ipl-logo

Iago's Deception In Othello

785 Words4 Pages

“Iago is an extreme instance of diseased intellectual activity, with the most perfect indifference to moral good or evil, or rather with a decided preference of the latter” -William Hazlitt. In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago is the main antagonist who drives most of the plot and creates great conflict for Othello and other characters. Iago hates Othello because Cassio was promoted to Lieutenant over Iago, causing Iago to craft a destructive revenge plan to convince Othello that his wife, Desdemona, is having an affair with Cassio and actually trying to sleep with her himself. This plan will ruin the lives of Othello, Cassio, and anyone else in Iago’s path. Because of the pure jealousy that fuels his revenge, the genius complexity in his destructive plans, and all the while manipulating everyone around him without their knowledge, Shakespeare presents Iago as one of the most compelling villains in all of literature. …show more content…

Early in the play, Iago contemplates how to go about bring down Othello and Cassio (1.iii.435-447) and later addresses his plan to drive Othello into a rage of jealousy and madness through the supposed infidelity of Desdemona with Cassio (2.i.205-231), out of which he concludes “So will I turn her virtue into pitch,/And out of [Desdemona's] own goodness make the net/That shall enmesh them all.” (2.iii.262-264). First, Iago manipulates Cassio to get drunk and stab Roderigo which causes Othello to lose faith in Cassio. Then, Iago poisons Othello’s mind to believe that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio, and finally he kills Roderigo and drives Othello to the point of murder. At almost every point throughout his endeavors, Iago is coercing or manipulating someone to further his agenda. “Evil has nowhere else been portrayed with such mastery as in the evil character of Iago” -A.C.

Show More
Related

  • Iago's Use Of Deception In Othello

    735 Words  | 3 Pages

    At this point in the play Iago had told Othello just enough to make him start to doubt his relationship with Desdemona. Iago realized that the small details would begin to drive Othello mad and he would believe anything, even if it was not real evidence of a relationship between Desdemona and Cassio. Othello will eventually let the Jealously take over and kill his wife over the lies told by

    Read More

  • Theme Of Sacrifice In Othello

    565 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the beginning of the novel, Shakespeare describes Iago as a mastermind of manipulating others. Iago holds a grudge and resentment towards the Moor, Othello, because another soldier, lieutenant Cassio, has been promoted

    Read More

  • Examples Of Manipulation In Othello

    901 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Friendship In Othello

    1474 Words  | 6 Pages

    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). He speaks of it in a way that captures how it affects man because that is what he was going through after Cassio got the lieutenancy.

    Read More

  • Example Of Mistrust In Othello

    773 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Manipulation In Othello

    944 Words  | 4 Pages

    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,

    Read More

  • Comparing Othello And In The Time Of The Butterflies By Julia Alvarez

    846 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Othello Soliloquy Analysis

    979 Words  | 4 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Iago And Richard III Analysis

    1826 Words  | 8 Pages

    Kolin 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.

    Read More

  • The Manipulation Of Jealousy In Shakespeare's Othello

    506 Words  | 3 Pages

    Iago can prey on these insecurities and use Othello's jealousy to plant seeds of doubt in his mind about his wife Desdemona. Iago is a master manipulator who can effectively use Othello's jealousy to drive a wedge between him and Desdemona, causing Othello to doubt her love and loyalty. Iago's jealousy of Cassio's promotion and his desire for revenge against Othello drive him to manipulate and deceive Othello in order to bring about his own ends. He does this by planting false evidence and making up lies about Desdemona's supposed infidelity,

    Read More

  • Theme Of Dishonesty In Othello

    750 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Othello Act 3 Scene 3 Analysis

    982 Words  | 4 Pages

    As a scheming villain, Iago begins to ensnare Othello into his trap of vengeance by echoing in Othello’s mind prospect of an affair between Cassio and Desdemona. Iago begins his insinuations by reminding Othello that Cassio served as their go-between during their courtship through a rhetorical

    Read More

  • Iago's Influence On Othello

    436 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Dark Side Of Human Nature In Shakespeare's Othello

    517 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • How Does Jealousy Lead To Othello's Downfall

    970 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Othello, it is jealousy that ultimately leads to the downfall of three characters, Roderigo, Othello and Iago. " O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green eyed monster" (III.iii.163). Although, Othello is not the only play where William Shakespeare has made jealousy a central motivator. He did it in Macbeth also. Jealousy has many faces between these two plays and in both they lead to the downfall of characters.

    Read More

More about Iago's Deception In Othello

Open Document