The Destructive Use Of Manipulation In Shakespeare's Othello
Everyday people use manipulation to get what they want, which is ultimately power. Manipulation is destructive because people gain power by deceiving people or tricking them into seeing a certain point of view. The ones who want power don’t care about others and only want to achieve what’s best for themselves. In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago's various plans for manipulation and hunger for power wreaks destruction on the lives of the people he knows best.
Iago convinces everybody to refer to him as “honest Iago” so that he can gain their trust while sneaking behind their backs. The love-struck Roderigo is one of the first people to get exploited. He is heartbroken by Desdemona's marriage to Othello, the Moor, to the point where he'd consider
…show more content…
He points to the evidence that the handkerchief given to Desdemona by Othello, which means a lot to her, is now in the hands of Cassio. Iago says, "And did you see the handkerchief. What is that mine? And to see how he prizes the foolish woman your wife: she gave it him, and he hath giv'n it his whore” (IV.i.172). Iago suggests to Othello to “strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated” (IV.i.226-227). Here, Iago has completely warped Othello’s mind into thinking that he should kill his wife, the love of his life. The manipulation stops at nothing, even when it starts to consist of the death of innocent people. Iago’s power is extremely destructive because he is culpable for innocent Desdemona’s death, which ultimately leads to Othello’s death as well.
Iago’s form of manipulation is commonplace in today’s society. Everybody wants personal success, and to get there some people cheat their way to the top by manipulating people at their moments of emotional weakness. Iago knows that since Othello is so unsuspecting, he could to lead him "by th’ nose," making Othello believe that his wife is having an affair with Cassio (I.iii.444). Automatically when we hear something bad, it is hard to fight the urge to not listen and be swept by our
Danger Of Jealousy In Othello
1014 Words | 5 PagesI know not if’t be true, but I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will do as if for surety.” Iago hears rumors of Othello possibly sleeping with his wife. As a result, Iago grows feelings of jealousy. Already being resentful of Othello for passing the promotion to Othello, this encounter increases Iago’s thoughts to ruin Othello. Iago’s jealousy of Othello possible sleeping with his wife is the spark of the motivation to ruin Othello.
Corruption Quotes In Othello
1490 Words | 6 PagesAfter Iago manipulates Othello into believing that his wife has not been loyal, Othello is shocked, and scared of the effect on his honor. The more manipulation by Iago, leads to more fear and rash acting by Othello. This escalates into an equivalent of a fight or flight response. Othello believes that, in order to protect his honor and his reputation, he must kill Desdemona. This rash decision surfaced from a point of extreme manipulation, and despair; a situation created by Iago.
Examples Of Manipulation In Othello
901 Words | 4 PagesIn 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.
Othello's Flaws Essay
950 Words | 4 PagesIago knows that Othello is insecure, and has been questioning his relationship with Desdemona so Iago tries to plant the first seed in Othello’s head that these ideas may be true. Iago is just trying to start stirring the pot of emotions and feelings inside Othello’s head. He is trying to just have Othello have more questions that wanted to be answered. Iago also knows Othello’s second tragic flaw of being impulsive and quick to jump to conclusions. Iago puts that last idea to turn Othello over, Iago says “I know not that; but such handkerchief-I am sure it was your wife’s-did I today see Cassio wipe his beard with” (Shakespeare 3.3.496-498).
How Othello's Character Changes
844 Words | 4 PagesOthello starts to believe Iago’s lies about his friends and wife, leading Othello to change his behavior towards his closest allies. Iago instigates a fight between Cassio and Montano, and Othello must take charge of his soldiers, he says: Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, Making it light to Cassio. Cassio, I love thee But never more be officer of mine. (2.3.210-213) Othello makes the decision to fire Cassio, and things get worse when Iago makes his wife, Emilia, steal Desdemona 's handkerchief.
Betrayal In Othello
1477 Words | 6 PagesIn the play Othello, by William Shakespeare we are introduced to Othello who is the protagonist and faces a lot of obstacles, one of them being betrayal. Throughout the whole play we witness betrayal from many of the characters through their irrational behavior and actions. However the biggest betrayal we see is from Iago, who is the antagonist, in other words, the villain of the play. Iago plans on having his revenge and betraying Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, Rodrigo and even his wife, Emilia. Betrayal is wrong and something that can’t be forgiven, at the end betrayal breaks friendships as well as lives and trust which never works out well in the end.
Example Of Mistrust In Othello
773 Words | 4 PagesIn 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.
Theme Of Manipulation In Othello
944 Words | 4 PagesWhen 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.
Manipulation Lies And Deceit In Othello
445 Words | 2 PagesAnd happily repent.” Iago, being the master manipulator that he is, recognizes Othello’s insecurity and is able to play upon them. He manages to plant seeds of doubt in Othello’s mind. “She did deceive her father, marrying you,/ And when she seemed to shake and fear your looks,/ She loved them most” (Shakespeare, 3.3.238-240).
Othello Soliloquy Analysis
979 Words | 4 PagesAs 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
Othello Deception Essay
755 Words | 4 PagesAnd out of her own goodness make the net” (Act 2 Scene 3) Othello is given the impression by Iago that Cassio and Desdemona may be engaging in improper behaviour, and he is urged to pay attention to whether “your lady strain his entertainment / With any strong or vehement importunity.” (Act 3 Scene 3) Othello consequently develops intense jealousy and mistrust when Desdemona does speak up for Cassio. Through manipulating Desdemona, Iago was able to deceive Castillo and Othello and using Roderigo’s
Role Of Manipulation In Othello
753 Words | 4 PagesOthello’s naive nature hindered him from seeking the truth of Desdemona and Cassio and finding out Iago had been lying the whole time. Iago may have been the cause of rumors, however Othello’s own doing ultimately caused him to suffer the consequences due to the fact that he did not communicate with his wife. He let a envious person control every aspect of his perception of his wife. He let a piece of fabric be the defining factor of whether or not his wife was faithful to him. It was the breaking factor of life and death which resulted the death of two innocent souls.
Theme Of Dishonesty In Othello
750 Words | 3 PagesIago embodies dishonesty using lies and deceit to entangle everyone in his trap. In Act 1, Roderigo questions Iago’s faithfulness to Othello. Iago answers by saying, “Whip me such honest knaves,” meaning he only pretends to be faithful and loyal to Othello, fooling him into trusting Iago (1.1.49). As the play progresses, people describe Iago as honest; however, Iago decieves everyone into believing his word. Othello frequently describes Iago as “A man he is of honesty and trust” (1.3.284) as well as “most honest” (2.3.6).
Othello Act 3 Scene 3 Analysis
982 Words | 4 PagesIago’s powerfully disruptive insinuations torment Othello to fall precipitously into his intricate trap, believing in the prospect of Cassio and Desdemona’s fictitious affair. Through the use of linguistic techniques such as elliptical speech, subservient vocative choices and a hesitant tone, Iago is able to construct artful innuendoes to deceive and manipulate Othello. Supplementary to linguistic techniques, dramatic techniques such as dramatic irony reinforces Iago’s role as a two-faced villain, who is making a pretence of being Othello’s loyal ensign. Eventually, Iago’s villainy nature sows a seed of doubt in Othello that germinates into the murder of Desdemona. Through the characterisation of Iago as a notorious villain, Shakespeare is able to hold Iago’s actions accountable for the play’s tragic downfall, establishing a sense of powerlessness amongst the
Essay On Iago's Downfall Of Othello
581 Words | 3 PagesPlaying a key role in Othello’s demise was one of his subordinates, Iago, whose talent for understanding and manipulating the desires of those around him made him both a powerful and a compelling figure. Stating, “I hate the Moor” (Act 1, Scene 3, 367-368), Iago shows that he is ripe with anger. Motivated by what he sees as Othello’s passing him over for a promotion, along with feelings of jealousy and lust, Iago formulates a plan to reap his revenge for what he believes are the wrongs Othello has committed against him; a decision that ends both of their lives. It is clear that Iago detests Othello simply because he has attained the life he could never have; something he is willing to do whatever it takes to destroy him for. Showing his true objective, Iago talks of how the simple fact there is a rumor Othello has slept with his wife is enough for him to seek to destroy him.
More about The Destructive Use Of Manipulation In Shakespeare's Othello
Danger Of Jealousy In Othello
1014 Words | 5 PagesCorruption Quotes In Othello
1490 Words | 6 PagesExamples Of Manipulation In Othello
901 Words | 4 PagesOthello's Flaws Essay
950 Words | 4 PagesHow Othello's Character Changes
844 Words | 4 PagesBetrayal In Othello
1477 Words | 6 PagesExample Of Mistrust In Othello
773 Words | 4 PagesTheme Of Manipulation In Othello
944 Words | 4 PagesManipulation Lies And Deceit In Othello
445 Words | 2 PagesOthello Soliloquy Analysis
979 Words | 4 PagesOthello Deception Essay
755 Words | 4 PagesRole Of Manipulation In Othello
753 Words | 4 PagesTheme Of Dishonesty In Othello
750 Words | 3 PagesOthello Act 3 Scene 3 Analysis
982 Words | 4 PagesEssay On Iago's Downfall Of Othello
581 Words | 3 Pages