Othello Act V

William Shakespeare's Othello meets a tragic end in Act V. Rodrigo, Emilia, Desdemona, and Othello do not make it out alive. One character that does live through the bloodbath? Iago. I was shocked neither Cassio nor Othello wanted to kill him in punishment for his deeds. However, Othello explains he wants Iago to live "For, in my sense, tis happiness to die" (Act V, ii, 289). Othello means that he believes death is too little a punishment for Iago, and that life would be worse. This is similar to the film The Princess Bride. When the hero Wesley beats the evil prince, he condemns him to life, because he believes that to be worse than the sweet sleep of death. Similarly, Othello wishes Iago to live with what he has done, rather than escape it in death.