Shakespeare's plays rely largely on irony. There are three kinds
of irony presented in this novel. They are: situational, verbal, and
dramatic. Irony plays an important role in Othello. It creates suspense,
There are many examples of situational irony in this play. Cassio
was the one Iago wanted dead or out of his position. At the end of the play,
Cassio was the only one that did not die and Othello actually promoted him
to a higher position. In the end Iago never accomplishes what he started
to do-- to get back at Othello and take Cassio's place. Both Othello and
Iago treat their wives horribly. Both killed their wives even through
their innocence. Iago killed his wife because she was working against his
plan. Othello killed his wife because he thought she cheated on him when
she really didn't. Before he killed her, Iago used his wife in a way
that helped him to betray Othello. She was a good friend of Desdemona's
and she worked against her friend without knowing it. She took Desdemona's
handkerchief because Iago said he wanted it. Iago then placed the
handkerchief in Cassio's room to make him look guilty. Also, throughout
the play, it seemed that Othello was the only one who didn't know the truth.
Shakespeare uses situational irony well to make the story more
The verbal irony in this novel can sometimes be humorous because
Othello often said things that were actually the opposite of Iago:
"O, thou art wise! 'Tis certain"(IV.I.87), "Honest Iago . . . "(V.II.88),
(II.III.179) & (I.III.319), "I know, Iago, Thy honesty and love doth mince
this matter"(II.III.251-52). These lines are just a few of the ironic
that Othello says to Iago. They show the trust that Othello mistakenly
puts in his "best friend." Most things Iago says are ironic and he's
always lying. Othello still conside
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