Iago expresses he “hates the Moor” (I, iii, 368) because Othello gave the promotion to Cassio instead of him. Although a good reason to dislike Othello, not receiving a promotion should not lead to the conclusion of the murder of Othello. To continue, Iago explains that “it is thought abroad that ’twixt [his] sheets/ [Othello] done [his] office. [he] know not if’t be true, /But for mere suspicion in that kind, /Will do as if for surety” (I, iii, 324-327) to give another reason for his hatred. Iago admits that he has no proof of Othello’s crime against him, but he still states it as a reason for his hatred. Iago contains too much hatred to be led by a near suspicion which causes the audience to believe that this reason has no truth behind it, and it appears as an excuse. Shakespeare continues to craft the mystery behind Iago’s motives when Iago describes Othello as a man with “constant loving noble nature/ and he dare think hell prove to Desdemona/ a most dear husband” (II, I, 214-216). Iago appears to think of Othello as an incredible man, but he still wants to cause his ultimate downfall. By Shakespeare showing Iago’s other feelings towards Othello it causes the audience to believe Iago’s other
You may be deceived if you trust too much, but you will live in torment if you don't trust enough.
Iago uses very clever methods of persuasion and manipulation aimed to use Othello’s hamartia against him, pointing out that “ “She (Desdemona) did deceive her father, marrying you,” so much so that Brabantio “thought ’twas witchcraft”. Through this, Iago is subtly raising the issues of Othello’s cultural differences with Desdemona; a root cause behind Othello’s insecurities with his wife – along with inadequacy due to race, degree of sophistication and age. As Iago prompts Othello to think the worst, his utterances are short and uneasy, revealing the beginning to his downfall, whilst Iago’s dialogue is at length highlighting his growing power of
Secondly, Iago manipulates Cassio the most throughout the book. He uses Cassio’s social status and his trust with Othello to ruin his reputation. Iago is jealous of Cassio because he is higher status and has a strong relationship with Othello. For Iago’s plan to work he needs to get closer to Othello, but first he needs to break Othello and Cassio’s trust first. So one night Cassio is supposed to be keeping a party under control Othello tells him “good Michael, look you to the guard tonight.Let’s teach ourselves that honorable
One of Iago’s plans to cause Othello to take action was the day of Othello’s wedding. After Othello and Desdemona were married they went to go consummate their marriage. Iago plans to get Cassio who is already drunk, to drink even more and causing him to do something that would ruin his reputation. “I know, Iago, Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, Making it light to Cassio. Cassio, I love thee But never more be officer of mine.— (II.iii.210-214) refers to Act 2 Scene 3. This demonstrates Othello’s trust in Iago because he was the one to talk most and also provide more on what happened to the situation since he is the one that planned the whole thing.
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 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.
One of the interesting characters in the disastrous play Othello by William Shakespeare Iago whose name is widely mentioned throughout the play, illustrates the physical appearance of an individual is not the true reflection or identity. From the beginning to the end, we see Iago constantly mesmerizing with the characters of Othello and easily prevailed. He is such a gifted young man when it comes to deceit and compromise, but still he is refer to as honest Iago which gave him the upper hand to manipulate Othello, Roderigo, and Cassio
In this passage, Iago has been asked to take care of Desdemona on their trip to Cyprus. Iago tells Roderigo to take his “purse” with him so that he can try to win Desdemona over. Iago is planning to become the Lieutenant by removing Cassio from that position. Iago also plans on taking revenge on Othello. This occurs in the following act when Iago causes trouble for all.
Determined to eradicate Othello, Iago intends to provoke Othello until the Moor does something so heinous and unforgivable, which is caused by “a jealousy so strong that judgment cannot cure”, implicating how Iago wants Othello to become so jealous that he won’t be able to think straight or reasonably. When Iago is alone with Othello he announces “Look to your wife, observe her well with Cassio. Wear your eyes thus, not jealous nor secure. I would not have your free and noble nature out of self-bounty be abused”, ironically signifying how Iago is attempting to plant the seed of suspicion by subtly hinting at the notion that something is going on between Desdemona and Cassio. Othello believes and only trusts Iago, and Iago uses that trust against Othello, so in the end it will benefit him and only him. Iago’s motive for betraying Othello is jealousy and revenge, resulting in Iago betraying several characters to quench his thirst for
Iago plan to destroy Othello evolves when he notices Desdemona's assertive behavior towards her father. Iago realizes this characteristic because Iago's wife, Emilia, is a cynical character that is similar to Desdemona's assertiveness. He is already accustomed to his own idea that women are objects because he is crude and disdainful towards his wife. In act II, scene I, Iago publicly questions Emilia's virtue and loyalty by Desdemona. "Sir, would she give you so much of her lips / As of her tongue she oft bestows on me, you'll have enough." (2.1.109-111), He humiliates his own wife with accusations without actual evidence. He views her as an unquiet woman that blocks his way. His close-mindness hinders his ability to view women as humans. similarly, to Emilia's character, Desdemona disputes with her father to leave with Othello.
As Hoover Jordan comments in his article “Dramatic Illusion in Othello,” Othello “is simply amiable in thinking the best of his fellow men” (Jordan, 1950). Consistent with his position as a man of justice, Othello maintains the attitude fundamental to the legal system: people are innocent until proven guilty. With his astute understanding of human nature, Iago understands Othello’s trusting personality and how he can take advantage of it. In the last scene of the first act, where he first envisions how to cause Othello’s demise, Iago recognizes that Othello “thinks men honest that but seem to be so, and will as tenderly be led by the nose as asses are” (Shakespeare, I. iii.429-431). Thus Othello’s strong disposition to trust people poses a vulnerability to his judgment, since he readily follows those in whom he trusts. Iago knowingly and purposefully capitalizes on this vulnerability to work Othello’s
Othello by William Shakespeare begins in Venice, Italy with an argument between Roderigo a rich man who’s secretly in love with Desdemona and Iago a self-centered man who craves power. This play has main themes such as love, deception/reality jealousy and prejudice. Iago is the antagonist in this play and wants do destroy Othello based on pure Jealousy, Prejudice, and Deception. The main problem that caused Iago to go on a mission to destroy the Moor is that he didn’t get the job he wanted. He became so jealous Cassio that he didn’t care about who he hurt and ended up sacrificing his own wife. He deceived everyone in order to get what he wants and finally he was very prejudice. He makes up lies and makes other people believe that there 100%
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 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