Othello Language Analysis

Written Task 2 – Critical Response

Khartoum International Community School

Tariq Hassan

Word count: 1,069

Question: Discuss how language is used to convey the ideas of manipulation and scheming.

Analysed text: Othello by William Shakespeare

Area of course which text refers to: Part 4; Literature – A Critical Study

My written response will

• Look at how Desdemona intends to assist Cassio to get his position back but instead Iago manipulates the situation

• Focus on Iago’s role and how his manipulation affects certain characters and their perceptions, such as his relationship with Othello

• Further look at how manipulation and scheming leads to the changes of Othello’s view on the situation

Discuss how language

The first section, when Desdemona, Emilia, and Cassio are conversing, can be seen as a positive scheme. However, as soon as Iago and Othello enter, Iago manipulates their scheme into a negative one. Desdemona is initially devising a positive plan with Emilia and Cassio to help Cassio retrieve his position under Othello. Her plan can be seen as a simply innocent plan as she is attempting to aid a friend get his job back since she has a close relationship with the general, Othello. However, this scheme is still a secret, and Desdemona and Othello should not have secrets because they are married, although the secret is intended for a good purpose. Desdemona proves the innocence of her plan by saying: “before Emilia here” (Act 3, scene iii, line 19) She says this in front of Emilia as if she is proving that her plan has no negative intentions behind it. When she states that she’ll “intermingle in everything he does” she means that she intends to intervene and talk to Othello on various occasions to mention how effective Cassio is in his job position to try and help persuade and manipulate Othello into bringing Cassio

Cassio takes his leave but this allows Iago to intervene and gives him the chance to manipulate Othello’s mind. Desdemona asks of Iago to stay “Why, stay, and hear me speak.” (Act 3, scene iii, line 31) as she thinks that is it okay because she thinks that it is an innocent scheme and that she still has Othello’s trust, without knowing how Iago is changing Othello’s perception of his and Desdemona’s relationship. Desdemona also wants Cassio to stay and hear her speak so he can believe that she is sincerely trying to help him. Cassio responds by saying he is “very ill at ease” (Act 3, scene iii, line 32) which means that he is not feeling himself and that he is nervous about the situation.

As soon as the play begins until the end of it, Iago plots his every move as if himself and the rest of the characters as if he were playing a game of chess. He uses what drives and motivates them to achieve what he desires. His manipulation can severely vary, such as something as simple as getting Roderigo to give Cassio another drink of wine, to something as extreme as making Othello think that only by killing Desdemona would he be able to save himself from the villainous crime she did not