Othello, by William Shakespeare, is Othello's tragedy but Iago's play because Iago is the one who is constantly controlling the action. Iago manipulates situations in his favor by speaking directly to the audience. This allows Iago to show the audience his point of view on all matters concerning the play and twist their conception of him in his favor. Iago merely displays his manipulative character in convincing us that he is no villain and is justified in his actions against the other characters in the play. On the other hand, Othello almost never breaks the fourth wall and therefore cannot bend the audience in his favor as Iago does. Othello displays his character instead of trying to win us over in his speeches to the audience. Iago is also in almost every scene of the play at one point and interacts with the people in that scene. The interactions develop Iago's character even more. Othello remains out of the action in most scenes and lacks the character interaction that develops Iago's character. These two facts mean that the "camera" is centered much more around Iago than it is Othello, making it Iago's play.
             Iago breaks the fourth wall to speak to the audience more than anyone in the play. Iago controls the play through his speeches to the audience. He manipulates situations to make himself seem less villainous. One such situation where he tries to manipulate the audience is when, after giving Cassio the advice to go to Desdemona to get back in Othello's good graces, he states, "And what's he, then, that says...To win the Moor again?" (p. 103, lines 356-359) Iago makes himself seem like a friend to Cassio in the speech. He says that "this advice is free I give and honest". He hints to the audience that he does nothing wrong. The facts he states are true, but it is how the other people interpret them that causes the conflicts of the play. He is tr...