feeds on.”
In this quote we see how Iago is trying to provoke Othello’s jelousey of Desdemona through repeatedly reminding him of how jelousey can consume him, and so increasing his jelousey. In this quote the imagery of hell is introduced. Iago speaks of a “monster” that feeds on meat. This symbolises christianity as hell and monsters are very important in christian beliefs. After learning the truth about what Iago has done, Othello calls Iago a devil several times. Another interpretation from this imagery could be that Iago is foreshadowing the death of Desdemona as the moment she dies, she will enter hell. One of the main beliefs of christianity, is that god gave every human being their own will. So, this brings about the fact that every character had their own will but chose to do bad through Iago’s manipulation.
Iago continues to cause Othello to doubt Desdemona by reminding him of her actions in the past.  
                    “She did deceive her father, marrying you: And when she
                      seemed to shake and...