Northrop Frye was quoted saying that “Tragic heroes are so much the highest points in their human landscape that they seem the inevitable conductors of the power about them, great trees more likely to be struck by lightning than a clump of grass. Conductors may of course be instruments as well as victims of the divine lightening.” In the case of Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago would be the conductor; Othello was the great tree, and the others that were killed, such as Roderigo, were the clumps of grass. The lighting struck by Iago was the root of the tragic vision in the play, the devious plans that Iago devised to take out everyone around him out, though quite genius and successful, backfired on him.
“Honest Iago,” was responsible for the death of not only Othello but also Desdemona, Emilia, and Roderigo, all of which were caused because of Iago’s hate of the “lusty Moor” that allegedly “leap’d into (his) seat.” The jealousy Iago had for Othello was the only reason why Iago wanted Othello to suffer in the first place. The others that were hurt and murdered were just tools to get to Othello. Iago made it clear that he wanted others to go down with Othello after Cassio was fired when he said, “So will I… make the net/ That shall enmesh them all.” Jealousy was the straw that broke the camel’s back and brought forth the lightning from the conductor Iago. All the characters had personal characteristics that made them who they are and those characteristics were the reasons they were perfect for Iago’s plan.
Cassio was the handsome young new guy in town and Iago already hated him because he had taken his job. Iago sought out the opportunity to make Desdemona look like “she repealed him for her body’s lust.” Emilia was easy to be taken advantage of because she loved Iago so much, though Emilia was killed because she acted out of character.