Dishonesy In Shakespeare's Othello, The Moor Of Venice

Unknown to Othello, Iago was motivated by a cruelty that demanded the utter destruction of Othello’s public and private life. In the play Othello, by William Shakespeare, Iago is the main antagonist to the protagonist of the story. Iago is motivated by cruelty; his final goal is see all of his adversaries suffer. Cruelty is an especially crucial theme to any story, for it reveals the ugly truth about a character who is primarily motivated by cruelty. The social and political gains of Iago’s cruelty display how the theme functions in a work of literature and what it reveals about both the perpetrator and victim.

A lack of empathy makes for a true villain. In Shakespeare’s tragic play Othello, the nature of Iago’s character is revealed through the use of animal, plant, and devil imagery. Iago is revealed to view others as less than him, manipulating them with a lack of conscience, and having a desire for the destruction of others. The imagery enforces his role as the villain of the play, one who manipulates others for his own self interest.

Customarily, an author will construct a narrative in which the protagonist, a character contrived to be implausible, as well as honorable is destined to decline along the path of tragedy leading to suffering and misfortune. Distinctive writing strategies corresponding to the theme, motifs, symbols and characters contently allow the scripter to plot the flaws dominating the descent of the advocate. Amongst Fitzgerald and Shakespeare’s central characters, Jay Gatsby and Othello, both filled with passionate love for their significant other are corrupted by their lack of judgement causing them to lose the one they lust over. Similarly, both characters originated from a meager past which they were forced to struggle to achieve a position where they

The cruelty Iago is able to incite in Othello and Roderigo reveals their deep passions and overwhelmingly trusting natures. The fact that Othello is so vulnerable and susceptible to Iago’s poisoning sheds light on his lurking insecurities about age, race and appearance, which Othello is ultimately unable to ignore. Likewise, Roderigo’s willingness to sacrifice all money and morals by Iago’s bidding reflects his naive passions and an overall lack of personal strength. In stark contrast with Othello and Roderigo, Desdemona, the primary victim of Iago’s cruelty and yet the only one who dies completely unaware of it, turns out, somewhat ironically, to be the only one whose inner self is completely unaffected by Iago. On the eve of her death, even after being horribly mistreated by Othello, she firmly upholds her values of loyalty and obedience, and her belief that no woman would ever wrong her husband. This reveals in part her naivety to the point of foolish ignorance that she met her downfall with, but more importantly, the incorruptible purity and innocence that Desdemona

Iago, during the play, displays a notable lack of remorse or guilt for the many horrendous deeds he commits. This is seen twice in the scenes where Iago is confronted about his devilish plan. (2.) After Othello kills Desdemona and reveals to Emilia that it was Iago who convinced him about the affair. This causes Emillia to start to realize her husband’s plans. (3.) As Iago enters the scene of the murder, Emilia openly asks Iago if he told Othello that Desdemona was cheating on him; Iago responds thusly: “I told him what I thought, and told no more than what he found himself was apt and true” (V.II.212-213). (4.) Iago is stating that Iago just told Othello what he knew and what made sense (which is obviously not true). The fact that he could so blatantly lie about what had occurred when it resulted in the death of an innocent person goes to show how unremorseful he was about his actions and about taking an innocent life. (3) Later, when Iago is promptly caught after fleeing the scene, he is interrogated by Othello about his scheme. Iago arrogantly responds with the following: “ Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. From this time forth I never will speak word. (V.II.355-356).(4.) Iago is, for as unusual as it is for a Shakespearean villain, refusing to reveal his motives for his evil plan. This final act of defiance does nothing

In William Shakespeare’s Othello the two main characters are Iago and Othello. The entire story centers around Iago 's plan to achieve revenge on Othello for not promoting him to lieutenant. Throughout the story Iago tries to convince Othello that his wife Desdemona has cheated on him with his lieutenant Cassio. Iago’s plan is successfully and easily executed. Othello is tricked into believing that desdemona has been unfaithful and in the end he kills her. The men in Othello mistrust the women and always quick to associate them with being deceptive and unfaithful.

Although the audience is well aware of his hatred for Othello at this point, this soliloquy begins to delve into the mind of Iago. For example, Iago states “Thus do I ever make my fool my purse;/ For I mine own gained knowledge should profane/ If I would time expend with such a snipe/ But for my sport and profit” (1.3.375-8). Because Roderigo is in love with Othello’s wife Desdemona, Iago is just using him in order to achieve his goal. While Iago continues with discussing his thoughts, he brings up many reasons behind why he is planning to get revenge. First, he uses derogatory terms to describe Othello such as a moor. Because of these, the audience may suspect that his motive is due to him being black and in a high position. In addition, he suspected his wife Emilia to be having an affair with Othello which, to the audience, may be another reason why revenge is desired. Thirdly, Iago mentions his motive to try to get Cassio out of the lieutenant position. As the audience receives more information about his hatred for Othello, it is still vague on how and why exactly Iago wants to destroy him. Because of the lack of clarity, it creates a spark of interest to hear more of Iago’s

In the play Othello, by William Shakespeare we are introduced to Othello who is the protagonist and faces a lot of obstacles, one of them being betrayal. Throughout the whole play we witness betrayal from many of the characters through their irrational behavior and actions. However the biggest betrayal we see is from Iago, who is the antagonist, in other words, the villain of the play. Iago plans on having his revenge and betraying Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, Rodrigo and even his wife, Emilia. Betrayal is wrong and something that can’t be forgiven, at

When he does not get the position he wants and also heard that Othello has been sleeping with his wife Emilia, Iago’s manipulation increases. Iago plans his scheme based on, “[Othello] has done my office, I know not if’t be true/ But I, for mere suspicion in that kind/ Will do as if for surety” (I. III. 431-433). This use of manipulation is all based on an assumption that Othello has slept with Iago’s wife, and this assumption leads to even more horrible events. Iago also manipulates Othello with jealousy. When Othello is gone at war, Iago tells him that Cassio and Desdemona were getting too close. At first Othello does not believe him, but by Iago saying “nothing,my lord; or if- I know not what” Othello starts to question if it is true (III. III. 39). Iago constantly uses his “innocence” to make Othello jealous and start to assume that it is true. These actions eventually lead to a tragic event. Iago’s manipulation has driven Othello insane, leading to Iago’s plans on his last night. Othello tells Iago to go get some poison to kill Desdemona, but Iago refuses and just tells him to strangle her in her bed (IV. I. 223-229). Iago’s manipulation has not only lead Othello to believe the rumor is true, but has lead him to kill his own wife as well. Iago even manipulates Othello to strangle her, which is a much personal and vengeful death than poison. All of this manipulation results in Desdemona’s death,

Iago is not mentioned as often as one would expect the antagonist of Othello would be. He is mentioned in an argument between Desdemona and Othello in Desdemona but not much after that. “My husband knew Iago was lying, manipulating, sabotaging? So why did he act on obvious deceit? Brotherhood. The quiet approval beamed from one male to another” (Morrison 37). Desdemona believes that Othello knew what Iago had been planning and he just went along with it because they had a connection of brotherhood. Othello agrees with the sentiment when he tells his tale of violence with Iago. He only says the word “we” not “I” which shows their teamwork and effort. Desdemona is a little disgusted by what she’s hearing and Othello says “you don’t understand. Shame, yes, but worse. There was pleasure too. The look between us was not to acknowledge shame, but mutual pleasure” (Morrison 38). Othello admits that him and Iago have an understanding and similar mindsets that other people, like Desdemona wouldn’t understand. This relates back to Desdemona saying Othello knowing what Iago wanted and going along with that to please the person who understands him best. Iago’s presence gives Othello the courage he needs to do the actions he shouldn’t, for example murder his wife. Iago’s lack of presence in Desdemona is what allows the couple to forgive each other. Knowing of Iago’s presence but that his influence over Othello is absent gives Desdemona the power to forgive Othello because he most likely won’t commit the same wrongs if no one is encouraging him with mutual looks of

Iago’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

Iago is a unique and complicated character. He is intelligent in that he is able to manipulate people and events in his favour, which he thrives on throughout the play, classifying him as the antagonist of the play. Driven by jealousy and hatred, Iago plots against Othello to destroy his character and reputation. Knowing that if he foolishly attacked such a respected man directly, he would be sentenced to death. As a result, he devises to use other people to obtain what he desires by influencing the characters in the play to suit his plan.

In many stories, there are villains who seem to control how the characters act by manipulation. These kinds of villains use multiple techniques to get what they want and to execute their plans. The techniques are used to affect the characters in a negative way in favor of the villain. In Othello, the antagonist Iago, plays that role. Iago affects the characters’ lives in a negative way by his honest reputation, his ability to “read” people, and how he “proves” to be Loyal.

Tragic heroes always meet their demise in the end. They have characteristics that result in their tragic deaths. In William Shakespeare’s play The Tragedy of Othello, the protagonist Othello exemplifies the characteristics of a tragic hero.

Dr. Lecter, The Joker, Norman Bates—these are some of the greatest villains on the movie screen. Nonetheless, few of them can compare to the top villains created by Shakespeare. Among them, Iago in the tragedy Othello and Richard III in Richard III are the finest and most polished. Although Othello is named after the “Moor of Venice”, Bloom comments that “it is Iago’s play” because he predominates the stage and remains in one’s mind long after one has finished reading or watching the play (433). His ascendance prompts thoughts of Richard III who is definitely the captivating protagonist in the history play. Both Iago and Richard III are Shakespeare’s most thrilling and sinister figures. Despite the fact that the two are similar in their powerful language and