Examples Of Desdemona's Infidelity In Othello

A quick search of an online text of Othello shows that Othello refers to Iago as honest fourteen times throughout the play, and each time, he has no hesitations in assigning this trait to Iago. For whatever reasons, which are probably depicted before the span of the play, Othello is entirely confident of Iago’s honesty. This belief is what allows Iago to turn his mind so easily. Iago even admits in a soliloquy that “The Moor is of a free and open nature / That thinks men honest that but seem to be so; / And will as tenderly be led by the nose / As asses are” (1.3.391-4). The fact that Othello truly believes Iago is honest, coupled with the fact that he has no reason to be suspicious of a plot against him, especially from Iago, is what lets Iago’s plan become so successful. While it is unclear why Othello automatically believes Iago’s insinuations—perhaps because they have known each other longer than Othello has known Desdemona, or because he doesn’t believe Iago would gain anything from lying, but Desdemona would gain a lot from lying about an affair—Othello does almost immediately conclude, solely from Iago’s reports, that Desdemona is cheating on him. This conclusion would be almost impossible without Othello’s confidence in Iago’s

In the same way that Iago views his manipulative retaliation as correct, Othello believes all of his convictions are correct. This is exemplified when Othello states “Exchange me for a goat / When I shall turn the business of my soul / To such exsufflicate and blowed surmises, / Matching thy inference” (Shakespeare, 3.3.185-88). Once this burden of proof has been lifted by Iago, Othello will succumb to the jealousy he is beginning to feel. Iago fulfills this requirement of evidence with an impromptu story that carries no real significance. Despite this, Othello is convinced. “Why did I marry?” Othello asks himself (3.3.248). Manipulating through a false reluctance to speak, Iago causes Othello to think “[t]his honest creature doubtless / Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds” (3.3.248-9). This is a twist on a common lying technique. The “consequences can be great” of this “trickster’s lie,” and it is used to achieve “deliberate dissent” (Furnham). With this in mind, Iago’s ease of manipulation is not surprising. Iago has figured out how Othello functions, and has rightly concluded that he will respond as strongly to the thought of adultery as Iago himself--despite the irrationality. Therefore, after successfully convincing Othello in this instance, Iago has won; Othello fully believes in his

Iago and his wife Emilia enter the room to comfort Desdemona. Desdemona weeps telling Iago that Othello hates her. Iago sat by her saying “Fie, there is no such man. It’s impossible” (IIII.ii.157) trying to reassure her. Iago uses manipulation in a different way here. His method of manipulation is comfort and reassurance which makes Iago an even more dangerous character. Iago uses his tone to manipulate and calm Desdemona of her worries. Iago looks at her and tells her to be happy and that Othello is not serious about what he is saying and that he is just being funny (IIII.ii.194). Desdemona then relaxes and is content for sometime. Iago’s success in manipulating Desdemona creates tension and further problems. Emilia, Iago’s wife is also a victim, his wrongdoings and fails to see what her husband is doing to her and everyone around

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 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. Many characters fall into Iago 's web of deception throughout the book.

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.

Olson, Rebecca. “€Too Gentle: Jealousy and Class in Othello.” Journal for Early Modern Cultural Studies, vol. 15, no. 1, 2015, pp. 3–25. MLA International Bibliography EBSCOhost, doi:10.1353/jem.2015.0006. Accessed 14 Mar. 2017.

Firstly, Iago demonstrates the dark side of human nature by being self-centered. He is manipulative and tells Othello to “observe her [Desdemona] well with Cassio” (Shakespeare, 3.3:197). Iago feeds Othello with countless lies and makes him miserable with something that is not factual. He is determined to get revenge and he does not realize Iago stands insincere. Furthermore, Iago is selfish when he tells Othello, “I am yours for ever” (3.3:479). He betrays Othello yet still let’s him depend on him for his own

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

Othello’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.

Othello falls for Iago’s lies because he sees Othello as a trustworthy man. The reason Othello’s trust in Iago is high, it is because of his honesty, giving him the name “Honest Iago,” and Othello has also known him for years. Throughout the whole story, Othello is lead to believe Iago’s lies and would trust him more than anyone else even his wife Desdemona. With Iago trying manipulate Othello, it works well causing him to do things leading to disbelieve the close people around him.

Throughout the play of Othello many characters had different mindsets and the way they displayed grit was also unique to each characters. One can say that each character had they own fair share of grittiness during the play. However I ultimately define mindset as a belief or beliefs that people have overtime that helps to shape the way they think. You can also say that grit is the determination to do something or achieve something. For example I can be characterized as a gritty person because when I'm determined to get something I will do my absolute best in order to do or achieve that particular thing. It's the willingness to get something done is what makes you a considerably gritty.

The play Othello by William Shakespeare paints a picture of a noble character by the name of Othello. Othello’s nature was “noble, innocent, modest, and free” and yet he still possessed several tragic flaws that ultimately led to his downfall (Martin 47). Othello suffered from many flaws but the largest were jealousy, quick judgment, and blind trust in Iago. While Othello’s tragic flaws were clearly present these flaws would never have led to Othello’s downfall had it not have been for Othello’s greatest flaw, blind trust in Iago. Othello’s blind trust in Iago led to other flaws such as jealousy and quick judgment playing a major role in Othello’s life in the play Othello by William Shakespeare. Othello’s greatest flaw was blind trust in Iago

Othello is one of the victims who believed Iago. You can already tell that Othello has been fooled when he calls him “a man [of] honesty and trust”. The audience already knows that Iago is a liar and loathes Othello, so the audience can tell when Iago is being two-faced and that Othello truly believes in him. Iago’s impact on Othello makes him lose control of his

Iago is by far the sneakiest character in Othello. By using an (act innocent and blind) approach to seek revenge on his commanding officer and colleague who took his place. Iago’s deception can be spotted as early as act two. “I do love Cassio well and would do much to cure him from this evil” (Shakespeare 2.3.150-151). This is where Iago tells Montano how much he loves Cassio and wants to help him, but as the reader you know that he hates Othello and Cassio bit tricks Montano and others to get his revenge. According to Keyisjian “Iago convinces Othello he is full of” “love and honesty, qualities that Othello admires” (Shakespeare 3.3.116). This is to earn his trust and to undermine him. This was one of the strategies that Iago uses to deceit the characters in the play. He is also very sneaky when he does it.