'Put the moor in a jealousy so strong judgement cannot cure ' speaks Iago in Shakespeare 's play Othello. Iago achieves this not by his action, but rather a few spiteful words whispered into his master 's, Othello 's ear, hence unleashing in Othello a jealousy that overpowered his ability for rational thinking. Through this, Shakespeare shows us the danger of Iago’s words compared to his actions. As Iago 's spiteful plotting demonstrates, all it takes is a few words to unravel a person, which we see through the demise of Othello and the jealous mess he transformed into.
The dangers of one 's word is emphasised early in the play. The opening begins with Iago 's spiteful talk of Othello. Through Iago 's speech, Othello is described as a
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By planting the idea into Othello 's mind that his wife, Desdemona, is having an affair with his lieutenant, Iago transforms the once rational Othello into a creature. Through this, the audience learns that it is not Iago 's actions, but rather his words that enabled the monster that is jealousy to be unleashed within Othello. Through his subtle suggestions of “Desdemona should not be trusted”, since she has 'deceived her father ', Iago encourages the on-start of jealousy within Othello. The dangers of the spoken word is further shown through Iago 's manipulation of Othello. Throughout the play, Iago doesn 't show much action but instead he is a character known …show more content…
A display Othello’s trust towards Iago is shown when the Duke tells Othello that he must leave for Cyprus, but must also leave behind an officer to deliver documents from the Senate. Othello appoints Iago to be that officer, because "A man he is of honesty and trust." A little later, Othello entrusts Iago with the responsibility of escorting Desdemona to Cyprus, and asks him to have Iago 's wife be her companion. He says, "Honest Iago, / My Desdemona must I leave to thee: / I prithee, let thy wife attend on her: / And bring them after in the best advantage" At the end of the scene, when Iago is hatching his plan against Othello, he comments 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" Iago knows that Othello considers him honest, and he is planning on
Iago, the notorious villain in William Shakespeare's play Othello, is a complex character whose actions and motivations have been a subject of fascination for literary scholars for centuries. From an archetypal criticism perspective, Iago can be analyzed as the embodiment of the outlaw archetype, a recurring pattern in literature that represents the darker, hidden aspects of the human psyche. In Othello, Iago's character exhibits traits and behaviors associated with the outlaw archetype, including manipulation, deception, jealousy, and a lack of morality, which ultimately lead to his destructive actions and the downfall of those around him. One of the defining characteristics of the outlaw archetype is its ability to manipulate and deceive.
Untruths and misdirection’s are normal in the public eye, and numerous people veil their actual goals with a lacquer. In Shakespeare 's play Othello, the character Iago is the same as those tricky people. Behind his façade as a dependable ensign and companion, Iago is a multilayered, tricky and manipulative scalawag, coming up with disarray and bringing about setbacks toother characters for requital. Iago utilizes his deft and shrewd key demonstrations of control to undermine each character’s shortcomings. He misuses Roderigo’s love for Desdemona, Cassio under the appearance of companionship, and toys with Othello’s mind by playing on his self-question.
The following passage is significant to the play ‘Othello’ in retrospect to the plot progression, as it reiterates themes and introduces important facets to the plot development. Through Iago’s cunning manipulation and Shakespeare’s crafting of language, this passage is constructed as a pivotal point of the play, marking the transition of Othello’s personality and revealing his deepest insecurities that eventually lead to his downfall and tragic ending. Iago wields a lot of power over all the characters throughout the play, but in this passage in particular he is presented at his most powerful. The passage is riddled with subtle suggestions and insinuations by Iago to raise Othello’s suspicions of his wife’s fidelity, opening with the admonition to “beware, my lord, of jealousy!
William Shakespeare, the 16th to 17th century English playwright, dwelt on themes dealing with human nature: love, hate, power, jealousy, humour, discrimination and self-respect. He made the often-quoted observation that “our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we might oft win by fearing to attempt”, voicing the danger of doubt which could ultimately lead to loss of self-esteem. In his play, Othello, the moor, who was perceived as a courageous military hero, met his downfall due to the erosion of his self-esteem, and as a result, tragedy ensued. In the play, Othello trusted Iago unconditionally, to the extent that he came to seriously question himself and the trustworthiness of Desdemona, his wife, whom he genuinely cared
Iago contributes to the tragic downfall of Othello, playing him like a fiddle. The human nature of Iago manipulates the trust
The first act of Othello is a microcosm of sorts for the entire play. In the first act, the reader sees Iago infect two characters with his evil methods, which are reflections of Iagos’ maneuvers in the subsequent Acts of the play, those Acts which progress according to Iago’s actions. In Shakespeare’s Othello, the characters’ strong and symbolic diction is an essential element in the progression of the events of the play. In considering the character of Iago with respect to his diction, the reader recognizes literary patterns which allow for a more profound insight into the text.
Iago’s intentions unveil themselves not only through actions, but through his engagement with the audience. “Iago’s self-understanding is well-express when he explains to viewers his plan to put a plague in Othello’s ear that will cause him to misinterpret Desdemona’s advocacy to Cassio.” (The Art) In order to commence suspicion within Othello, Iago utilizes the elopement of Othello and Desdemona. “Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see.
“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.
Othello starts to believe Iago’s lies about his friends and wife, leading Othello to change his behavior towards his closest allies. Iago instigates a fight between Cassio and Montano, and Othello must take charge of his soldiers, he says: Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, Making it light to Cassio. Cassio, I love thee But never more be officer of mine. (2.3.210-213) Othello makes the decision to fire Cassio, and things get worse when Iago makes his wife, Emilia, steal Desdemona 's handkerchief.
Othello appeared to have sound judgment, but almost immediately after showing blind trust in Iago he lacked “the judicial temper, and in important crises [did] not observe the judicial procedures” (Martin 47). As soon as Othello shows blind trust in Iago Othello is only nominally “searching for evidence; in actuality he is crying for certainty at any price, and doing so in the office of prosecuting counsel” rather than take his time and make sound rational judgments (Kliger 137). Othello became completely ensnared in Iago’s web and believed Iago’s every word as
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.
In 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.
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.
Jealousy does not merely destroy the bonds of love, but also alters the lives of the people involved. In The Tragedy of Othello by William Shakespeare, Othello’s entire life is ripped apart by the detrimental lies fed to him by Iago involving his wife Desdemona. William Shakespeare uses imagery, as well as personification to paint a vivid image in the reader’s mind of how jealousy can completely shatter someone’s life In The Tragedy of Othello.