Character Analysis Of Iago In Othello
Iago
Iago, the triumphant villain within Othello is a perplexing character, his true intentions are buried deep in deception and deviance that help create who he is. The heinous goals he sets out to achieve are unfathomable, yet without his presence Othello would be nothing more than a romantic drama. Iago is the villain we love to hate; he is the sole instigator of the tragic events that take place within Othello. And yet still Iago is one of the most complex characters within Shakespearean tragedy.
In order for Othello to be as effective as it is, the depiction of Iago as the perfect example of evil itself was essential, and is accomplished with his particular characteristic traits.
His extreme deceitful nature is made known within his many soliloquies; Shakespeare used these to evoke frustration within the reader; during these dramatic and extended asides, the true dramatic irony is revealed. Iago’s lies and underhanded nature however is never uncovered by the people he seeks to destroy. He confides in them, and is intelligent and deceptive enough to gain their
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To Iago, the hate is explained subtly and then the lies and destruction follow. The beliefs of adultery involving Othello and Cassio are fantasies that feed his hate. To work his hatred into rage, he invents hurts to justify his heinous actions. In order to feel superiority, Iago also expresses his hatred towards women- treating them as sexual objects to satisfy men’s desires and nothing more. He makes rude and snide comments about both his wife and other women such as, “You rise to play and go to bed to work.” His opinion on their roles in society is apparent as he speaks crudely about both Emelia and Desdemona. To add towards his disrespectful attitude towards women, Iago murders his own wife, Emilia. This adds to the concept that Emilia is seen more as a servant than a companion to
Animal Imagery In Othello
1272 Words | 6 PagesWhile he knows that his actions are immoral, he embraces it fully by calling for evil forces to help in his plans to destroy Othello’s life. This imagery shows Iago’s true nature to the audience, one that wishes for the corruption of people’s lives and actively acting it out. Moreover, Iago refers to himself as a devil in a soliloquy after Cassio drunkenly --------, saying "When devils will the blackest sins put on, / They do suggest at first with heavenly shows, / As I do now" (2.3.351-353). He reveals his intentions to harm Othello to the audience, showing that he does not have empathy for Othello or those his actions would affect, showing his ------------------------------------------------------------------------.
Othello Lies And Deceit Analysis
580 Words | 3 PagesIago’s hatred of Othello stems from the rumor that Othello bedded his wife Emilia and was fueled by Othello’s choice to promote Cassio, the inexperienced soldier. The story begins with Iago manipulating Desdemona’s (Othello’s wife) father. Convincing him that Othello used witchcraft to win over Desdemona. When that plan fails, another is hatched as Iago plans to use a small gesture against Cassio. He will succeed in convincing Othello that his wife was unfaithful.
Iago's Use Of Deception In Othello
735 Words | 3 PagesThroughout history many of the great generals often had a right hand man or lieutenant to help make important decisions. When Iago was passed over for this great position he was willing to go to any length to achieve the position he felt he deserved. In the play, Othello by William Shakespeare, Iago became the antagonist in one of Shakespeare's most well-known plays. Iago used manipulation, deception, and creative thinking to hatch a plan that would cause the death of nearly every main role in the play.
Othello Passage Analysis
923 Words | 4 PagesIago uses very clever methods of persuasion and manipulation aimed to use Othello’s hamartia against him, pointing out that “ “She (Desdemona) did deceive her father, marrying you,” so much so that Brabantio “thought ’twas witchcraft”. Through this, Iago is subtly raising the issues of Othello’s cultural differences with Desdemona; a root cause behind Othello’s insecurities with his wife – along with inadequacy due to race, degree of sophistication and age. As Iago prompts Othello to think the worst, his utterances are short and uneasy, revealing the beginning to his downfall, whilst Iago’s dialogue is at length highlighting his growing power of
Similarities Between Gatsby And Othello
1837 Words | 8 PagesIago contributes to the tragic downfall of Othello, playing him like a fiddle. The human nature of Iago manipulates the trust
Examples Of Manipulation In Othello
901 Words | 4 PagesIn the book Othello, Iago is a very manipulating man, throughout the book he manages to manipulate three main people, Roderigo, Cassio, and Othello. He uses all their weaknesses to bring them down. Iago wants revenge on Othello, because Othello overlooks Iago and his abilities, so Iago manipulates these three characters to get back at Othello in the long run. He comes up with a very good plan to get each other to turn against one another. So in the end he ends up getting what he wanted, revenge.
Iago Deception In Othello
998 Words | 4 PagesLike a puppet master, Iago uses deception in the play Othello, by William Shakespeare, as a duplicitous being with perfidious views on the demise of others for personal revenge against Othello. Consequently, he is able to manipulate the characters in an adroit manner with ease as if fraudulency becomes second nature. Yet, Iago has not become this iconic villain without just (used loosely) cause. Before Iago’s notorious connotation, this dauntless soldier-people considering the precedent for just acts, and pious intentions- is discounted for a promotion by word of Othello, leading the inexorable “green-eyed monster” to peek its grotesque head out from underneath its lair. Agitated and undoubtedly cunning, Iago seeks his revenge against Othello with a ferocity unmatched, using every arsenal disposable to him; deception being his greatest.
Jealousy And Manipulation In Othello
700 Words | 3 Pages“Othello” written by William Shakespeare revolves around this protagonist who is depicted as strong and powerful. To everyone he is known as Othello or the Moor. Throughout the play, Shakespeare portrays numerous counts of jealousy and manipulation around many of the characters. It is mainly illustrated through Iago, the antagonist of the play, who manipulates other to their downfall. Iago who is known for always being true and honest towards others has easily earned the trust of everyone around him, thus giving himself an advantage on his schemes.
Iago's Psychopaths In Othello
757 Words | 4 PagesHis detachment towards the characters then drives him to do sinister deeds on to them, ultimately causing his downfall. Emilia, Iago’s own wife is another character to which he is detached from. In Act Five, scene two, Iago kills his wife for telling
Betrayal In Othello
1477 Words | 6 PagesHe ends up uses all the money Rodrigo gave him, for himself. Not only that, but Iago ends up killing Roderigo, he says, “if Roderigo lives, he’ll expect me to give back all the gold and jewels I swindled him out of as gifts to Desdemona, that must not happen.” Iago stabs Roderigo, and puts all the charges on him. Emilia is Iago’s wife as well as Desdemona’s maid, he lacks attention and sympathy towards her. It is very obvious that he does not care about her.
Iago's Perception Of Women In Othello
395 Words | 2 PagesAlthough, Iago creates this immoral images of women to feed his revenge, while doing it by this mean he reveals his true perception of women. Iago perceives his wife as a promiscuous woman and without having any facts or proof convinces himself and takes as a fact the rumor that Emilia had an affair with Othello (1.3.324-27). Iago acknowledges his wife as an easy woman who has betrayed him more than once, murmuring: “For I fear Cassio with my
Comparing Othello And In The Time Of The Butterflies By Julia Alvarez
846 Words | 4 PagesOthello’s confidence for a loyal man to maintain honesty and morals are contradicted through Iago’s actions: “in a man that’s just / They are close dilations, working from the heart, / That passion cannot rule” (3.3.123). Iago, due to the understatement to his name, is not perceivable as hateful. Othello’s willingness to sense Iago’s distress, and to believe his accusations, is because of the lack of awareness Othello has for his vengeance. Iago is of such little power and relevance within societal ranking that if he were to have intentions to sabotage anyone, which he does, are not considered, thus making him easily trustworthy to those of greater dominance. Society’s view of an individual determines how others consider and surmise their persona, though these conclusions may be false.
Iago And Richard III Analysis
1826 Words | 8 PagesKolin observes that Iago stands out among Shakespearean villains since he is the only one to survive his own monstrous acts (25). Unlike Richard III, apart from telling stories, Iago carries out a downright fraud through other means of manipulation, which makes him the most evil and intelligent character. To be exact, Iago is a puppeteer who sets up scenes to deceive the “credulous fools”—Othello, Cassio and Desdemona (4.1.45). Iago talks to Cassio about Bianca while telling Othello that the subject of their conversation is the Moor’s wife. He is so smart and careful that he even gestures Othello to come closer when Cassio is about to illustrate how Bianca entangles him.
Theme Of Dishonesty In Othello
750 Words | 3 PagesIn the play Othello, William Shakespeare creates an elaborate tragedy with various in depth characters, enhancing the story with powerful characterization. Iago, the main antagonist of Othello, exemplifies Shakespeare’s use of characterization to create in depth and complex characters. Using his manipulative nature, intellectual mind, egotistical attitude, and dishonesty, Iago controls the other characters in order to achieve his goal, leading Othello to succumb to an overwhelming jealousy causing his downfall. In order for Iago to gain control of the characters in the play, he manipulates Othello, Roderigo, Cassio, and more to believe false information and turn on one another.
Othello Act 3 Scene 3 Analysis
982 Words | 4 PagesIago’s powerfully disruptive insinuations torment Othello to fall precipitously into his intricate trap, believing in the prospect of Cassio and Desdemona’s fictitious affair. Through the use of linguistic techniques such as elliptical speech, subservient vocative choices and a hesitant tone, Iago is able to construct artful innuendoes to deceive and manipulate Othello. Supplementary to linguistic techniques, dramatic techniques such as dramatic irony reinforces Iago’s role as a two-faced villain, who is making a pretence of being Othello’s loyal ensign. Eventually, Iago’s villainy nature sows a seed of doubt in Othello that germinates into the murder of Desdemona. Through the characterisation of Iago as a notorious villain, Shakespeare is able to hold Iago’s actions accountable for the play’s tragic downfall, establishing a sense of powerlessness amongst the
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