Shakespeare's Othello: explain this statement, Othello's downfall is inevitable.

Othello's destruction by Iago is inevitable due to a combination of Iago's plotting and Othello's character flaws. Iago's cunning character in Shakespeare's play has identified Othello's vulnerability through flaws of jealousy, trust, poor judgement, naivety and love for the fair Desdemona. Iago's pure hate for the Moor leads to the success of Othello's downfall through Iago's manipulative and conniving plotting.

Perhaps without Iago's clever plotting Othello might have had a chance to communicate with and learn to truly know Desdemona before his weaknesses were ignited. However the reality is that Iago did successfully plot Othello's downfall and is simply unavoidable with the combination of both the scheming and Othello's flaws.

Othello's love for Desdemona is so pure and new that the slightest presumption of dishonesty, planted by Iago, is manipulated and exaggerated to turn Othello's love for her into madness and murder. Act I, scene ii, 24-28, "For know, Iago, but that I love the gentle Desdemona, I would not my undousèd free condition put into circumscription and confine for the sea's worth."

From the Library of Congress: TITLE: Thos. W. Keen...

English: Photographic full-length portrait of Edwi...

Illustration of Othello and Iago

He describes the greatness of his love for Desdemona and how he wouldn't give it up for all the riches in the sea.

The greatness of Othello's character in the beginning leads the audience to honour him and convinces them he is strong enough to endure the evilness of his tragic fate. His greatness is partly if not solely why Desdemona fell in love with him, Act I, scene iii, 166-167 "She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she did pity them." She thought he was a great man and thus she fell in with him for his heroic and strong nature. Desdemona is not the only one who admires and acknowledges Othello's...