“Othello shows us that cleverness is more powerful than love in influencing human affairs.” Discuss

On a superficial level, Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’ appears to convey the message that cleverness is more powerful than love in influencing human affairs. On a deeper level, however, that is not so. The underlying theme of the play is a warning to the naïve innocents of the world to beware of cunning villains who may prey upon them the way Iago preyed upon the virtuous and decent characters in Othello- Desdemona, Othello, Cassio, and Emilia. It is the unsuspecting innocent’s very nature, which allows them to be tricked by villains. So deceitful is the deranged “hellish villain”, nobody has a clue of his trickery until the tragic conclusion of the play, but this by no means an affirmation that cleverness wields greater power of influence than love. It is in fact love that causes his cleverness to come undone.
The play’s “precious villain” Iago used his cunning and to get what he wants he “lies to th’ heart”. His desire is to send Othello’s perfect world cras...