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How Does Iago Use Racism In Othello
Shakespeare's Othello, analyses the idea of racism in relationships. Racism is explored through the characters of Iago and Brabantio, where we see
racial dialog throughout the play. This racism is aimed directly at Othello; a brave moor general and supreme commander of the Venetian army. Iago
uses racism to target Othello with racial insults and uses it to manipulate others. White people during the Elizabethan Era believed that they are the
superior race but in reality, they are not; all races are equal and everyone is equal to one another. Humans are not born racist, racism is a thing that a
person develops and is absorbed under the influence of society. Shakespeare expresses racism as a negative thing and demonstrates this by showing how
...show more content...
Brabantio rejects Desdemona's love towards Othello because during the Elizabethan Era, Venice was largely occupied by white people and therefore
black people were unaccepted throughout the society. Iago knew that Brabantio was racist towards the "Moor" and used Brabantio's attitude towards
the idea of an interracial marriage to manipulate Brabantio and rile his men against Othello. "Awake! Brabantio! Thieves, thieves! Look to your
house, your daughter and your bags! Thieves, thieves!" (Act 1, Scene 1). Iago refers Othello as a thief and accuses him of stealing Brabantio's
daughter. Brabantio would not accept that his daughter; Desdemona have fallen in love with Othello. Brabantio then falsely accuses Othello of using
magic to possess his daughter Desdemona. "Damned as you are, you've put a spell on her!" (Act 1, Scene 1) William Shakespeare uses the setting in
Venice to emphasize the inequality towards the Moors. Everyone is different but no one deserves to be treated
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Iago In Othello
Emilia also stands up against Iago as she reveals the truth behind Iago's sinister manipulation to Othello in front of him. After Emilia discovers
that Desdemona was smothered by Othello, she feels great grief and Iago later enters the room. Iago submissively torments Emilia to stay quiet
and to say nothing of his plot but she instead insisted on stating, "'Twill out, 'twill out. I peace! / No, I will speak as liberal as the north: / Let
heaven and men and devils, let them all, / All, all, cry shame against me, yet I'll speak....O thou dull Moor! That handkerchief thou speak'st of / I
found by fortune and did give my husband; / For often, with a solemn earnestness, / More than indeed belonged to such a trifle, / He begged of me to
steal it," (Shakespeare 5.2.87). Emilia responds to Iago's threats by stating that...show more content...
/ No, I will speak as liberal as the north: / Let heaven and men and devils, let them all, / All, all, cry shame against me, yet I'll speak.". Emilia reveals
the truth as she explains that she found the handkerchief by accident and gave it to Iago because he'd begged her to steal it many times when she
stated, "O thou dull Moor! That handkerchief thou speak'st of / I found by fortune and did give my husband; / For often, with a solemn
earnestness, / More than indeed belonged to such a trifle, / He begged of me to steal it.". As Emilia reveals Iago's deception, it shows that she
standed up against Iago by how she disregards or ignores his threats to not let them affect her in a way that silences her and instead resisted to
speaking of the truth as she defended herself by simply expressing that she too is entitled to have the freedom to say whatever she wants and won't let
anyone from stopping her to do so, along with the explanation she provided of how the handkerchief actually landed into Cassio's possession, rather
than fleeing the scene or staying quiet for Iago to deal with the situation or letting the truth come out some other way and not by
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Othello: Iago's Honesty
Finally, Iago is the only major character in Othello that does not experience a moment of truth. He is the inciter of lies and possesses the knowledge
of the truth throughout the play. Iago takes advantage of Othello's honesty and uses it to start his deceiving plan. Iago worked hard to be portrayed as
an honest person and be in everyone's favour. For example,
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Shakespeare's Othello
Othello's Iago
We find in William Shakespeare's tragic play Othello an example of personified evil. He is the general's ancient, Iago, and he wreaks havoc and
destruction on all those under his influence.
Louis B. Wright and Virginia A. LaMar in "The Engaging Qualities of Othello" comment on how the character of Iago is the wholly expected type of
villain for an Elizabethan audience:
Iago at once captures the attention of the spectator. He is the personification of the villain that Elizabethans had come to expect from Italian short stories
and from Machiavellian commentary. Villains of this type, as well as those of domestic origin, had long been popular on the stage. From the days of
the mystery and...show more content...
When in an outburst of hatred he soliloquizes that "I hate the Moor; / And it is thought abroad that twixt my sheets / He's done my office," Iago goes
on to concede the unlikelihood of this charge. [. . .] The charge is so absurd, in fact, that we have to look into Iago himself for the origin of this
jealous paranoia. (223)
And looking within Iago for the cause can yield the answer that the ancient is psychologically sick. In Shakespeare's Four Giants Blanche Coles
comments on the mental illness that appears to afflict the despicable Iago:
When such old time critics as H. N. Hudson, who wrote nearly a hundred years ago, saw that Iago was not acting from revenge, one is more than
surprised to find modern critics, who have had the advantage of the progress that has been made in the study of abnormal psychology, accepting Iago
for anything but what he is, and what Shakespeare intended him to be – a psychopathic personality. (79)
Evidence of his psychopathic personality is seen early in the play. He manipulates the wealthy Roderigo into awakening the senator Brabantio
("Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight"); and then he utters very offensive smutty lines about a black ram and white ewe, which indicate
the way his sick mind operates. He seems to be motivated by love of money which he has been receiving from Roderigo for some time ("thou, Iago,
who hast had my purse / As if the strings were
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Othello and Iago Comparison Essay
Othello and Iago Comparison
Othello and Iago are different in their characters as well as in their colours. It could be said also, however, that they are similar because of their
fallibility. Iago is overcome with his desire for revenge to such an extent that he puts it into action. Othello's love and possessiveness of Desdemona
take over him until he eventually would rather kill her than allow anyone else to have her. In this way, despite their contrasts,Iago and Othello both
represent the extremity of the same thing – human emotion.
Both characters can be viewed like this throughout Act 1. We immediately see Iago as representative of the very basest elements of humanity. He uses
crude...show more content...
Another grudge is his suspicion of Othello that
"twixt my sheets he has done my office"
Iago has heard a rumour that Othello has slept with his wife, and now he wants revenge. But Iago does not feel betrayal by his wife, or feel that she
has been wronged; it appears to be just another excuse to get back at Othello.
Whereas Othello does have a sense of self–interest, his interest in other people's happiness is greater. When confronted with the idea that he has
enchanted Desdemona, he replies that if it is true to
"let your sentence fall even to my life".
He would rather be killed than know he is causing his love unhappiness. He would happily sacrifice everything for others – his sense of duty is strong.
Whereas Iago is in the army for personal gain, promotion and recognition, Othello is in it for the greater good. Despite being on his honeymoon, he
instantly agrees that he should go and fight in Cyprus for his Senate. Neither does he wish his wife to suffer, so he offers her a choice of following
him or staying in safety. Othello is an honourable man.
Iago, on the other hand, is anything but honourable. He is always forming a devious plot for someone else's undoing. He uses Roderigo as his pawn
in revealing Othello's whereabouts and as a source of money. The way he disappears into the shadows away from Brabantio's lights is symbolic of his
underhand nature.
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Iago's Ambitions in Shakespeare's Othello Essay
Iago's Ambitions in Shakespeare's Othello
'Hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light' (Act 1 sc. 3 L.385–6). This is said by the character Iago during a soliloquy at the
end of Act 1 scene 3. This statement could take on many different meaning depending on how it is interpreted. I think that it means that whatever Iago
has to do, he will tell everyone that Othello is an evil man. He thinks this because he believes that he has slept with Emilia, Iago's wife, "'twixt my
sheets he's done my office," (Act 1, sc 3, line 369–370). However, it has many other subtle messages and meanings. Iago could be referring to his evil
plan because "hell" tends to be used in the context...show more content...
Iago claims to "hate the Moor" (Act 1, sc 3, line 368) so he wants to do whatever he can to make Othello unhappy. One of his intentions is to make
Othello believe that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio, " to abuse Othello's ear that he is too familiar with his wife," (Act 1, sc 3, line
378). This means that, as part of his plan, Iago will suggest the chance of an affair to Othello to make him suspicious of Desdemona's every move
and word. Like all tragic heroes, Othello has a fatal flaw, which happens to be jealousy, and Iago is going to use this to his advantage. Iago also
wants to make Othello promote Iago over Cassio and to do this he intends to ruin Cassio. He says," Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward
me," (Act 2, sc 1, line 289) which shows that he wants to be rewarded, a promotion. However, he also contradicts himself as he has earlier said that
he hates the Moor. If he truly hated Othello, why would he want Othello to love him? He may want this because it would make it easier to destroy
Othello if he were to be close to him however; he seems to want Othello's approval of his actions rather than a higher position at work.
For Iago to achieve his ultimate goal he has to take each area of his plan one step at a time. His first step is to alert Brabantio of Desdemona's
marriage to Othello, "Your daughter and the Moor are now
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First Impressions Of Iago In Othello
Iago is a cunning villain and as such, he is able to manipulate others into their own demise. For example, at the end of the second scene in act four,
Roderigo enters to confront Iago. Roderigo has "wasted [him]self out of [his] means" for Iago to allocate money to gifts for Desdemona (4.2.216–217).
However, Iago has not given her any gifts at all. In order to avoid further confrontation, Iago entices him with flattery. He says he sees the "mettle in
[Roderigo who] is not without wit and judgement" (4.2.236, 4.2.244). Additionally, Iago tempts Roderigo withDesdemona and a promise that he can
"devise engines" to take Iago's life should he fail to deliver on his word (4.2.250). Iago has played to Roderigo's weaknesses: beautiful women, money,
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Iago's Ambition In Othello
At all points of one's life, one has desires; what separates and defines a person is determined by how that person goes about dealing with those
desires. Some believe in working honestly towards his or her aspirations and others in seizing it at any cost. Iago, the antagonist of the play Othello is
one of those people who would do anything in order to get what he wishes. Because Othello names Cassio lieutenant instead of him, he begins to
device a plan in vengeance to bring Othello and Cassio down, which ends up tragic for all of the major characters. Iago's obsessive need for revenge
stems from jealousy and ambition, and because he is a master manipulator, the plan goes extremely smooth for the majority of the play. At the end of
Act 1,...show more content...
He gets Cassio to talk to Othello's wife, Desdemona, to ask for his position back and he begins to point out small things like them whispering. When
Cassio exits the scene when Othello approaches, Iago does not hesitate to make his move and mentions it. Asking of Iago's suspicions, Iago says,
"Good my lord, pardon me, Though I am bound to every act of duty I am not bound to that all slaves are free to Utter my thoughts" (138–140). This
places Othello in the position of being alarmed because what could be so horrible that this "honest" man would want to keep secret from him.
Eventually, Iago comes out with his fake suspicions and Othello somewhat believes it but wants some kind of evidence. Fortunately, Iago's wife,
Emilia gets a hold of Desdemona's handkerchief and gives it to him. He puts more of his plan into action saying, "in Cassio's lodging [I] lose this
napkin. And let him find it. Trifles light as air Are to the jealous confirmations strong As proofs of holy writ. (331
–334). This is enough to convince
Othello of Desdemona's affair with Cassio, enraging him to want to murder the two. Othello decides he will kill his wife, and asks Iago to do the same to
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Iago of William Shakespeare's Othello Essay
Iago of William Shakespeare's Othello
Iago has a great understanding of people and how they will react to different situations and this skill allows him to control the action so neatly that it
as if is he himself is the playwright. He has no regard for the thoughts of others and skilfully manipulates those around him to trick them to play a
part in a strategy he has so meticulously planned, for example, the brawl scene. But by no means does he carry out his plans regardless of other
events; if an opportunity to achieve any of his desires arises then he immediately takes hold of it and uses it to his advantage.
Iago is an excellent representation of the Vice character of drama. Shakespeare is...show more content...
These motives lead him to hate the other characters so much as to gain a sadistic pleasure at their misfortune.
Everybody is slightly egotist, it is (a bad?) part of human nature, each of us is our favourite subject, however, Iago's sense of egotism is grossly
inflamed. He cares about nobody but himself and even his wife, who he should at least have a little love for is treated with sexist disdain. He is
cloaked in lies and deceit and all his relationships with people result in his gain, and usually their loss. His acting is so skilful and convincing that
even his wife doesn't truly know him and Othello and Cassio refer to him as "honest Iago", ironically far from his real character. His self pride and
arrogance is apparent in his scorn for the characters around him, shown by his frequent references to animals and his disdain erring obsession for their
sexual relationships,
"Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys,
As salt as wolves in pride"
Iago's love of himself leads him to desire everything for himself, the lack of this leads to great jealousy for the characters around him. He is jealous of
Cassio for his rank of lieutenant, jealous of Othello for his success and falsely
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Iago's Influence On Othello
How does hatred consume a person for no reason? Take Iago (from Shakespeare's play Othello) for example, he attempts and succeeds to destroy
Othello's life; yet has no true motive of why. The only explanation for his cruelty is his standards for the "right" cultural surroundings and social status
of everything and everyone are not being met. Iago is a man who is filled with hate, but there is no source of where it may stem from. Throughout the
play, his reasonings change from Othello being a "moor" when he states, "I do hate him, I swear." Line 9 page 3, to Iago being jealous of Othello
appointing the young Cassio to lieutenant over him "A guy that knows more about numbers than fighting!" Line 18–19 page 3, and lastly to Iago
thinking that...show more content...
He should not have been passed over for a higher job position by such a young and inexperienced man, since Iago is getting older he is very sour that
his career was cut so short, "And he's definitely never commanded men in battle." Line 19–20 page 3. That he should be able to trust his wife without
suspicion, yet he thinks his wife is having affairs. Thanks to Othello, he cannot be certain or comfortable with anything anymore. His way of life is
collapsing and everything that has happened is fueling his anger, hate, is playing with his
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Essay about Iago Of Othello
Iago of "Othello"
What makes a good villain? What qualities make one villain stand out from another? Is it their demeanor, ruthlessness, or the methods that they employ
to accomplish their tasks? In any case, a great villain must leave the reader with a respect for their methods and a question about their motives. In
Shakespeare's Othello, there is one character in Iago that fulfills all of these qualifications. Iago is a wonderful villain because he gains other's trust,
relentlessly takes advantage of his peers' flaws, and unapologetically causes the deaths of his counterparts in order to achieve his goals. The main
weapon Iago used in his villainy was trust. Iago knew how to play to each character's personality to get them to...show more content...
Aside from being Othello's right–hand man throughout a majority of the play, he also has a level of comfort with Cassio. This comfort is shown in
his willingness to talk about Desdemona when the two are on night patrol. This reliance was something Iago exploited each time he had a chance.
Every time a desire was expressed, Iago was there with a solution that always benefited Iago in the end. For instance, it was Iago that suggested to
Roderigo that he attempt to kill Cassio in order to get Desdemona to be interested in him. It was also Iago's work in stoking up the fires of revenge
in Othello's belly regarding the "affair" between Desdemona and Cassio. For each situation, every word that was said was for the advancement of
Iago and the destruction of all others. Iago also acts as a contributor to each character's flaws in the play. For example, in act two, Iago influences
Cassio to have some drinks in order to start a quarrel between Cassio and Roderigo. In another example, in act three, Iago gets Othello to believe that
there is an affair between Desdemona and Cassio by building on the suspicions and doubts that Othello had before Iago even spoke to him. Finally, as
the "smoking gun" that Othello was looking for, Iago presents the handkerchief to Othello along with a fabricated story about it's whereabouts. These
actions contribute to the eventual demise of all of these characters, but it also leads to
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Othello
Iago, in Shakespeare's Othello, is a deceiving character because he tells lies in order to get what he wants. He interacts with people only to manipulate
them, but most importantly he never reveals his true feelings or motives. Iago might say things that suggest what his motive is, but he soon contradicts
himself with another suggestion making it extremely difficult to understand him. Although Iago's true motives cannot be determined, some motives
could be jealousy, the enjoyment of seeing people suffer, or power. Iago's jealous ofOthello and Cassio because he thinks that both of them slept with
his wife, Emilia. In Iago's first soliloquy at the end of act 1, Iago says that Othello might have slept with his wife and even though this is a...show more
content...
Iago is a very clever person and he enjoys seeing how idiots make fools of themselves. One of these idiots is Iago's "buddy," Roderigo. Roderigo is
a typical wealthy, Venetian aristocrat who is madly in love with Desdemona and he has given Iago the task of helping him woo her. Iago uses this to
his advantage, even though Iago uses Roderigo to ruin Cassio and Othello, he gets some amusement by watching Roderigo prance around and go nuts
over Desdemona. Iago also finds it funny when Roderigo wants to go kill himself after he finds out that Desdemona married Othello. There are
multiple times throughout the play where Roderigo should have known that Iago was just using him for money and some laughs and since Roderigo
doesn't pick up on this, Iago can use Roderigo to his advantage.
Power is probably the most important motive. Iago is very conniving and clever and he can use this to manipulate people. It is clearly seen that
Iago thrives for power because he loves manipulating people so that they doe exactly what he says. He does this to Roderigo many times, like
when Iago tells Roderigo to give him all of his money and when he convinces Roderigo to kill Cassio. He even controls Othello to the point that
Othello suspects his wife and decides to kill her. Iago's thirst for power is also seen when Cassio is appointed to be Othello's lieutenant because this
was, supposedly, the basis for his revenge. He really wanted to be lieutenant because it is a
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Iago By William Shakespeare 's Othello Essay
Today's society is overly familiar with deception and lies; whether it is from their family, friends, media, or politicians. Historically, there has been
an abundance which still carries on today. Behind every lie, there is a motive for doing so. In Shakespeare 's Othello, Iago is no exception to this rule.
He is living a dual life of lies. On one face Iago is a trustworthy friend who is attempting to set up Roderigo with the love of his life. His other face is
the one whose main goal is to be the Lieutenant of the Venetian Army. In order to reach that status he must ruin the relationship of Cassio andOthello.
Iago uses each other character against others and against themselves using his knowledge of their habits and lives. His vast array of manipulative
strategies gives him an extraordinary advantage over his peers. A few weak points that Iago targets are Roderigo 's desire for Desdemona, Othello
's self image and Cassio 's trust. Iago does not feel the need to ease his way into manipulating his best friend. In fact, He starts to deceive Roderigo
in the first scene of the first act. Roderigo 's trusting and fairly gullible personality gives a sense of strength and security to Iago in his attempts. All
ready, Iago develops a cruel ploy to knock down Othello 's reputation. The easiest way for this to happen is by hinting that Othello kidnapped
Desdemona. Due to the social and racial tension of the time, this was a common perception of black men. Those
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Who Is Iago In Othello
In "Othello," William Shakespeare creates a devious character, Iago. He is a very educated young man, who lacks ethics enabling is character to
deceive those around him, disguising his true character. With audience perception, opposing character perceptions, Iago portrays a brilliant,
manipulative villain who is concealed with false sympathy, integrity and empathy.
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Iago's Manipulation
Shakespeare's Othello presents a complex scenario: on one hand, there is evil and successful manipulation, and on the other, there is gullibility and
naГЇvetГ©. The pivotal character Iago sets into motion an evil scheme, carefully and slowly, which leads to ultimate tragedy and ruin. Othello, a
loving, gentle, kind–hearted man, falls into a state of near insanity, convinced of falsehoods fed to him by his trusted aide. Iago is a devious trickster and
he secretly despises Othello. Constantly plotting his next move, Iago manipulates others to do his bidding and acts in ways that further his plot against
Othello, while Othello falls for all of Iago's schemes. Iago is scheming, manipulative, and devious, whereas Othello is impressionable, overly–trusting,
and ultimately, overcome with jealousy.
Iago is full of contempt for Othello because he hired Michael Cassio over himself. Roderigo, who is sick with love for Desdemona – and paying Iago
for aid in pursuing Desdemona – questions him, asking why he does not simply resign from his lower status position as he is so distraught. Iago's
response is villainous: "I follow him to serve my turn upon him" (1.1.38). He continues to serve Othello out of spite, and the actions that follow
throughout the play are driven by this deep hatred of Othello. His first scheme at hurting Othello is to rouse Desdemona's father, Brabantio, and alert
him that Othello and Desdemona have eloped. Roderigo and Iago go to Brabantio's house and call out into the night, disturbing him. Brabantio,
confused, asks why they are summoning him, to which Iago responds, "an old black ram is tupping your white ewe" (1.1.86). He adds that his
"daughter [is] covered with a Barbary horse" (1.1.109). If these statements are not salacious or disturbing enough, he finally explains that he has come
"to tell you your daughter and the Moor are making the beast with two backs" (1.1.112–113). Iago puts a horrifying, evil, disgusting image into
Brabantio's mind, while at the same time revealing the great extent to which he despises Othello. Iago is extremely upsetting in this scene, referring to
Othello and Desdemona's relationship in vile, despicable terms, and this marks only the beginning of the pain he is to cause
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Othello
Unequivocally, Iago plays an important and major function in the tragedy of Othello. By the end of the play, Iago has been directly responsible for
the deaths of Roderigo, Emilia and the protagonist and his love. Iago's importance to the play is revealed by his contribution to the plot and his
significance relative to other characters. Iago's function, which invariably adds to the importance he has on the play, is to lead to the downfall of
Othello therefore revealing the themes of hate, jealousy and revenge. Iago also serves to contrast with the characters of Othello and Desdemona and to
create dramatic irony consequently involving the audience in the journey of the play. The foundation of his success has been built upon his honest
...show more content...
This would suggest that this is a fundamental characteristic of his. However, Iago does strive to appear honest and sincere. 'If I shall stay [with
Roderigo] I shall– against the Moor. This is also seen when he defends Cassio after the drunken brawl. Iago speaks with hesitation and refers to
Cassio being a friend several times. 'I had rather have this tongue cut out from my mouth than it should do offence to Cassio'. This appearance allows
him to gain favour with all characters, especially those of Cassio and Othello, allowing him to influence them. The success of Iago's deceptive
honesty is most clearly seen in the final scene of the play in which the truth of his dishonesty is revealed. So successful was Iago's scheme that
Othello can only think that Iago must have been a devil. 'I look down towards his feet– butВ… If that thou be'st a devil, I cannot kill thee'. Even when
on stage, Iago appears to have an overriding dominance over the other characters. In Act 3 sn iii, in which Othello asks Iago to kneel next to him
and make a pact in order to destroy Cassio and Desdemona, we cannot but notice the power Iago evokes in Othello. 'Do not rise yet', Iago cries, 'I
am yours forever'. Also Iago's dominance over Othello is seen in Act 4 sn I where Othello has fallen into a trance. The audience look on with pity as
Iago says, 'Thus do credulous fools are caught.' On stage this would be a powerful scene in which Iago finally subdues Othello. Iago
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Essay about Othello
People are not always the way you see them to be. Within the play Othello by William Shakespeare, a character named Iago displays a very good
example of this. Iago who is Othello's ensign is considerate to people although at the same time manipulates their minds into thinking different things
other than what had really occurred. Therefore, the victims of Iago's mischievous acts had been lured in to gullibility at every corner.
In Act I, Iago had used his 'magic' on Roderigo who was very upset upon the fact that Othello and Desdemona were still able to be as one, since he
was very much in desire for her. Iago had told him not to worry and that Desdemona will soon desire him. Roderigo had then believed him. He...show
more content...
Iago had shown great dishonesty and evilness to his own leader.
Iago had already caused so much devious acts that he took this to another level. He had taken something that symbolized the love and compassion
Othello had for Desdemona which a handkerchief. Iago had told Othello that Cassio and Desdemona have something going on after Iago had
supposedly over heard what Cassio was saying in his sleep. Othello eventually becomes furious at both of them, most especially his wife because he is
led to believe their marriage was false. Iago's plan worked and it yet close to his goal. He again persuades Othello in killing Cassio so he will win her
back. Othello still relies on Iago's influence thinking that all his decisions are proper things to do.
As of act V, at the end Iago's own wife is the one to figure out what his whole plot is and tells Othello what he had done and this was one thing that
Iago had not been able to use his skills in manipulating him. Othello stabs Iago who was the villain of this play the whole time.
This play displayed the power that one person may have in order to get what they want. It also showed how much the characters had bought into
Iago's thoughts and influence to cause even more damage between everyone. His power is led to believe that anyone could be gullible no matter what
position you are whether it be in rank or how smart you may
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Othello vs. Iago Essay
Othello vs. Iago
As the villain in Shakespeare's play Othello, Iago has two main actions. They are to plot and to deceive. Iago wishes to plot and to deceive because
he is jealous of Othello and hates him. Iago's reasons for why he hates Othello is because he believes that Othello made love to his wife, and Iago is mad
that Cassio was chosen to be Lieutenant instead of himself. From this hate comes the main conflict of the play. Iago plans to ruin Othello because of
Iago's jealousy towards him is by carrying out a plan to get back at Othello based on lies and deceit. This plan will make Iago the only person that
Othello believes he can trust, and Iago will use this trust to manipulate Othello. Iago plans to remove Cassio from...show more content...
Cassio's uncharacteristic aggression is what eventually removes his from position as lieutenant. "Sir, he's rash and very sudden in choler, and haply
may strike at you. Provoke him that he may, for even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny, whose qualification shall come into no true
taste again but by the displanting of Cassio" (Shakespeare 261–264). This quote is when Iago explains Cassio to Othello among the numerous times
that he does do so. When taste is used, the line says that the people of Cyprus will not feel comfortable with their nature until Cassio is removed
from his position. "The definition of qualifications is condition, nature or pacification and uses the word trust instead of taste." (Gray 2) In
contrast, when trust is used, Iago's words say that the people of Cyprus will not be able to trust authorities again until Cassio is no longer
Lieutenant. While Cassio is fighting, Iago is using the violence to create a riot in Cyprus and upset the people. Cassio is blamed for this riot, and
order cannot be restored until he is no longer Lieutenant. The word trust makes more sense in this sentence, because Cassio lost the trust of the
masses when he acted with aggression. He was always a well mannered and peaceful man, and now the people of Cyprus do not know who he really
is. In the soliloquy following Roderigo's exit, Iago reveals the real reasons for his plotting against Othello.
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How Does Iago Use Racism In Othello

  • 1. How Does Iago Use Racism In Othello Shakespeare's Othello, analyses the idea of racism in relationships. Racism is explored through the characters of Iago and Brabantio, where we see racial dialog throughout the play. This racism is aimed directly at Othello; a brave moor general and supreme commander of the Venetian army. Iago uses racism to target Othello with racial insults and uses it to manipulate others. White people during the Elizabethan Era believed that they are the superior race but in reality, they are not; all races are equal and everyone is equal to one another. Humans are not born racist, racism is a thing that a person develops and is absorbed under the influence of society. Shakespeare expresses racism as a negative thing and demonstrates this by showing how ...show more content... Brabantio rejects Desdemona's love towards Othello because during the Elizabethan Era, Venice was largely occupied by white people and therefore black people were unaccepted throughout the society. Iago knew that Brabantio was racist towards the "Moor" and used Brabantio's attitude towards the idea of an interracial marriage to manipulate Brabantio and rile his men against Othello. "Awake! Brabantio! Thieves, thieves! Look to your house, your daughter and your bags! Thieves, thieves!" (Act 1, Scene 1). Iago refers Othello as a thief and accuses him of stealing Brabantio's daughter. Brabantio would not accept that his daughter; Desdemona have fallen in love with Othello. Brabantio then falsely accuses Othello of using magic to possess his daughter Desdemona. "Damned as you are, you've put a spell on her!" (Act 1, Scene 1) William Shakespeare uses the setting in Venice to emphasize the inequality towards the Moors. Everyone is different but no one deserves to be treated Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 2. Iago In Othello Emilia also stands up against Iago as she reveals the truth behind Iago's sinister manipulation to Othello in front of him. After Emilia discovers that Desdemona was smothered by Othello, she feels great grief and Iago later enters the room. Iago submissively torments Emilia to stay quiet and to say nothing of his plot but she instead insisted on stating, "'Twill out, 'twill out. I peace! / No, I will speak as liberal as the north: / Let heaven and men and devils, let them all, / All, all, cry shame against me, yet I'll speak....O thou dull Moor! That handkerchief thou speak'st of / I found by fortune and did give my husband; / For often, with a solemn earnestness, / More than indeed belonged to such a trifle, / He begged of me to steal it," (Shakespeare 5.2.87). Emilia responds to Iago's threats by stating that...show more content... / No, I will speak as liberal as the north: / Let heaven and men and devils, let them all, / All, all, cry shame against me, yet I'll speak.". Emilia reveals the truth as she explains that she found the handkerchief by accident and gave it to Iago because he'd begged her to steal it many times when she stated, "O thou dull Moor! That handkerchief thou speak'st of / I found by fortune and did give my husband; / For often, with a solemn earnestness, / More than indeed belonged to such a trifle, / He begged of me to steal it.". As Emilia reveals Iago's deception, it shows that she standed up against Iago by how she disregards or ignores his threats to not let them affect her in a way that silences her and instead resisted to speaking of the truth as she defended herself by simply expressing that she too is entitled to have the freedom to say whatever she wants and won't let anyone from stopping her to do so, along with the explanation she provided of how the handkerchief actually landed into Cassio's possession, rather than fleeing the scene or staying quiet for Iago to deal with the situation or letting the truth come out some other way and not by Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 3. Othello: Iago's Honesty Finally, Iago is the only major character in Othello that does not experience a moment of truth. He is the inciter of lies and possesses the knowledge of the truth throughout the play. Iago takes advantage of Othello's honesty and uses it to start his deceiving plan. Iago worked hard to be portrayed as an honest person and be in everyone's favour. For example, Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 4. Shakespeare's Othello Othello's Iago We find in William Shakespeare's tragic play Othello an example of personified evil. He is the general's ancient, Iago, and he wreaks havoc and destruction on all those under his influence. Louis B. Wright and Virginia A. LaMar in "The Engaging Qualities of Othello" comment on how the character of Iago is the wholly expected type of villain for an Elizabethan audience: Iago at once captures the attention of the spectator. He is the personification of the villain that Elizabethans had come to expect from Italian short stories and from Machiavellian commentary. Villains of this type, as well as those of domestic origin, had long been popular on the stage. From the days of the mystery and...show more content... When in an outburst of hatred he soliloquizes that "I hate the Moor; / And it is thought abroad that twixt my sheets / He's done my office," Iago goes on to concede the unlikelihood of this charge. [. . .] The charge is so absurd, in fact, that we have to look into Iago himself for the origin of this jealous paranoia. (223) And looking within Iago for the cause can yield the answer that the ancient is psychologically sick. In Shakespeare's Four Giants Blanche Coles comments on the mental illness that appears to afflict the despicable Iago: When such old time critics as H. N. Hudson, who wrote nearly a hundred years ago, saw that Iago was not acting from revenge, one is more than surprised to find modern critics, who have had the advantage of the progress that has been made in the study of abnormal psychology, accepting Iago for anything but what he is, and what Shakespeare intended him to be – a psychopathic personality. (79) Evidence of his psychopathic personality is seen early in the play. He manipulates the wealthy Roderigo into awakening the senator Brabantio ("Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight"); and then he utters very offensive smutty lines about a black ram and white ewe, which indicate the way his sick mind operates. He seems to be motivated by love of money which he has been receiving from Roderigo for some time ("thou, Iago, who hast had my purse / As if the strings were
  • 5. Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 6. Othello and Iago Comparison Essay Othello and Iago Comparison Othello and Iago are different in their characters as well as in their colours. It could be said also, however, that they are similar because of their fallibility. Iago is overcome with his desire for revenge to such an extent that he puts it into action. Othello's love and possessiveness of Desdemona take over him until he eventually would rather kill her than allow anyone else to have her. In this way, despite their contrasts,Iago and Othello both represent the extremity of the same thing – human emotion. Both characters can be viewed like this throughout Act 1. We immediately see Iago as representative of the very basest elements of humanity. He uses crude...show more content... Another grudge is his suspicion of Othello that "twixt my sheets he has done my office" Iago has heard a rumour that Othello has slept with his wife, and now he wants revenge. But Iago does not feel betrayal by his wife, or feel that she has been wronged; it appears to be just another excuse to get back at Othello. Whereas Othello does have a sense of self–interest, his interest in other people's happiness is greater. When confronted with the idea that he has enchanted Desdemona, he replies that if it is true to "let your sentence fall even to my life". He would rather be killed than know he is causing his love unhappiness. He would happily sacrifice everything for others – his sense of duty is strong. Whereas Iago is in the army for personal gain, promotion and recognition, Othello is in it for the greater good. Despite being on his honeymoon, he instantly agrees that he should go and fight in Cyprus for his Senate. Neither does he wish his wife to suffer, so he offers her a choice of following him or staying in safety. Othello is an honourable man.
  • 7. Iago, on the other hand, is anything but honourable. He is always forming a devious plot for someone else's undoing. He uses Roderigo as his pawn in revealing Othello's whereabouts and as a source of money. The way he disappears into the shadows away from Brabantio's lights is symbolic of his underhand nature. Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 8. Iago's Ambitions in Shakespeare's Othello Essay Iago's Ambitions in Shakespeare's Othello 'Hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light' (Act 1 sc. 3 L.385–6). This is said by the character Iago during a soliloquy at the end of Act 1 scene 3. This statement could take on many different meaning depending on how it is interpreted. I think that it means that whatever Iago has to do, he will tell everyone that Othello is an evil man. He thinks this because he believes that he has slept with Emilia, Iago's wife, "'twixt my sheets he's done my office," (Act 1, sc 3, line 369–370). However, it has many other subtle messages and meanings. Iago could be referring to his evil plan because "hell" tends to be used in the context...show more content... Iago claims to "hate the Moor" (Act 1, sc 3, line 368) so he wants to do whatever he can to make Othello unhappy. One of his intentions is to make Othello believe that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio, " to abuse Othello's ear that he is too familiar with his wife," (Act 1, sc 3, line 378). This means that, as part of his plan, Iago will suggest the chance of an affair to Othello to make him suspicious of Desdemona's every move and word. Like all tragic heroes, Othello has a fatal flaw, which happens to be jealousy, and Iago is going to use this to his advantage. Iago also wants to make Othello promote Iago over Cassio and to do this he intends to ruin Cassio. He says," Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward me," (Act 2, sc 1, line 289) which shows that he wants to be rewarded, a promotion. However, he also contradicts himself as he has earlier said that he hates the Moor. If he truly hated Othello, why would he want Othello to love him? He may want this because it would make it easier to destroy Othello if he were to be close to him however; he seems to want Othello's approval of his actions rather than a higher position at work. For Iago to achieve his ultimate goal he has to take each area of his plan one step at a time. His first step is to alert Brabantio of Desdemona's marriage to Othello, "Your daughter and the Moor are now Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 9. First Impressions Of Iago In Othello Iago is a cunning villain and as such, he is able to manipulate others into their own demise. For example, at the end of the second scene in act four, Roderigo enters to confront Iago. Roderigo has "wasted [him]self out of [his] means" for Iago to allocate money to gifts for Desdemona (4.2.216–217). However, Iago has not given her any gifts at all. In order to avoid further confrontation, Iago entices him with flattery. He says he sees the "mettle in [Roderigo who] is not without wit and judgement" (4.2.236, 4.2.244). Additionally, Iago tempts Roderigo withDesdemona and a promise that he can "devise engines" to take Iago's life should he fail to deliver on his word (4.2.250). Iago has played to Roderigo's weaknesses: beautiful women, money, Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 10. Iago's Ambition In Othello At all points of one's life, one has desires; what separates and defines a person is determined by how that person goes about dealing with those desires. Some believe in working honestly towards his or her aspirations and others in seizing it at any cost. Iago, the antagonist of the play Othello is one of those people who would do anything in order to get what he wishes. Because Othello names Cassio lieutenant instead of him, he begins to device a plan in vengeance to bring Othello and Cassio down, which ends up tragic for all of the major characters. Iago's obsessive need for revenge stems from jealousy and ambition, and because he is a master manipulator, the plan goes extremely smooth for the majority of the play. At the end of Act 1,...show more content... He gets Cassio to talk to Othello's wife, Desdemona, to ask for his position back and he begins to point out small things like them whispering. When Cassio exits the scene when Othello approaches, Iago does not hesitate to make his move and mentions it. Asking of Iago's suspicions, Iago says, "Good my lord, pardon me, Though I am bound to every act of duty I am not bound to that all slaves are free to Utter my thoughts" (138–140). This places Othello in the position of being alarmed because what could be so horrible that this "honest" man would want to keep secret from him. Eventually, Iago comes out with his fake suspicions and Othello somewhat believes it but wants some kind of evidence. Fortunately, Iago's wife, Emilia gets a hold of Desdemona's handkerchief and gives it to him. He puts more of his plan into action saying, "in Cassio's lodging [I] lose this napkin. And let him find it. Trifles light as air Are to the jealous confirmations strong As proofs of holy writ. (331 –334). This is enough to convince Othello of Desdemona's affair with Cassio, enraging him to want to murder the two. Othello decides he will kill his wife, and asks Iago to do the same to Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 11. Iago of William Shakespeare's Othello Essay Iago of William Shakespeare's Othello Iago has a great understanding of people and how they will react to different situations and this skill allows him to control the action so neatly that it as if is he himself is the playwright. He has no regard for the thoughts of others and skilfully manipulates those around him to trick them to play a part in a strategy he has so meticulously planned, for example, the brawl scene. But by no means does he carry out his plans regardless of other events; if an opportunity to achieve any of his desires arises then he immediately takes hold of it and uses it to his advantage. Iago is an excellent representation of the Vice character of drama. Shakespeare is...show more content... These motives lead him to hate the other characters so much as to gain a sadistic pleasure at their misfortune. Everybody is slightly egotist, it is (a bad?) part of human nature, each of us is our favourite subject, however, Iago's sense of egotism is grossly inflamed. He cares about nobody but himself and even his wife, who he should at least have a little love for is treated with sexist disdain. He is cloaked in lies and deceit and all his relationships with people result in his gain, and usually their loss. His acting is so skilful and convincing that even his wife doesn't truly know him and Othello and Cassio refer to him as "honest Iago", ironically far from his real character. His self pride and arrogance is apparent in his scorn for the characters around him, shown by his frequent references to animals and his disdain erring obsession for their sexual relationships, "Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys, As salt as wolves in pride" Iago's love of himself leads him to desire everything for himself, the lack of this leads to great jealousy for the characters around him. He is jealous of Cassio for his rank of lieutenant, jealous of Othello for his success and falsely
  • 12. Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 13. Iago's Influence On Othello How does hatred consume a person for no reason? Take Iago (from Shakespeare's play Othello) for example, he attempts and succeeds to destroy Othello's life; yet has no true motive of why. The only explanation for his cruelty is his standards for the "right" cultural surroundings and social status of everything and everyone are not being met. Iago is a man who is filled with hate, but there is no source of where it may stem from. Throughout the play, his reasonings change from Othello being a "moor" when he states, "I do hate him, I swear." Line 9 page 3, to Iago being jealous of Othello appointing the young Cassio to lieutenant over him "A guy that knows more about numbers than fighting!" Line 18–19 page 3, and lastly to Iago thinking that...show more content... He should not have been passed over for a higher job position by such a young and inexperienced man, since Iago is getting older he is very sour that his career was cut so short, "And he's definitely never commanded men in battle." Line 19–20 page 3. That he should be able to trust his wife without suspicion, yet he thinks his wife is having affairs. Thanks to Othello, he cannot be certain or comfortable with anything anymore. His way of life is collapsing and everything that has happened is fueling his anger, hate, is playing with his Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 14. Essay about Iago Of Othello Iago of "Othello" What makes a good villain? What qualities make one villain stand out from another? Is it their demeanor, ruthlessness, or the methods that they employ to accomplish their tasks? In any case, a great villain must leave the reader with a respect for their methods and a question about their motives. In Shakespeare's Othello, there is one character in Iago that fulfills all of these qualifications. Iago is a wonderful villain because he gains other's trust, relentlessly takes advantage of his peers' flaws, and unapologetically causes the deaths of his counterparts in order to achieve his goals. The main weapon Iago used in his villainy was trust. Iago knew how to play to each character's personality to get them to...show more content... Aside from being Othello's right–hand man throughout a majority of the play, he also has a level of comfort with Cassio. This comfort is shown in his willingness to talk about Desdemona when the two are on night patrol. This reliance was something Iago exploited each time he had a chance. Every time a desire was expressed, Iago was there with a solution that always benefited Iago in the end. For instance, it was Iago that suggested to Roderigo that he attempt to kill Cassio in order to get Desdemona to be interested in him. It was also Iago's work in stoking up the fires of revenge in Othello's belly regarding the "affair" between Desdemona and Cassio. For each situation, every word that was said was for the advancement of Iago and the destruction of all others. Iago also acts as a contributor to each character's flaws in the play. For example, in act two, Iago influences Cassio to have some drinks in order to start a quarrel between Cassio and Roderigo. In another example, in act three, Iago gets Othello to believe that there is an affair between Desdemona and Cassio by building on the suspicions and doubts that Othello had before Iago even spoke to him. Finally, as the "smoking gun" that Othello was looking for, Iago presents the handkerchief to Othello along with a fabricated story about it's whereabouts. These actions contribute to the eventual demise of all of these characters, but it also leads to Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 15. Othello Iago, in Shakespeare's Othello, is a deceiving character because he tells lies in order to get what he wants. He interacts with people only to manipulate them, but most importantly he never reveals his true feelings or motives. Iago might say things that suggest what his motive is, but he soon contradicts himself with another suggestion making it extremely difficult to understand him. Although Iago's true motives cannot be determined, some motives could be jealousy, the enjoyment of seeing people suffer, or power. Iago's jealous ofOthello and Cassio because he thinks that both of them slept with his wife, Emilia. In Iago's first soliloquy at the end of act 1, Iago says that Othello might have slept with his wife and even though this is a...show more content... Iago is a very clever person and he enjoys seeing how idiots make fools of themselves. One of these idiots is Iago's "buddy," Roderigo. Roderigo is a typical wealthy, Venetian aristocrat who is madly in love with Desdemona and he has given Iago the task of helping him woo her. Iago uses this to his advantage, even though Iago uses Roderigo to ruin Cassio and Othello, he gets some amusement by watching Roderigo prance around and go nuts over Desdemona. Iago also finds it funny when Roderigo wants to go kill himself after he finds out that Desdemona married Othello. There are multiple times throughout the play where Roderigo should have known that Iago was just using him for money and some laughs and since Roderigo doesn't pick up on this, Iago can use Roderigo to his advantage. Power is probably the most important motive. Iago is very conniving and clever and he can use this to manipulate people. It is clearly seen that Iago thrives for power because he loves manipulating people so that they doe exactly what he says. He does this to Roderigo many times, like when Iago tells Roderigo to give him all of his money and when he convinces Roderigo to kill Cassio. He even controls Othello to the point that Othello suspects his wife and decides to kill her. Iago's thirst for power is also seen when Cassio is appointed to be Othello's lieutenant because this was, supposedly, the basis for his revenge. He really wanted to be lieutenant because it is a Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 16. Iago By William Shakespeare 's Othello Essay Today's society is overly familiar with deception and lies; whether it is from their family, friends, media, or politicians. Historically, there has been an abundance which still carries on today. Behind every lie, there is a motive for doing so. In Shakespeare 's Othello, Iago is no exception to this rule. He is living a dual life of lies. On one face Iago is a trustworthy friend who is attempting to set up Roderigo with the love of his life. His other face is the one whose main goal is to be the Lieutenant of the Venetian Army. In order to reach that status he must ruin the relationship of Cassio andOthello. Iago uses each other character against others and against themselves using his knowledge of their habits and lives. His vast array of manipulative strategies gives him an extraordinary advantage over his peers. A few weak points that Iago targets are Roderigo 's desire for Desdemona, Othello 's self image and Cassio 's trust. Iago does not feel the need to ease his way into manipulating his best friend. In fact, He starts to deceive Roderigo in the first scene of the first act. Roderigo 's trusting and fairly gullible personality gives a sense of strength and security to Iago in his attempts. All ready, Iago develops a cruel ploy to knock down Othello 's reputation. The easiest way for this to happen is by hinting that Othello kidnapped Desdemona. Due to the social and racial tension of the time, this was a common perception of black men. Those Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 17. Who Is Iago In Othello In "Othello," William Shakespeare creates a devious character, Iago. He is a very educated young man, who lacks ethics enabling is character to deceive those around him, disguising his true character. With audience perception, opposing character perceptions, Iago portrays a brilliant, manipulative villain who is concealed with false sympathy, integrity and empathy. Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 18. Iago's Manipulation Shakespeare's Othello presents a complex scenario: on one hand, there is evil and successful manipulation, and on the other, there is gullibility and naГЇvetГ©. The pivotal character Iago sets into motion an evil scheme, carefully and slowly, which leads to ultimate tragedy and ruin. Othello, a loving, gentle, kind–hearted man, falls into a state of near insanity, convinced of falsehoods fed to him by his trusted aide. Iago is a devious trickster and he secretly despises Othello. Constantly plotting his next move, Iago manipulates others to do his bidding and acts in ways that further his plot against Othello, while Othello falls for all of Iago's schemes. Iago is scheming, manipulative, and devious, whereas Othello is impressionable, overly–trusting, and ultimately, overcome with jealousy. Iago is full of contempt for Othello because he hired Michael Cassio over himself. Roderigo, who is sick with love for Desdemona – and paying Iago for aid in pursuing Desdemona – questions him, asking why he does not simply resign from his lower status position as he is so distraught. Iago's response is villainous: "I follow him to serve my turn upon him" (1.1.38). He continues to serve Othello out of spite, and the actions that follow throughout the play are driven by this deep hatred of Othello. His first scheme at hurting Othello is to rouse Desdemona's father, Brabantio, and alert him that Othello and Desdemona have eloped. Roderigo and Iago go to Brabantio's house and call out into the night, disturbing him. Brabantio, confused, asks why they are summoning him, to which Iago responds, "an old black ram is tupping your white ewe" (1.1.86). He adds that his "daughter [is] covered with a Barbary horse" (1.1.109). If these statements are not salacious or disturbing enough, he finally explains that he has come "to tell you your daughter and the Moor are making the beast with two backs" (1.1.112–113). Iago puts a horrifying, evil, disgusting image into Brabantio's mind, while at the same time revealing the great extent to which he despises Othello. Iago is extremely upsetting in this scene, referring to Othello and Desdemona's relationship in vile, despicable terms, and this marks only the beginning of the pain he is to cause Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 19. Othello Unequivocally, Iago plays an important and major function in the tragedy of Othello. By the end of the play, Iago has been directly responsible for the deaths of Roderigo, Emilia and the protagonist and his love. Iago's importance to the play is revealed by his contribution to the plot and his significance relative to other characters. Iago's function, which invariably adds to the importance he has on the play, is to lead to the downfall of Othello therefore revealing the themes of hate, jealousy and revenge. Iago also serves to contrast with the characters of Othello and Desdemona and to create dramatic irony consequently involving the audience in the journey of the play. The foundation of his success has been built upon his honest ...show more content... This would suggest that this is a fundamental characteristic of his. However, Iago does strive to appear honest and sincere. 'If I shall stay [with Roderigo] I shall– against the Moor. This is also seen when he defends Cassio after the drunken brawl. Iago speaks with hesitation and refers to Cassio being a friend several times. 'I had rather have this tongue cut out from my mouth than it should do offence to Cassio'. This appearance allows him to gain favour with all characters, especially those of Cassio and Othello, allowing him to influence them. The success of Iago's deceptive honesty is most clearly seen in the final scene of the play in which the truth of his dishonesty is revealed. So successful was Iago's scheme that Othello can only think that Iago must have been a devil. 'I look down towards his feet– butВ… If that thou be'st a devil, I cannot kill thee'. Even when on stage, Iago appears to have an overriding dominance over the other characters. In Act 3 sn iii, in which Othello asks Iago to kneel next to him and make a pact in order to destroy Cassio and Desdemona, we cannot but notice the power Iago evokes in Othello. 'Do not rise yet', Iago cries, 'I am yours forever'. Also Iago's dominance over Othello is seen in Act 4 sn I where Othello has fallen into a trance. The audience look on with pity as Iago says, 'Thus do credulous fools are caught.' On stage this would be a powerful scene in which Iago finally subdues Othello. Iago Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 20. Essay about Othello People are not always the way you see them to be. Within the play Othello by William Shakespeare, a character named Iago displays a very good example of this. Iago who is Othello's ensign is considerate to people although at the same time manipulates their minds into thinking different things other than what had really occurred. Therefore, the victims of Iago's mischievous acts had been lured in to gullibility at every corner. In Act I, Iago had used his 'magic' on Roderigo who was very upset upon the fact that Othello and Desdemona were still able to be as one, since he was very much in desire for her. Iago had told him not to worry and that Desdemona will soon desire him. Roderigo had then believed him. He...show more content... Iago had shown great dishonesty and evilness to his own leader. Iago had already caused so much devious acts that he took this to another level. He had taken something that symbolized the love and compassion Othello had for Desdemona which a handkerchief. Iago had told Othello that Cassio and Desdemona have something going on after Iago had supposedly over heard what Cassio was saying in his sleep. Othello eventually becomes furious at both of them, most especially his wife because he is led to believe their marriage was false. Iago's plan worked and it yet close to his goal. He again persuades Othello in killing Cassio so he will win her back. Othello still relies on Iago's influence thinking that all his decisions are proper things to do. As of act V, at the end Iago's own wife is the one to figure out what his whole plot is and tells Othello what he had done and this was one thing that Iago had not been able to use his skills in manipulating him. Othello stabs Iago who was the villain of this play the whole time. This play displayed the power that one person may have in order to get what they want. It also showed how much the characters had bought into Iago's thoughts and influence to cause even more damage between everyone. His power is led to believe that anyone could be gullible no matter what position you are whether it be in rank or how smart you may Get more content on HelpWriting.net
  • 21. Othello vs. Iago Essay Othello vs. Iago As the villain in Shakespeare's play Othello, Iago has two main actions. They are to plot and to deceive. Iago wishes to plot and to deceive because he is jealous of Othello and hates him. Iago's reasons for why he hates Othello is because he believes that Othello made love to his wife, and Iago is mad that Cassio was chosen to be Lieutenant instead of himself. From this hate comes the main conflict of the play. Iago plans to ruin Othello because of Iago's jealousy towards him is by carrying out a plan to get back at Othello based on lies and deceit. This plan will make Iago the only person that Othello believes he can trust, and Iago will use this trust to manipulate Othello. Iago plans to remove Cassio from...show more content... Cassio's uncharacteristic aggression is what eventually removes his from position as lieutenant. "Sir, he's rash and very sudden in choler, and haply may strike at you. Provoke him that he may, for even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny, whose qualification shall come into no true taste again but by the displanting of Cassio" (Shakespeare 261–264). This quote is when Iago explains Cassio to Othello among the numerous times that he does do so. When taste is used, the line says that the people of Cyprus will not feel comfortable with their nature until Cassio is removed from his position. "The definition of qualifications is condition, nature or pacification and uses the word trust instead of taste." (Gray 2) In contrast, when trust is used, Iago's words say that the people of Cyprus will not be able to trust authorities again until Cassio is no longer Lieutenant. While Cassio is fighting, Iago is using the violence to create a riot in Cyprus and upset the people. Cassio is blamed for this riot, and order cannot be restored until he is no longer Lieutenant. The word trust makes more sense in this sentence, because Cassio lost the trust of the masses when he acted with aggression. He was always a well mannered and peaceful man, and now the people of Cyprus do not know who he really is. In the soliloquy following Roderigo's exit, Iago reveals the real reasons for his plotting against Othello. Get more content on HelpWriting.net