Describing this play as the downfall of Othello and the rise of Iago would be an unfair synopsis of a story that truly has so much more to it. For although in its conclusion, Iago succeeds in ruining the lives of Othello and Desdemona, their love remains and it was this immortal love that the play celebrated. The mere existence of a love so true and resilient (to prejudice and injury) that a marriage was allowed (against the wills of many) was, in its-self, a triumph of Othellos. Iago, although an artful and intelligent villain, at the end was still that- merely a villain. He succeeded in no more than destroying two peoples happiness which cannot be called a victory. His reward for this deed was simply momentary satisfaction, followed by incredible detriment to his reputation, and finally death. How could this possibly be considered a "rise."
             The marriage of Othello and Desdemona, two such unlikely people; of different races, different backgrounds, different ages, and having different expectations, was the first victory of their love. It was almost unheard of for Desdemona to consider Othello as a suitor. A person of her standing was expected to choose a husband of senatorial rank or expectation. But she fell in love with Othello; so deeply in love that even her fathers consent (or lack thereof) did not matter. Iago's first plot, an attempt to annul the marriage by informing Desdemona's father of it, failed. In fact, it served only to strengthen the relationship by bringing it out to the open. As a result of this confrontation Desdemona severed her ties to her father admitting , "so much duty as my mother showed to you, preferring you before her father... I may profess due to the moor, my lord," and thus strengthening the ties with her husband.
             The remainder of Iago's schemes transformed the integrity of Desdemona into a trap for her destruction, misleading Othello to distrust her fidelity.
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