William Shakespeare, writer: “Our bodies are our gardens – our wills are our gardeners"

Othello is considered one of Shakespeare’s finest works. The tragedy revolves a manipulative plot by Iago, the trusted ensign of a noble Moorish general in service of Venice named Othello.

He wishes to destroy his general out of bigoted hatred of Othello and his lieutenant Cassio out of jealousy. He sows the seeds of destruction though not just for his intended targets, but just about all those around him, and himself in the end.

Planting the garden of your character

One line from Act 1, Scene 3 of the tragedy is often reflected upon: “Our bodies are our gardens to the which our wills are gardeners.” The playwright in that moment captures an age-old truism, that you reap what you sow, that we cultivate our own character.

In this case of Iago, it’s nettles. He cultivates his own malice and jealousy believing falsely that Othello has slept with his wife and stewing over Othello promoting Cassio to be his lieutenant instead of him.

However, although his plot results in Cassio losing his new position and causes Othello to kill his wife Desdemona, believing his false rumors that she has been unfaithful, before he kills himself, it doesn’t end well for him. Iago gets caught in his own thorny web of conspiracies despite his best efforts to erase the evidence, leaving a bloody trail of ruin in his wake.

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