Thesis Statement For Othello

A quick search of an online text of Othello shows that Othello refers to Iago as honest fourteen times throughout the play, and each time, he has no hesitations in assigning this trait to Iago. For whatever reasons, which are probably depicted before the span of the play, Othello is entirely confident of Iago’s honesty. This belief is what allows Iago to turn his mind so easily. Iago even admits in a soliloquy that “The Moor is of a free and open nature / That thinks men honest that but seem to be so; / And will as tenderly be led by the nose / As asses are” (1.3.391-4). The fact that Othello truly believes Iago is honest, coupled with the fact that he has no reason to be suspicious of a plot against him, especially from Iago, is what lets Iago’s plan become so successful. While it is unclear why Othello automatically believes Iago’s insinuations—perhaps because they have known each other longer than Othello has known Desdemona, or because he doesn’t believe Iago would gain anything from lying, but Desdemona would gain a lot from lying about an affair—Othello does almost immediately conclude, solely from Iago’s reports, that Desdemona is cheating on him. This conclusion would be almost impossible without Othello’s confidence in Iago’s

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

In William Shakespeare’s play, Othello, he uses duality and paradoxes to reveal parts of human nature that people wish to ignore. Othello is about a man named Othello who marries above his station and wrestles with his insecurities as the antagonist, Iago, uses them and his own reputation for candor as mean to enact his revenge for Othello’s alleged affair with his wife, Emelia. Iago embodies the paradox of a truthful man who uses his honesty to manipulate people, which contradicts a core human idea that honest people are the most righteous or virtuous.

Has someone ever manipulated you? The real question is have you ever manipulated someone else? When we look at manipulation and what it can do to a person, we see that it can really take a toll on someone's mind causing them to say or do the unexpected. Manipulation is portrayed in books, movies, tv shows, and even plays. In Othello, Shakespeare uses manipulation to show how it has the power to change your perspective of the people you trust the most. Manipulation can ruin your perspective of someone, even who you are closest to.

First of all, the character Othello’s love for his wife Desdemona is soiled by Iago putting false images into Othello’s head that his wife is being unfaithful to him which ultimately leads him to kill his own wife because of his vulnerability and insecurity towards the pure love he had for her. Othello starts to feel things that he has never felt before towards his wife, “I had rather be a toad/And live upon the vapor of a dungeon /Than keep a corner in the thing I love/For others' uses. Yet 'tis the plague of great ones” (3.3.311-14). Iago is planting the seeds for Othello’s relationship with Desdemona to crumble by putting images into Othello’s head about women and generalizing all women saying that they all act upon their temptations with no remorse. In these lines said by Othello, he is showing how someone’s deceit (having to do with his love for his wife) can really go as far as to make him criticize a whole entire gender based on one idea that his Desdemona has been unfaithful—and he does not even have proof that this accusation is true. Secondly, Iago successfully alters Othello’s pure and true love for Desdemona so much that his once fulfilling

Iago, during the play, displays a notable lack of remorse or guilt for the many horrendous deeds he commits. This is seen twice in the scenes where Iago is confronted about his devilish plan. (2.) After Othello kills Desdemona and reveals to Emilia that it was Iago who convinced him about the affair. This causes Emillia to start to realize her husband’s plans. (3.) As Iago enters the scene of the murder, Emilia openly asks Iago if he told Othello that Desdemona was cheating on him; Iago responds thusly: “I told him what I thought, and told no more than what he found himself was apt and true” (V.II.212-213). (4.) Iago is stating that Iago just told Othello what he knew and what made sense (which is obviously not true). The fact that he could so blatantly lie about what had occurred when it resulted in the death of an innocent person goes to show how unremorseful he was about his actions and about taking an innocent life. (3) Later, when Iago is promptly caught after fleeing the scene, he is interrogated by Othello about his scheme. Iago arrogantly responds with the following: “ Demand me nothing. What you know, you know. From this time forth I never will speak word. (V.II.355-356).(4.) Iago is, for as unusual as it is for a Shakespearean villain, refusing to reveal his motives for his evil plan. This final act of defiance does nothing

II, 315, 316) Othello justifies his action by blaming Iago for his manipulation. The dramatic irony in Othello is very evident. Iago throughout the play manipulates majority of the characters while still informing the audience of his actions. Othello believes that Desdemona is being unfaithful to him while the audience knows that is not the case but rather the manipulation of Iago. Although, Othello discovers that Desdemona was in fact innocent it is too late and blames it on Iago for tricking him. However, it is never mentioned that Iago’s intentions were murder. He was angry at Othello for hiring Cassio instead of him, he most likely wanted to spoil Othello’s happiness but not cause murder. It is apparent that Othello is having an internal conflict about what he should do about his wife; the logical thing would be to not kill her and get a divorce. In spite that, Othello says, “yet she must die, else she’ll betray more men” (IV. II, 6). His blame on Iago is redundant because Othello says he loves her but still believes the words of Iago instead of his

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 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

“Guilt is not a response to anger; it is a response to one's own actions or lack of action.” This is a quote from Caribbean-American writer Audre Lorde. Many people express their opinion on guilt, but having written over 20 books, she is a very well-educated individual and her word is looked upon with adoration. Another successful and commendable person is the philosopher, Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche. Nietzsche is the philosopher that came up with the love, guilt, and redemption philosophy, in which Nietzsche believes that the amount of “guilt and debt, the act of giving (of love or money) must never overwhelm the receiver” (Cybulska). This statement means that not only should the negative influences be limited, but the positive influences

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.

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 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

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.