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William Shakespeare's life and career
Iago from othello character analysis
William Shakespeare's life and career
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Honest Iago of Othello
To most of the world William Shakespeare is recognized as the greatest dramatist in history. His plays have been performed for centuries through various interpretations. Shakespeare's vast knowledge, and writing style made his works interesting for both the intellectual, and the illiterate. One of these styles is the use of motifs, which is seen extensively in Othello. An important example that runs throughout Othello, is Iago's honesty. This motif gave existence to Shakespeare's perfect villain.
The most interesting character in the play Othello is the villain, Iago, commonly referred to as "Honest Iago". Iago is smart, and well tuned to human behavior, and uses this knowledge to his advantage. He manipulates others to do things to help him reach his final goal; revenge on Othello and Cassio. His greatest tool in doing so is his reputation as an honest and trustworthy person. Othello believes Iago is a person "of exceeding honesty, and knows all qualities, with the learned spirit of human dealings." [Act III, Scene iii]. The other characters believe this as well, and Iago becomes a confidant for most of them.
The reputation Iago has, is encouraged by the other characters as well as himself. After Cassio and Roderigo fight, Othello arrives and Iago is the first that he asks an explanation from; " Honest Iago, that looks dead with grieving, speak. Who began this?" [Act II, scene iii]. Even after Iago would not answer, Montano tells Othello to ask Iago again; "Your officer, Iago, can inform you" [Act II, scene iii], knowing that Iago would speak the truth. Both Othello and Montano are intensifying Iago's integrity here.
Othello'...
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...aintain it, and encourage its existence.
In most stories, especially during Shakespeare's time, the villain is openly deceitful, and evil. Moreover, they are usually unattractive, and automatically disliked by the other characters. Shakespeare, in his brilliance, made Iago to be a charming, witty person, who is a friend to all. This was something unknown to the audience of his time. Shakespeare used this as a way of expressing an idea that anyone could have ulterior motives with their actions, and not to trust people with ease. He addressed the difference between reputation and a person's true character, and how they are rarely the same. In doing so, he created the most perfect villain of all of his works.
Work Cited
Shakespeare, William. Othello. Ed. Kenneth Muir. The New Penguin Shakespeare. London: Penguin Books, 1996.
In Shakespeare's play Othello, Iago Is shown to be the villain. With the cunning use of his brilliance and manipulation, he is able to orchestrate an entire plot to take his revenge on Othello the center of all his ill tempered aggression. By lying to characters like Roderigo and many others, including his wife, in order to
?Walz v. Tax Commission of City of New York, 397 U.S. 664.? FindLaw for Legal
As Othello's most trusted friend Iago has the upper hand when it comes to influencing Othello. When Othello passes Iago up for the position of lieutenant he claims to be angry; he is ready to seek revenge. Othello and Iago have been through countless battles and Othello feels as if he can trust “Honest” Iago. When there is a problem Iago is there to lend a helping hand. Iago uses his trusted advice to manipulate the mind of Othello and other main characters. He even calls himself honest, “As honest as I am” Iago uses these words to convince his credibility (Othello, Shakespeare, Act II Scene I Line
After reading William R. Keylor's The Legacy of the Great War, I realized the important events that pertain to the international relations. Until our present day there has not been so many great leaders come together to address issues such as: politics, economics, and social settings in Europe. This is the beginning of the problems in European civilization.
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The United States government's relationship with the Native American population has been a rocky one for over 250 years. One instance of this relationship would be what is infamously known as, the Trail of Tears, a phrase describing a journey in which the Native Americans took after giving up their land from forced removal. As a part of then-President Andrew Jackson’s Indian Removal Act, this policy has been put into place to control the natives that were attempting to reside peacefully in their stolen homeland. In the viewpoint of the Choctaw and Cherokee natives, removal had almost ultimately altered the culture and the traditional lifestyle of these people.
In the early 1830’s, Native Americans lived on millions of acres of land in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, and Florida. All of this land was valuable and by the end of this decade, White Americans figured that out. A great portion of the white settlers needed to develop cotton and start their fortunes, and they would do nearly anything to do it on the Natives' property. Eventually, white Americans took the Natives land and sent them on their way to, “Indian territory” across the Mississippi River. This difficult journey was known as the Trail of Tears. Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation was written by John Ehle who is an American author born in Asheville, North Carolina. Before becoming an author, Ehle was
Eric Foner, “The Trail of Tears: Enrollment” in Voices of Freedom: A Documentary History, Vol. 1, ed. Eric Foner (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2011), 161.
Byers, Ann. The Trail of Tears: A Primary Source of History of the forced Relocation of the Cherokee Nation. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2003.
The Cherokee people were a unique and strong community. They held the belief that they should never bow to any other creature. They held a high respect for one another. When they spoke, they spoke one at a time paying careful attention to listening to one another. The Cheroke...
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McNamara, Robert. "Indian Removal and the Trail of Tears." About.com. N.p., 2014. Web. 24 Feb. 2014. .
To many the trail of tears has no meaning or relevance in their life, but for some the Trail of Tears has great meaning since many of the native ancestors endured the hardships of this time. In the 1830s, Native Americans occupied many acres of land in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, and Florida. The main reason for the Trail of Tears was because the Americans wanted the Indians’ land for themselves so they could raise their cattle, and because of the good soil so they could grow and harvest crops. Their ancestors had lived on and cultivated this land for generations, and by the end of that generation very few Native Americans remained anywhere in the Southeastern United States. Many think that The Trail of Tears was just the “Five Civilized Tribes”, but there were many other smaller tribes involved too. Some tribes agreed to sign, and others were forced into it, but either way it went they all had to leave. Many Native Americans suffered from exposure, disease, and starvation on their way to their destinations, making The Trail of Tears one of the greatest hardships in Native American history.
“From time to time it is worth reminding ourselves why twenty-seven European nation states have come together voluntarily to form the partnership that is the European Union.” 1
Shakespeare uses Iago and Othello as the main characters of the play, showing how Iago manipulates Othello into believing his wife is cheating on him. Iago, or “honest Iago”, the villain of the play, a perfectionist at manipulation, that manages to influence people into thinking his deceitfulness is an act of honesty. He spends all of his time plotting against Othello and Desdemona, eventually convincing Othello that his wife has been cheating, despite the fact that Desdemona has been completely faithful. Othello, Venice’s most competent general, and the protagonist of the play. He was a noble and respected war hero, and a loving husband, however he was the target of Iago’s atrocities, which lead him to become an irrational, violent, and insanely jealous husband who murders his own wife at the end of the play.