Othello, a Moor, arrives in Venice after several years of military service. Being Moor makes it difficult to be taken seriously. It's like segregation in the 1960s, white people had luxuries while mixed race people had almost nothing. For Othello to gain some respect, he had to gain authority, which he did by becoming a military general. In the army, Othello meets Cassio and Iago, he chooses Cassio as lieutenant which upsets Iago. Cassio's promotion begins to show jealousy in the room. Although Othello is not a ruler of Venice, his tragic flaws are jealousy and gullibility. Othello is therefore easily manipulated by Iago because Othello feels the need to be accepted. Iago plans to take revenge on Othello for not choosing him as his lieutenant and knowing that Othello is easily deceived, making it easier for Iago to manipulate him. Iago's revenge not only began because he was not chosen as lieutenant, but also because Iago suspected that Othello was with Emilia, his wife. “I hate the Moor, and people think abroad that “between my sheets” has done my job. I do not know if it is true, but I, for mere suspicions of this kind, will do as if to make sure of it” (Shakespeare 55). Iago earlier mentions his hatred for Othello for not choosing him as his lieutenant, but he now suspects that Othello is sleeping with his wife. Iago doesn't care if his suspicions are true, he will act as if it were true. With or without evidence, Iago will find a way to control Othello because he knows he is too naive. “After a while, to abuse Othello's ear That he knows his wife too well. He has a gentle person and character to be suspected, framed to deceive women. The Moor is of a free and open nature. He thinks men are honest, but... middle of paper ... this seems more obvious after being manipulated by Iago. Iago begins to tell Othello that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio. Othello becomes jealous because he knows that although he was chosen by Desdemona, he is not white, so Desdemona may actually want someone white. Gullibility is the key to Othello's tragic flaws. If Othello was not as gullible as he portrayed him, it would have been more difficult for Iago to manipulate him and therefore become jealous of Desdemona. Works CitedBloom, Harold. William Shakespeare. New York: Chelsea House, 1985. Print. Fallon, Robert T. Theater Lovers' Guide to Shakespeare. Chicago: Ivan R Dee, 2001. Print. O'Toole, Fintan. Shakespeare is difficult, but so is life. New York: Granta Books, 2002. Print. Shakespeare, William. Othello. Ed. Barbara Mowat. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2004. Printed.