?Kevyn Tompkins de Garcia
Junior Seminar
2/18/14
Arbiter of Fate
Are people puppets of fate, or do they have free will? This is a complex and interesting question to ponder, especially in the context of works like William Shakespeare’s Othello, which have a cunning and conniving puppeteer. Sometimes it is easy for the reader to believe that Othello is simply a puppet, being strung along, almost mindlessly, by Iago’s guile, wit, and malice, as Iago perfectly orchestrates and executes his plan for Othello’s downfall. However skilled in equivocation, without at least a certain amount, or at least allowance, of free will, Iago would not be able to manipulate Othello so easily. Musician Dave Matthews once stated, “The world and the universe are far more wonderful if there's not a puppet master.” By giving Othello the illusion of the power that Iago knows he so desperately longs for, capitalizing on the insecurities that Iago is so acutely aware that he has, Othello is being bated with his anxious desires and graciously accepting the power to perpetuate his own downfall.

The lifestyle that Othello is living is unusual and arguably ‘unnatural’. Because of his skin color, he is seen as ‘other’ in his community. Despite this, Othello has amassed a significant amount of power and status amongst the Venetian soldiers. Though he has gained respect due to his military prowess, the Venetian’s are not blind to Othello’s race. He is useful soldier, and his use allows him to maintain his decidedly un-Moorish position in the society, however, when he seeks to marry Desdemona, a beautiful, young, upper class white woman, his once tolerant community regards him with suspicion and malevolence. He is accused of using tricks and magic to seduce Desdemona against her will. He is forced to assert that he has no dark, base, or lustful intentions with her, and even after he and Desdemona refute the claims that her affection was not earned b...