...Friend ? In the play Othello, by Shakespeare, Othello does not investigate Iago’s accusations of Desdemona. Othello has known Iago longer then Desdemona, in which it can be assumed that Othello has a great trust in Iago over his wife. This trust could be the devastation of Othello believing Iago word over his wife Desdemona when accused of being unfaithful with Cassio. Iago always shows Othello his trust by making Othello believe that he is there for him. Iago does not only play with Othello’s mind by talking to him and lying to him, but Iago also play’s with other’s characters minds too. Iago is always trying to gain Othello trust so that he seems to be there for him giving Othello the sense of being “best friends”. Iago’s conversations with Othello always make him think about what Desdemona and what could she possibly be doing, but Othello loves Desdemona way too much. There for Othello always believes her, which is why Iago has to try to show Othello that Desdemona is not to be trusted, he then manipulates Othello by making him think that Desdemona is being false to him with Cassio. This is when Othello asks Iago to have Emilia, Iago’s wife to be Desdemona’s servant to watch after her, Iago tells Othello not to worry about it. However, Iago is not only playing with Othello’s mind but everyone’s. “Were I the Moor I would not be Iago. In following him I follow but myself; Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty, But seeming so for my peculiar end. For when my outward...
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...Othello has certain traits, which make him seem naive and unsophisticated, compared to many other people. This is why Iago, is able to manipulate him so easily. Iago told Roderigo, "O,sir, content you. I follow him to serve my turn upon him "(I, i lines 38-9). Iago is saying, he only follows Othello to a point, and upon reaching it he will not follow him any longer. This is the first sign of how deceitful Iago will be. Iago has his own evil agenda in mind and he will use his reputation of being honest Iago to influence Othello. The Moor, as many Venetians call him, is of strong character. He is very proud and in control of every move throughout the play. The control is not only of power, but also of the sense of his being who he is, a great warrior. In Act I, Othello has runs into Brabantio, who has come to kill him, but before anything could happen Othello said, "Hold your hands, both of you of my inclining and the rest. Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it without a prompter" (I, ii, lines 80-3). The power shown here is quite astounding. The nature of Othello's character is of a dark man. A dark man, not only because he is black, but also because his whole person is very mysterious. He is mysterious in that he believes there is magic brewing everywhere. With this dark side he is also very outgoing, and not very bright. It is almost too easy for Iago to trick him into believing that Desdemona is unfaithful. Though he doesn't reflect too much on his past, it is apparent...
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...2014) and innocent lives are lost owing to the duplicity of Iago, “a Venetian soldier and ensign,” (Bevington, 2014) under Othello’s command. William Shakespeare’s masterful inclusion of villains in his plays, “take the audience into their confidence, boast in soliloquy of their cleverness, exult in the triumph of evil, and improvise plans with daring and resourcefulness,” (Bevington, 2014). The character of Iago in this play is one such villain. Because of a perceived affront and because...
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...the downfall of the kingdom. This usurper, possibly the most fascinating character in the play, is known as Iago:...
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...of Shakespeare’s most tragic plays, the audience is hyper aware of the fact that things are just not going to end well. For me, these formidable sentiments stem from the play’s central antagonist, Iago, who I consider to be the most disturbing villain of all of Shakespeare’s plays. While some villains are blatantly cruel, murderous, or vengeful, real fear is evoked by villains like Iago, whose honest and gentle façade masks the sick mind of a misogynistic sociopath. These thoughts lead me to question what makes Iago powerful enough to have so many people at his emotional disposal. The answer quickly became obvious – his power lies in his speech. Iago implements Aristotle’s very basic methods of persuasive rhetoric, ethos, pathos, and logos, to masterfully manipulate the thoughts, emotions, and actions of characters like Roderigo, Cassio, and Othello. Beginning with Roderigo, whose sheer idiocy we must briefly ignore, Iago uses an intricately simple web of words to ensnare his victim. Roderigo questions Iago’s true feelings towards Othello, to which Iago uses the very essence of ethos, the method of persuasion in which the speaker establishes himself as someone to trust and to be perceived as a figure of authority, to persuade Roderigo of just how intensely he abhors Othello. Iago eloquently and passionately explains how he was overlooked for the position of lieutenant, despite his battle prowess, and goes on to make statements like, “I follow him to serve my turn upon him”(1...
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...play Othello,the charecter Iago is a mutilayered,deceptive,and manipulative villian;causeing mishaps to other characters for revenge.Iago uses his stratigec acts of manipulation to undermine the charecters weakness.He exploits Rodrigo love for Desdemona,the friendship between him and Cassio,and toys with Othello's mind by playing on his self-doubt. Thus, giving Iago the advange to use their weaknesses against them. First Iago uses Rodrigo's naive and gulliable personality to own adavantage.Roderigo's obession with Desdemona renders him susceptible to Iagos manipulation. this obsession causes him to believe anything Iago says to hope in getting Desdemona.Iago convinces Rodrigo that the jewels will be given to Desdemona as a proclamationof his love when acatually,Iago claims to to himself.Iago takes advantage of Rorego for his money.Later in the play,Iago uses Roderigo and conveience him to kill Cassio. Rodergo then says "i have no great devotion to the deed and yet he hath given my satisfying reasons 'Tis but a man gone. forth,my sword:he dies" (V.i.8-10). Roderigo then attempts to kill Cassio but in the play Iago says"i have rubbed this young quat almost to the sense and he grows angry, May unfold me to him there stand i in much peril. No, he must die."(V.i. 11-23) this shows how Iago takes advantage of foolish Rodrigofor his own needs and once his value is used up.Overall Rodrigo was drawn in Iago's schemes due to his love for Desdemona. Iago exploits Rodrigo's naive...
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...Characterization Of Iago In William Shakespeare’s Play “Othello” William Shakespeare’s “Othello” is a tragic play that reveals the evil characteristics of a man and his intentions. Antagonist Iago is a sly man, led by jealousy and revenge to Othello, whom he pretends to love. Iago despises his own wife, desires money, and manipulates with people who trust him. He is disrespectful towards his wife and despises women. In his conversation with Desdemona and Emilia, he says that even if a woman is beautiful, wise, has self-control, and is a lady of virtue, she still is only meant “to suckle fools and chronicle small beer.” But he also despises her because he has suspicions that she cheated on him with the Moor. “I hate the Moor; And it is thought abroad, that ‘twixt my sheets H’ as done my office: I know not if ‘t be true; But I for mere suspicion in that kind, Will do as it for surety.” To Iago, Emilia is just someone he can use for his own good. He does not love her. She was useful to him when she got Desdemona’s handkerchief. But that is all his wife was to him – just a part of his evil plan. He did not even hesitate killing her, just to save himself. This proves how selfish he was, thinking only about his own good. It also shows that he had no conscience, and no sense of right and wrong. Iago is greedy and manipulates with people. Before going to Cyprus, Iago repeatedly tells Roderigo to “put money in [his] purse,” which shows Iago’s greed. And since he keeps...
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...nothing but a killer. It is a creature that drove Iago to his monstrous revenge plot. During the duration of the play, jealousy was one of the main motives Iago had as a foundation in his plot to destroy Othello. As the lowest ranking officer, Othello’s ancient, Iago wanted to be promoted to the lieutenant position. In the opening scene of Act I, Iago described his jealousy towards Michael Cassio to Roderigo. He described how Cassio had, “never set squadron in the field” and that his knowledge of battle is only known through books (I.I.23). Unlike Michael Cassio, Iago had been in the army for years and felt betrayed by none other than the General himself, Othello. Iago hated Othello, there was no question about it. When speaking to himself, or to others, Iago only called Othello “the Moor.” As said in the critical essay Othello’s Alienation, saying the racist term “the Moor”, it was Shakespeare’s way of playing into the mindsets’ of the audience; Iago and the audience had at least one thing in common, they were racist of people that were not Caucasian (Berry). According to Charles Boyce, Iago only thought Othello as a thing not a person and a “brick wall” to what he really desired, power. Othello, had so much power in the army that Iago felt he deserved after all of his years of service. Iago said that Othello had a, “free and open nature” that was to be tested by his monstrous plot (1.3.442). Not only did Iago hate Othello for his race and power, but he had heard...
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...Iago: Shakespeare's Venetian with ASPD Often times in theatrical productions it is all too easy to spot a character in a play who is evidently insane due to their erratic actions and miscellaneous babbling on stage. However, not every case of insanity shows itself as a ranting and raving madman, it can also be cool, calm, and collective.Yet, a characters mental state is not so black and white and it would be an injustice simply label a character as “insane” or “sane”, especially when it comes to more intricate, and developed works of theatrical art, such as one of William Shakespeare’s famous tragedies The Tragedy of Othello. Within the tale of Othello, the main driving force of the plot and sole conductor of Othello’s suicide by the end...
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...In the play Othello none of the characters ever try to find out what's going on for themselves. Instead they listen to rumor and hearsay, this is what makes this play a tragedy. From the very beginning of the play we see the characters trust Iago to a ridiculous extent. For example Roderigo has been promised by Iago that he will use the money he's receiving to help him win Desdemona. We as the reader know he is lying, but Roderigo does not. “Tush, never tell me! I take it much unkindly/ That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse/ As if the strings were thine, shouldst know this.” (pg 15) It's very strange that he is willing to give Iago so much money without trying to find out where it is going until he has given Iago almost everything he has....
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...Iago, although his motivation is unclear, wants to bring Othello to his knees and bring his downfall. Iago’s manipulative use of language and his surroundings grant him the ability to complexly plot and scheme. He has a deep understanding of the people around him, especially their reactions and tendencies around certain situations. Iago is fully aware of Othello’s insecurities, passions and tendencies and he uses them to his advantage. Throughout the play, Iago slowly pours “pestilence” in Othello’s ear about Desdemona’s rumoured infidelity with Cassio. Othello is vulnerable to his deceptive stories as he himself is a storyteller and is unable to resist the temptation of harbouring speculative thoughts. When he starts to believe in Iago’s lies, his language begins to deteriorate and no longer retains the mastery he previously had. In Act 4.1, Othello, at the brink of his sanity, has an epileptic fit. In his fit, he stutters out “Is’t possible?-Confess-handkerchief-O devil...
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...Othello “The Moor” vs. “Honest” Iago Characters within a story are meant to have their own tale, just as the characters in one’s lives have their own stories of how they came to be. William Shakespeare, the modern father of the Drama, understood this concept all too well when developing his complex, yet relatable characters. In his master works Othello, each character has their socially impacting story line with their own effect on the overall plotline that help shape the complex Venetian society in which the play is set. With their friendship at the root of evil deeds, Othello and Iago help define the writing in the play: love for one self before that of a friend. With Othello’s honest friendship, and Iago’s piercing betrayal, they help mold the storyline told in this Venetian world. With his triumph on the battlefield, Othello is sought after by Dukes and Senator, and well admired and respected within the Venetian community. He is considered an outsider from his peers, and the community based on his African descent. All the success came at the price of Othello spending his childhood under slavery, then joining the military at a young age in order to gain his presence within society. Shakespeare exemplifies this quality by showing a separation from the other characters, and usually referring to Othello in racial slurs such as “the Moor”, and references to his exotic body such as “the thick-lips” and “black.” All these strategies amplify the feeling throughout the play that...
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...At the beginning of 3.3, Othello is completely in love with Desdemona. By the end of that scene, 480 lines later, Othello is ready to murder her for having an affair with Cassio. How have we gone from the first position to the second position so quickly? How does Iago plant the idea of Desdemona’s infidelity in Othello’s mind, and how does he make it grow? In Act 3 Scene 3, the storyline races extremely quickly and so does Othello’s mind, all thanks to Iago’s manipulation and careful planning. First, in Act 2 Scene 1, Iago has orchestrated the brawl. He gets Cassio drunk and has Roderigo pick a fight with him. Iago gives a falsely sympathetic account of Cassio’s behavior “I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth than it should do offence to Michael Cassio”, and Othello is taken in by Iago’s cunning words and confirms that his “honesty” and “love” have made it “light to Cassio”.Othello then decided to fire Cassio, “Cassio, I love thee but never more be officer of mine.”, which is a stepping stone for Iago’s plans. Afterwards, Iago convinces Cassio to let Desdemona convince her husband to grant him his lieutenancy back again, “Our general’s wife is now the general…Confess yourself freely to her, importune her help to put you in your place again. She is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition, she holds it a vice in her goodness not to do more than she is requested.” However, in Iago’s soliloquy a few lines after, Iago’s intention becomes crystal...
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...characters: Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army; his wife, Desdemona; his lieutenant, Cassio; and his trusted ensign, Iago. Because of its varied and current themes of racism, love, jealousy, and betrayal, Othello is still often performed in professional and community theatres alike and has been the basis for numerous operatic, film, and literary adaptations. The play opens with Roderigo, a rich and dissolute gentleman, complaining to Iago, a high-ranking soldier, that Iago has not told him about the secret marriage between Desdemona, the daughter of a Senator named Brabantio, and Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army. He is upset by this development because he loves Desdemona and had previously asked her father for her hand in marriage. Iago hates Othello for promoting a younger man named Michael Cassio above him, and tells Roderigo that he plans to use Othello for his own advantage. Iago is also angry because he believes, or at least gives the pretence of belief, that Othello slept with his wife Emilia. Iago denounces Cassio as a scholarly tactician with no real battle experience; in contrast, Iago is a battle-tested soldier. By emphasizing Roderigo's failed bid for Desdemona, and his own dissatisfaction with serving under Othello, Iago convinces Roderigo to wake Brabantio, Desdemona's father, and tell him about his daughter's elopement. Iago sneaks away to find Othello and warns him that Brabantio is coming for him. Before Brabantio reaches Othello, news arrives...
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...relates to the main villain in the play, Iago, who is motivated by his jealousy. Iago is jealous of Othello’s military success and Cassio being promoted to Othello’s lieutenant position instead of himself. Iago plans to take revenge against Othello by manipulating Cassio and Desdemona, who is Othello’s wife. Iago is a well respected character in the play, so he would not be suspected to be the culprit. He tries to fake an affair between Cassio and Desdemona that would surely be tragic for Othello. The...
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