Iago's Motivation in William Shakespeare's Othello
The play Othello is set in Venice and written by William Shakespeare.
The Elizabethans were not precise in their use of the term 'moor'.
Iago begins the play discontented. He believes that he should have got
the job of lieutenant but it goes to an "inexperienced" Michael
Cassio. Cassio only knows war from a book, but Iago is cross at
Othello for choosing Cassio not him.
Iago is a very clever person but with that power, he uses that power
for evil acts. This act is, taking revenge on Othello and mentally
changes peoples view and the way they think. He never carries out the
act but he gets other people to do it. He is motivated by one main
cause. This is from within him-self.
"I hate the moor, AND it is thought abroad that twist my sheets he has
done my office". He does not give a reason but says "and" not because.
The motivation is there before and there is a bit of racism, jealousy
and he enjoys tricking people.
Iago knows Roderigo is in love with Desdemona and figures that he
would do anything to have her as his own. Iago says about Roderigo,
"Thus do I ever make my fool my purse."
By playing on his hopes, Iago is able to swindle money and jewels from
Roderigo, making himself a substantial profit.
Iago feels that Othello has slept with his wife Emila, "leapt into his
seat", he wants revenge for this too, "not out of absolute lust", but
so he can get back at Othello. He wants to sleep with Desdemona for
revenge not just for pleasure.
Iago's evil has infiltrated Othello's soul and has induced him, as
Iago had hoped.
"I follow him to serve my turn upon him"...
... middle of paper ...
...r. Othello looks at his feet for hoves.
(Semi-devil)
The term "honest Iago" during the play was mentioned 48 times in the
play of Othello. Iago uses carefully thought out words and actions,
which enable him to manipulate others and do things in a way that
benefits him and move closer to his goals.
Conclusion:
Iago instructs his wife to "get you home". Then he says to his wife
you "villainous whore". Then finally he calls her "filth". The
language changes in about 10 lines. The language he uses is
instructive language in the first quotation, but the language reveals
loss of power and his shows the true character of Iago. Iago manages
to steal from his own friends without the feeling of guilt. However,
someone with a conscience would never be able to keep up with such a
play and deceive everyone around him.
“I am not what I am,” proclaims one of Shakespeare’s darkest and most enigmatic villains, Iago, in the tragedy Othello. Iago’s journey for revenge enables him to become capable of immoral acts, and whilst his malevolence excites us, we are no more intrigued by his attributes than we are of the play’s tragic hero, Othellos’. Rather, both characters’ confrontation with jealousy and their subsequent moral demise as a result of failing to control such an emotion provides the true excitement for audiences. Iago’s spiteful manipulation of Othello makes him a multifaceted character — whose corrupt attributes make the audience examine their own morality. However, the same can be said of Othello; his failure to withstand Iago’s ‘pouring of pestilence’
“Come, seeling night, scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day, and with thy bloody and
I have told thee often, and I retell thee again and again, I hate the Moor.
Iago is the main antagonists against Othello, throughout the entire play. Iago is not realistically motivated. Even though Iago makes many of his decisions with careful thought, he does have a main flaw that will come back to haunt him in the end. Iago unlike other characters, doesn’t have true honorable morals. Because of this, he makes many situations which are manageable, and takes them further out of proportion he does this for his own pure enjoyment to create havoc for sport. Iago manipulates the characters who trust too easily, such are Roderigo and Othello. Iago uses them as an addition to his plans, which he manages so they will work in his favor in the end, or so he believes they will.
Iago's Ambitions in Shakespeare's Othello ‘Hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light’ (Act 1 sc. 3 L.385-6). This is said by the character Iago during a soliloquy at the end of Act 1 scene 3. This statement could take on many different meaning depending on how it is interpreted.
The Motivations of Iago in Othello Have you ever met a devil who does evil for his own sake? Iago in William Shakespeare's Othello could seem like he has good motives, but I feel that he uses them as his excuses. The first thing that I did was uncover Iago's motives. Iago is the most controversial character in Othello. He is able to keep his true thoughts and motives from everyone.
Iago's Manipulation of Characters in William Shakespeare's Othello. Introduction The play 'Othello' was created by William Shakespeare. Othello is a tale set in Venice at the time when adultery was a hanging offence. It is a tale all about jealousy and manipulation by one of the main characters, i.e. the characters, Iago.
Iago's manipulative nature has a profound effect on the decisions made by other characters in Shakespeare's ‘Othello’. Through his relations with those around him Shakespear characterizes him as a man full of malice, vengeance and dishonesty that is wholly inspired by jealousy. Furthermore it would appear that Iago has an exceptional ability to scheme, a talent which he uses to snake his way into the lives of others and exploit them through their weaknesses. Whether he does this for profit or for pleasure is a separate issue.
The tragedy, "Othello" by William Shakespeare, is not just a play of jealousy. It is a drama about the collision of two worlds. One of them is a world of an absolute cynic, Iago the manipulator. A second world is a world experienced by all the other characters of the tragedy. The ability to understand the true nature of people around Iago makes him quickly navigate the situation. Given by nature, the psychological technique of manipulation, Iago is a master to wear different masks, because he can predict the further course and he is proficient of destroying everything to achieve success.
Throughout Othello, Iago is the most prominent and perplexing villian in Shakespearean history. His redeeming qualies enables him to allure the characters such as Roderigo, Cassio and Othello through his morality. As an audience we are introduced to his contempt and his hunger for revenge despite his lack of proof. Iago symbolizes evil and brutality. So what makes him a crucial character in the play. His understanding of manipulation and his brilliance makes him an important role in the play since he's willing to to climb up the stairs to get his general, who he hates.
This phrase adds another dimension to the passage giving directions to the crowd to ease the sorrow beyond the fanciful need for the heavens to re-order. - The same phrase is used initially for ‘real’ directions then digresses for fanciful commands to the natural world. This accident is not unlike my dreams Belief of it oppresses me already Figure: Understatement (I looked up the meaning of this passage) - This understatement revolves around the racism of the speaker against the Moors.
How does one create the perfect villain for a story? What qualities are needed in such a character? A good place to start when constructing a villain is to look at William Shakespeare’s villain in Othello, a man called Iago. Iago is wonderfully devious. Throughout the play, he not only poisons Othello’s vision of Desdemona, he does this with no one, excepting Roderigo, the wiser. There are several reasons that make Iago such a terrifying villain. Shakespeare gave certain qualities to his creation that made Iago more than just a evil character. These qualities transform Iago into the truly insidious character seen in the play. From the beginning of Othello to the time that Iago is revealed as the culprit, everyone trusts Iago and looks to him for advice. This gives Iago the means and opportunity to pull off his villainy.
Iago is a powerful predator who exploits those around him by infecting their perceptions of truth with carefully chosen fallacy. His skill in finding the proverbial chinks in others' armor allows him to skillfully weave his machinations of destroying Othello into their minds and actions; by manipulating character's perceptions of Desdemona, Iago gains the leverage he needs to exploit each character. No one is impervious to Iago's seething purpose; even Othello falls prey to Iago's suggestions and insinuations about Desdemona. Iago's constant presence as the stager, as well as his ceaseless - but subtle - reinforcement of events through narration, allows him to be the pivotal force that directs Shakespeare's Othello.
Iago has been to blame for the downfall of Othello because he is the one that created the jealousy within Othello. Iago started this because he was jealous of Othello because he was not made lieutenant, and Cassio was. Iago has been selfish and takes it upon himself to get revenge against Othello.
reason he "would expend time with such a snipe" is but to use him. He