Iago's Plan
The central irony in the play is Iago's secret plan to destroy Othello and his reputation. For the majority of the play, Othello is completely oblivious to the fact that Iago has set a scheme in motion to make Othello question his wife's fidelity. That the audience is privy to Iago's plot from the beginning creates dramatic irony that lasts until the final scene of the play.
The Green-Eyed Monster
In Act Three, Iago warns Othello of "the green-eyed monster," jealousy, cautioning him against giving his jealous feelings too much credence (3.3). This quotation represents a moment of verbal irony, as it is Iago who is stoking Othello's jealousy and who is himself envious of Othello's position.
Desdemona's Innocence
Because of the success of Iago's plot, Othello swiftly begins planning Desdemona's murder once he believes she has been unfaithful to him. Othello's behavior represents another moment of devastating dramatic irony, as the audience knows that Desdemona is completely innocent and that Othello's revenge is unwarranted.
Othello's Demise
Critics have long debated whether it is Othello's innate struggle with jealousy or Iago's manipulations that lead to Othello's demise. This debate stems from another central irony of the play – that Iago's biased perceptions of Othello turn out to be true, and that Othello plays directly into Iago's hand. This turn of events has led many to question the extent to which race figures into audience's interpretation of who, ultimately, is to blame for the tragic end of the play.
