Pride, greed, and lust drove Iago to poisoning Desdemona 's father and eventually ruining the marriage between Desdemona and Othello. In his play, he approach the problems the world faces in a comedic manner. People let greed and lust persuade them to do crazy things. Othello and Iago are foil characters in Othello. Iago let his vengeful ways and deceitful motives alter his decisions while Othello appears in the opening acts as the very personification of self control”(Harbage).
Throughout the play, he would often talk about Iago in the same manner as in Act 2, scene 2, “a man he is of honesty and trust”( II,ii. 323-324). Given that Othello trusted who he thought was his best friend, it was easier for Iago to bring Othello down. The root of Iago’s evil intentions is jealousy, which he describes to be like a “green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on” (III,iii. 196-197).
All these traits that Othello exhibits lead him to be known as one of the most well-known tragic heroes in all of literature. And Iago is person who is full of hatred and jealousy towards anyone who is in a position higher than him; he can’t control his jealousy and begin doing actions which is not suitable to his position. This leads to destroy all the people whom around him even the people he
Discuss Shakespeare 's Use of Imagery in Othello to Reveal Character 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. Firstly, Shakespeare uses animal imagery to show that Iago views others as less than him.
This ubiquitous pitfall of mankind is illuminated in the play Othello by Shakespeare. In the play, the author seemingly juxtaposes both Othello and his nemesis, Iago. However, upon closer inspection, Othello and Iago suffer from similar flaws. Iago, using his knowledge of his own flaws-- jealousy and vengeance--, exploits Othello’s need for reputation, ultimately ruining
However, positive or negative factors may influence the development of someone’s character. Throughout the play, Iago portrays himself as malicious, while Othello portrays himself as affectionate through his own use of diction, but everything changes as Othello is baited by Iago’s lies and begins to mirror, in his actions and words, the evil Iago embodies. Toward the beginning of the play, Iago and Othello appear to be complete opposites. In terms of good and evil, Iago depicted himself as evil through his harsh word choices, while with sentimental word choices Othello conveyed the good. Immediately, Iago reveals his monstrous character, full of hatred, without a drop of shame as he declares, “I hate the Moor” (1.3.386).
This animalistic imagery shows that not only is Othello being dehumanized by Iago, but Desdemona is as well. Since both characters are not viewed as human to Iago, it shows that he is more willing to embark on manipulative acts upon them. His 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
In Othello by William Shakespeare, Iago deceives others, mainly Othello and Roderigo, due to his desire for revenge, an improved reputation, and power. Throughout the play, Iago uses his desire for revenge to deceive others, like Othello. Iago’s desire for revenge shows when he states, “For “Certes,” says he, / “I have already chose my officer.”/ And what was he?/ Forsooth, a great arithmetician, / One Michael Cassio, a Florentine” (1.1.17-21). Othello’s choice reveals Iago’s jealousy of Cassio earning the position which fuels Iago’s desire for revenge on not only Othello, but also on Cassio. Another time Iago deceives someone to build up his plan is when he tells Roderigo, “When she is sated with his/ body she will find the errors of
In the play Othello, written by William Shakespeare, Iago appears to be a clever and manipulative character from the beginning. He attempts, and succeeds, to sabotage the Othello’s, relationship with his wife Desdemona. Throughout the play, he conceals his true character and as a result, other characters see him as honest, reliable, and trustworthy. He gains Othello’s lieutenant Cassio’s trust, then backstabs him. He also uses Roderigo, a Venetian, as a piece in his puzzle to ultimately take down Othello.
Not only is this for the audience to understand that his words are kept to himself, but for him to be alone on stage parallels the devil’s solidarity in Hell. The ease which comes with performing his plots is purely second nature and part of his identity because he is one with the devil. Part of Iago’s transfer of evil to cause disorder is when he fully intends to spark Othello’s jealousy in love. The telling of Iago to Othello that Desdemona laid “naked with her friend in bed” plants a devil inside Othello’s brain (4.1.5). The devil continues to haunt Othello and causes him to act without reason, like an animal with no conscience.