Othello focuses on the character Iago’s manipulation of Othello, a Venetian general. He believes that Othello had an affair with his wife Emilia, and feels resentful toward him for choosing Cassio instead of him as lieutenant, when he is clearly more experienced. As a result of these perceived injustices, Iago sets out to ruin Othello.
In the same way that Iago views his manipulative retaliation as correct, Othello believes all of his convictions are correct. This is exemplified when Othello states “Exchange me for a goat / When I shall turn the business of my soul / To such exsufflicate and blowed surmises, / Matching thy inference” (Shakespeare, 3.3.185-88). Once this burden of proof has been lifted by Iago, Othello will succumb to the jealousy he is beginning to feel. Iago fulfills this requirement of evidence with an impromptu story that carries no real significance. Despite this, Othello is convinced. “Why did I marry?” Othello asks himself (3.3.248). Manipulating through a false reluctance to speak, Iago causes Othello to think “[t]his honest creature doubtless / Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds” (3.3.248-9). This is a twist on a common lying technique. The “consequences can be great” of this “trickster’s lie,” and it is used to achieve “deliberate dissent” (Furnham). With this in mind, Iago’s ease of manipulation is not surprising. Iago has figured out how Othello functions, and has rightly concluded that he will respond as strongly to the thought of adultery as Iago himself--despite the irrationality. Therefore, after successfully convincing Othello in this instance, Iago has won; Othello fully believes in his
The character of Othello transforms during the course of the play from a respected and revered general to a fallen and easily fooled man, due to the unfortunate sequence of events that transpire through both coincidence and Iago’s evil designs. He said that he wouldn’t be the jealous type unless he had seen it happen right in front of him, but with the help of Iago and a lot of coincidences it had happened in front of him. His judgment of the coincidence over ruled facts that could have changed the way it had ended drastically (Nwabueze, 167).
In fact, it is these precise attributes that have allowed him to ascend to his current top-ranking role in the Venetian army and respected position in Venetian society, in spite of his ethnicity. Yet, as Othello is ready to assume the worst of himself at every turn, placing Iago in a in a state of utmost power over Othello, in a cruelly ironic twist it is also these precise attributes that are slowly warped and exaggerated to become his foremost deficiencies. Take, for instance, Othello’s sincere nature. As a soldier, Othello is conditioned to retain the utmost faith in his comrades’ truthfulness and expect the same in return. This trait is most clearly seen in Othello’s frequent referrals to Iago as “honest.” While of course, the reader is aware that Iago is anything but honest, Othello sees no reason to doubt Iago’s word as a fellow officer and compatriot, and as such often urges Iago to
In the play Othello, Iago represents Marxist criticism through his pursuit of power that fuels his need for deceit in the story. He manipulates and deceives the other characters throughout the entire play. For instance when he set Cassio up with drinking the alcohol he got exactly what he wanted out of that, Cassio lost his rank as Lieutenant. Desdemona, Othello, and Roderigo were all deceived by Iago. Desdemona was deceived into thinking that she was helping a strong and noble man even though Iago was using that time to set her up. Othello was fed lies that his wife and Lieutenant were having an affair, leading up to the death of himself along with his wife. Roderigo was blinded by the love he had for Desdemona so badly that he helped Iago
As Othello kept listening to Iago 's lies he became very heated and ended up killing
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. The men in Othello mistrust the women and always quick to associate them with being deceptive and unfaithful.
Firstly, Iago demonstrates the dark side of human nature by being self-centered. 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
Manipulation is shown in many ways such as politics, the media, misleading information and false advertising. To convey one’s thoughts to your own advantage is seen as crude and unnecessary. However, many people have their reasons in manipulating someone whether they are good or bad. In Shakespeare’s Othello, the concept of taking advantage of someone through manipulation leads to unnecessary, horrible events.
The play’s protagonist and hero. Othello is the highly respected general of the armies of Venice, although he is not a native of Venice but rather a Moor, or North African. He is an eloquent and powerful figure, Othello shows to be a fearless soldier and general. and has been in the army for many years. He is used to the work of military life. Making hard decisions fast and precisely is a valiant trait possessed by this noble character who gives his all to any task. His leadership ability is so admired by the Venetian state that he is appointed general of Cyprus when it is under threat of invasion by the Turks – an achievement when one considers that he is Moorish and not Venetian. Othello has also fought in several wars in various parts of the world, and most of the high politicians recognize his abilities including his closest worker, Iago.
Othello (The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice) is a play written by William Shakespeare. The story Un Capitano Moro ("A Moorish Captain") by Cinthio, first published in 1565, inspires Shakespeare to write the play. Since the author never published any of his plays, it is controversially discussed when Othello was first published. However, it is believed that the play was first played between 1604 and 1605 and, first printed in 1622. The central characters in the play are Othello – a highly esteemed general in the service of Venice, and Desdemona – a beautiful young lady who enrages her father, the Venetian senator, because she elopes with a man several years older than her, who is Othello. The doomed relationship between Othello and
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.
Othello was a foreigner from Africa who was sort of accepted into the Venetian society, only because of his excellent track record of winning wars, but he was an outsider and never fully accepted. Othello enjoyed the status and luxuries of being a General and leading the defense of Venice. He also understood that he
In Shakespeare 's play, Othello, the main character, Othello, displays actions that are classified as weak or strong emotionally. Throughout the play, Othello shows more weakness than strength when he turns over to jealousy, hits Desdemona, and calls her names shortly before wrongfully killing her.
Tragic heroes always meet their demise in the end. They have characteristics that result in their tragic deaths. In William Shakespeare’s play The Tragedy of Othello, the protagonist Othello exemplifies the characteristics of a tragic hero.