Free will is the power to a make a decision or choice by yourself. You are not influenced by anyone else’s opinion because the choice you are about to make will only affect your future. Just as Iago stated, “'tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to which our wills are gardeners” (1.3 361-3). In other words, it is up to us to make our own choices, not others. There are several examples of free will in the novel Othello. Free will was experienced by Iago when he chose to create a rumor that would end up killing several people by the end of the book. By persuading Othello that Desdemona was cheating, he was able to separate the love and trust they had for each other. There was not a single character in the book that forced Iago to tell these lies to Othello; instead, Iago just wanted to seek revenge. Free will was also shown by Othello when he kills himself at the very end of Othello. Since Othello was completely in love with Desdemona after he realized he had murdered her without any evidence of her cheating, he thought the noble idea was to commit suicide because living was too painful knowing that he had killed the one he loved. Some choices in story were influenced by others opinions, but it was the few that followed their free will did what they had to do and suffer the consequences of their decisions.
Determinism is the idea that someone can changes your opinion and makes choices for you. This is seen as being dependent upon someone else. Determinism is not smart because someone else can control your life when you are the one living it; therefore, if they make a mistake in predicting your future, you will suffer the consequences, not them. This takes place in the novel Othello several times. One example is when Iago tells Roderigo to sell his land and stay in Cyprus with him. Roderigo is not allowed to leave until Iago says that it is okay, and in the end Iago kills him. Obviously, it was not smart to let Iago make his decisions. Another example of determinism is when Iago makes Othello smother Desdemona. Iago did not physically force Othello to murder his wife, but he did convince him with every ounce of his soul that Desdemona was cheating. In doing so, Othello went insane and made a blood bond with Iago stating that he will kill Desdemona if Iago murders Cassio. Iago used determinism to peruse Othello into a decision he would have never made on his own. As seen in the novel, determinism is a risky topic that normally ends with the innocent suffering the consequences of their peers. Next time, they should rise above their doubts or fears and do what they believe is right.
