...Othello Write In the tragedy Othello by William Shakespeare The conniving character Iago’s evil leads to the undoing of the other characters. It is Iago’s henise skill of understanding and manipulating the wants and desires of those around him that makes him a dangerous character. His lack of a constant motivation throughout the play show his true underlying desire, his homosexual love for Othello and Cassio and the enjoyment he receives from the pain and damage he causes. The worst characteristic of Iago’s evil is his utter lack of convincing motivation for his actions. In the beginning , Iago claims to be angry at Othello for having passed him over for the position of lieutenant but, this motivation does not stay constant throughout the play. At the end of Act I, Iago states that he thinks Othello slept with his wife, Emilia, “It is thought abroad that ’twixt my sheets / He has done my office” Iago again states his motivation for revenge again saying “wife for wife” explaining that he wants to have sex with Desdemona because he wants to get even with Othello. Iago’s lack of motivation makes his evil actions more treacherous and maniacal. None of these seems to explain Iago’s hatred of Othello, which begs the question if Iago’s evil is because a hidden homosexual love Iago has for Othello. Without a consistent motivation for Iago’s trecorous revenge plot the reader can infer that Iago’s true motive for plotting against Othello is his forbidding homosexual love for...
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...Othello Essay “Othello is responsible for his own downfall.” To what extent do you agree with this statement? Othello’s downfall is a result of his many flaws being played upon by Shakespeare’s most unforgiving, infamous villain; Iago. Accordingly, it is a combination of Iago’s efforts and cunning traps as well as Othello’s jealous, irrational nature that ultimately lead to Othello’s downfall. Othello’s blind trust and faith in Iago allows Iago to easily set moral traps designed to weaken Othello as a person. These manipulate his mind to the brink of insanity and in turn negatively overshadow Othello’s thought process, and given that Othello allowed this to happen, shows how Othello plays a part in his own downfall. Using Othello and the characters around him to his advantage, Iago manipulates Othello’s jealousy, insecurities, reckless behaviour and self-doubt to amplify the damage done by his own traps, thus proving that it is a combination of actions and decisions made by Othello and Iago, and the many characters around them that is ultimately responsible for Othello’s downfall. It is important to understand Iago’s character and his motives in order to understand his actions, likewise with so many Shakespearean characters. Iago is an arrogant, jealous character; “I know my price, I am worth no worse a place” acting out of pure spite and hatred for Othello; “I hate the Moor.” This line is juxtaposed to "My Lord you know I love you" which Iago repeats multiple times throughout...
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...irony in his play Othello to develop certain characters while also thickening the plot. Iago develops by the constant use of irony while also mentioning the true nature of jealousy. Jealousy is a cruel thing and Iago plants the evil seed of it into Othello. Shakespeare’s use of Irony in Othello helps to develop Iago’s character as well as show the true nature of jealousy. The Irony in Othello changes or view of Iago’s character and reveals to us how sinister this man is. In Act III scene iii Iago and Othello are having a conversation when Othello says “Think my lord! By heaven, he echoes me, as if there were some monster in his thought to hideous to be shown.” This is verbal irony and since Iago truly does have a “monster in his thought” a sense of villainy is further shown in Iago by letting Othello think him a good man. Later of in the dialogue Iago states that “Men should be what they seem;” which also is ironic because Iago himself isn’t the man he seems to be. The true nature of this conversation is beginning to be revealed and again Iago’s true vile nature is shown because he is misleading Othello and setting him up. The whole conversation Iago is saying how he should not speak badly against his friend and leading Othello on to want more which is human nature. In this situational irony a heightened sense of awareness to Iago’s character is gained because of the revelation to his plot. Iago’s key characteristics are revealed in this section of Othello. Jealousy is a...
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...Othello Essay: Revenge Othello is a play written by William Shakespeare. It is a tragedy taking place during the sixteenth century, during the wars between Turkey and Venice. This play consists of two protagonists, General Othello and Iago. Othello’s true love is Desdemona. In spite of their differences in race and familiarity they marry and decide to spend the rest of their lives faithful and committed to each other. With a love so strong one would think that nothing could ever come between them but this is false. When Othello fails to give Iago the promotion to lieutenant, He begins to seek revenge. The play becomes a tragedy due to the results of Iago’s revenge on Othello. Iago wishes to destroy Othello by plotting against him and using the ones close to him. Iago’s reasoning and motivations were never lucid but his desire for destruction and the pleasure he found in manipulating others were the driven factors of his revenge. Iago introduces to the audience his scheme for revenge in one of his first soliloquies, in Act I; Scene III. Iago’s reasoning for this evil plan started off as wanting revenge on Othello for choosing Cassio for the promotion instead of him. In another one of Iago’s soliloquies he asserts that he believes his wife Emelia is having an affair with Othello and He says, “…and nothing can or shall content my soul/ till I am evened with him, wife for wife” (Shakespeare II, i, 302-303). This is used as further motivation for Iago to destroy Othello despite...
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..."there would be no good without evil" is a good place to start when thinking about Iago and Othello as rival characters in Shakespeare's Othello. The play shows us how good turns into evil in the complex character of Othello, who turns out to be more than a victim of Iago's wrongdoings but also a character who is both good and evil. In Shakespeare's play evil is not something absolute. Evil demonstrates itself as a different quality with each person, perhaps the point when a person forgets moral boundaries and gives way to instincts beyond his or her control. With Othello and Iago, Shakespeare uses characters who bring out opposite qualities in each other. We can imagine circumstances in which goodness can sprout out of evil. However, in Othello's case, the roles are reversed and evil sprouts from goodness. At what point does goodness become evil? Are they boundaries that can be passed, or are the qualities of a character's own judgement? We'll start out with the protagonist. The audience's expectations of Othello are lowered at the start of Act I when Iago presents him as a fiend who steals Desdemona away from her father using magic and enchantments. Later we discover Cassio's and Desdemona's far more elevated views of Othello. We learn about his previous life and not much mystery is involved in discovering what sort of man he is. Othello is not devoid of faults. He is prejudiced, jealous, and most importantly easily manipulated by Iago's schemes. Something about Iago brings...
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...character’s personality and actions affect the fate of the other characters. A point much contested by critics is how Shakespeare presents Othello himself: some, such as A.C. Bradley, hold the view that the General is a noble tragic hero, whereas F.R. Leavis would contradict this by claiming Othello to be a weak man whose fatal flaw is jealousy. Iago is a key instrument in Othello’s downfall and uses deception to plant the idea of Desdemona’s infidelity. He adroitly persuades Othello to accept this idea in a very short length of time. Shakespeare first uses Iago to develop the theme of perception when Iago hints at the topic of Desdemona’s supposed affair in 3:3. Iago then claims to have asked about Cassio ‘But for a satisfaction of my thought’. The idea of ‘thinking' is repeated many times after this, and is significant because of the way Shakespeare has the characters appear to perceive each other – for example how people see Iago, who is mentioned many times to be ‘honest’ – Othello even says ‘I know thou’rt full of love and honesty’ – and this dramatic irony allows him to successfully carry out his deception. The audience alone knows he is untrustworthy until late in the play, as he appears to be helping each character while actually stirring negativity between them. This ‘motiveless malignity’, as claimed by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, leads Othello to murder Desdemona. However, some would disagree with critics who claim Iago to be a simple, average bad character concocting trouble:...
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...Since before the Renaissance, writers have introduced numerous characters that's actions have been driven by revenge. This evil drive in the characters more often than not result in the downfall of that character. Two examples of roles that suffer a collapse due to revenge are Iago from Shakespeare's "Othello" and Grendel's mother from "Beowulf." Though the motives behind each of these characters' revenge differ, both Iago and Grendel's mother shows the outcomes of seeking revenge. Iago is a prime example of someone who let revenge control his entire life. In Shakespeare's "Othello," Iago sought revenge against Othello when Othello gave a promotion to Michael Cassio rather than to Iago (Act 1, Scene 1, Lines 14-17). Iago was a prominent person...
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...The Ambivalence of Human Nature Othello—one of Shakespeare’s more dreadful tragedies, tragedy of an un-heroic egotistical fool, a tragedy that shows how both good and evil are summed up within a person and how manipulation and ambivalence are stronger than love and logic together. The play opens with Othello and Desdemona, a newlywed couple in Venice and Iago, a man jealous and envious of Othello and his newly appointed lieutenant Cassio. In his jealousy, Iago destroys not only Othello and Cassio but virtually all the other characters in the play including his own wife, Emilia. The story of this play represents the classic battle between the forces of good and evil leading to the ultimate triumph of evil over good with the demise of other characters in the play. There is a pattern of good and evil closely that can be identified to the three main personages in the play: Iago with Evil, Desdemona as good and Othello as good overthrown. Iago is represented as the wrath of evil in the play. He uses his cunning, untrustworthy and selfish traits to manipulate the minds of Roderigo, Cassio and Othello and confidently moves the plot forward. Iago is jealous and envious of Michael Cassio and believes that Othello has wronged his honour by terming Michael Cassio as the lieutenant and him as the ancient of the army. He believes that Michael Cassio “that never set a squadron in the field/ nor the division of a battle knows” (1.1.22-3) is less deserving than him for the position. His...
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...of Iago’s manipulation is key in how Othello reveals his destined monstrosity. In the beginning of the story Othello is excessively proud of his color/race, this is evident as when Iago throws dirt on Desdemona’s name Othello clearly enhances his belief that “she had eyes, and chose me”(Shakespeare, 3.3.192). He is confident and secure in his love and believes it overpowers the color of his skin as well as proud of his race. As Iago finally gets under Othello’s skin we begin to see the violent and color-aware Othello that had not appeared before. The dark side of Othello has supplanted the fair Othello as he replies to Iago’s trickery with “Her name…begrimed and black as my own face.”(3.3.389-91). One can see that Othello recognizes himself as an air to darkness and that he is of an evil nature. As before he took pride in his skin color, however, now he is referring to his skin as an example...
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...individuals, it seems only obvious that Shakespeare who is renowned for his exploration of universal themes chooses to explore the determents of these desires for the individuals and their relationships in his play Othello. The strive to acquire or retain authority and control is explored through the dynamics between the main male characters- Othello and Iago. Shakespeare initially employs binary characterization of these two, Iago depicted as power- hungry and the personification of evil with a strong hatred towards Othello. This characterisation is established early in the play when Iago states to Roderigo...
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...the Shakespearean tragedy “Othello” written by William Shakespeare, the themes that’s being portrayed are honour and gender, through the play the audience if captivated by the characters choices and motives through the play. With the characters choices they help to make the play more understandable as the audience can recognise the tragic hero in both the plays. The relationships between men and women in Othello are remarked as lesser then men. Iago often refers to his wife as a prostitute - "A house wife that by selling her desires, Buys herself bread and clothes (iv.i.95)” showing what type of relationship women and men had during the late 16th century. Women were generally considered obedient, respectful, kind and warm. They were never outspoken nor were they meant to, for it could be seen as a lack of loyalty. When Othello accused Desdemona of cheating on him, he found himself in a position that he didn't want to face with. Othello was emasculated with the thought of a woman disobeying him. Men were easily manipulated into thinking the worst of woman because they were certain it would never happen. However, when the slightest things start to be pointed out the characters start to over analyse. Woman were not on the same level as men; men talked down to woman, they didn’t see them as equals nor think that they should be treated like one. This relates to Othello and Desdemona’s relationship – she “betrayed” their marriage by cheating so when Othello found out he reacted by saying...
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...K buddy - How does the social hierarchy affect the plot and actions of the characters? In act 5 the social hierarchy of the actors determines their actions in the final scenes of the play. Othello: After realising the truth of his actions, that he has killed the love of his life for no justified reason, Othello kills himself. Along with the fact that he says he killed himself as a punishment for himself, we also know that it was very unknown to have a black man in such a high position in the social hierarchy. This most likely means that othello would receive a harsher and more brutal punishment, as the society in this era was very racist. Desdemona and emilia: The social hierarchy of this era placed women in a somewhat demeaning position below men. Wifes especially were expected to be immaculate, honest, faithful and extremely obedient towards their husbands, who always follow orders with haste and to never question them. This may be why Desdemona showed very poor effort in order to save her life. Possibly she is a weak woman too, who could not put up a fight, however the expectations she has been brought up with make her an obedient wife and thus why she did not want to disobey her husband, and show much resistance. However Emilia is also in the same social position as desdemona, being a woman in this era. She is often perceived as a stronger willed woman than Desdemona, as she does eventually speak up for what she wanted to say. Quote. However Iago did try to stop her...
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...OTHELLO In the tragedy Othello, written by Shakespeare in 1604, about a Moor named Othello who marries the beautiful Desdemona, causes much disdain and envy in the masses. A man named Iago deceives Othello and everyone else to manipulate for his own cause and jealousy and ultimately meets his doom when Iago’s wife spills the truth of Iago’s deceit. As Othello plays as the tragic hero, Iago plays out to be the villain, who is also very reminiscent of the devil. Iago reflects all that can be evil in humans and he is revealed throughout the play as the devil. Iago is scheming, untrustworthy, and cunning. He doesn’t care who he hurts or destroys as he makes his way towards his endgame. Iago is jealous of Othello, Cassio, and others because he believes Othello has had an affair with his wife, Cassio has attained a higher position as well as his superiors. This results in a plan to destroy those in power because of his insecurities and gain control over what he does not. Iago’s corruption is initially revealed as he speaks with Brabantio outside his home in the streets of Venice about how Othello is ruining his daughter. Iago is with his “friend,” Roderigo, and talks of Desdemona, “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe” (1.1.91). While Iago is speaking with Rodreigo before they plan to yell up to Brabantio’s window, “For when my outward action doth demonstrate the native act and figure of my heart. In compliment extern, 'tis not long after...
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...English 1020 5, May 2014 The Green Fire of Jealousy In the story Othello by William Shakespeare jealousy rears her ugly head at every aspect of the characters’ lives. Right from the beginning when Roderigo is envious of Othello from his wishes to court with Desdemona, and to the end of the play, when Othello is manic with envy because he believes Cassio and Desdemona have been engaging in an affair. Some characters’ jealousy is fashioned by other characters. Iago is involved in much of this, creating lies and implementing misleading situations. He is consumed with jealousy of Cassio and masked with hatred of Othello because he is not chosen as lieutenant, Cassio was. Iago becomes one of the most evil villains in literature, he wants everyone to feel rage. He very skillfully manipulates the emotions, trust and jealousy of other characters. Iago is a man blinded by envy and anger, with one goal in mind for everyone to become equally jealous, an ambition he completes through his betrayal, deceit, and adept manipulation of characters. The seeds of deception are grown early on with Roderigo confiding in Iago. Roderigo frantically loves Desdemona and he pays Iago to draw her away from Othello. Here we see the malicious intent from Iago and paint him as a villain. Along with his actions, what Iago says also conveys him as a manipulative character. Iago has fabricated a plan to pose Othello as a thief by saying that he has stolen Desdemona’s heart using witchcraft. Iago coaxes...
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...David Olsen Othello Essay Intro to Lit 4/14/12 Instructor: The Opinionator The handkerchief plays a central role in Shakespeare’s Othello. It was given to Othello by his mother, and then given to Desdemona by Othello. It may seem farfetched that something as simple as a handkerchief could make a person murder someone else, but when I look back at the story that is exactly happens. The handkerchief symbolizes the relationship and trust between Othello and Desdemona. This seemingly normal handkerchief has a very deep meaning to Othello, and when he finds out who has possession of it towards the end of the play he goes into a frenzy. The whole reason that the handkerchief becomes an object of evil and jealousy is because Iago uses it as a tool to persuade Othello that Cassio is seeing Desdemona. The whole circle of betrayal begins when Desdemona drops the handkerchief and Emilia picks it up. Iago had told Emilia to do so for quite some time. Once Emilia turns it over to Iago, he almost immediately goes to work in his evil ways. He plants the handkerchief in Cassio’s apartment. Cassio can’t figure out whose it is and takes it. Cassio ends up giving it to Bianca. Iago sets the second part of his plot into action when he talks to Othello later on when they are alone`. He tells Othello that he suspects Desdemona is being unfaithful to him with Cassio. Othello demands proof of the affair, and Iago informs him that he saw Cassio give the handkerchief...
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