Iago's Soliloquies in William Shakespeare's Play Othello
"Othello" is a tragedy which was written in 1622 by William
Shakespeare, the title "Othello" is eponymous which means that a
character gives its name to the title. Othello is not the main
character, where as in "Macbeth" Macbeth was the main character. Right
from the beginning Shakespeare is trying to hide the importance of
Iago. Iago may be in the first scene but it starts off half way
through a conversation making the reader think Iago is just a minor
under Othello and therefore not as significant.
Conventionally soliloquies are used to portray what the character is
thinking in his mind but Iago uses soliloquies in a different manner,
he plays with the audience, manipulating their expectations, so they
never uncover the true character of Iago. All three soliloquies have
one thing in common; Iago speaks in poetry of ten syllables a line,
"That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it;"
Iago impresses the audience during his soliloquies by using poetry,
which is ironic because naturally he would speak in prose, poetry is a
structured format of writing, which requires planning, and therefore
Iago's soliloquies have a pre-planned nature. This suggests that Iago
doesn't speak from his true feelings but plans what he says for his
advantage.
The first line of the first soliloquy.
"Thus do I ever make my fool my purse:
For I mine own gain'd knowledge should profane."
The word "thus" makes the sentence sound like a conclusion and the
colon at the end suggests that he will explain the statement. By
repeating the word "my" a possive pronoun and with the sentence
...
... middle of paper ...
...d said enmesh them all, then the point
would have stood out and had the desired shocking effect because the
use of "them" rather than the abbreviated form " 'em" puts more
emphasis on the verb, which tells the audience what is happening but
instead the final line just passes the audience by. With Iago been
rushed so much that he can't have a dramatic ending by the incoming of
Rodrigo. Iago is losing his timing and everything is getting out of
control.
In the end trying to destroy Othello and boast and brag to the
audience for his own glorification was too much. Iago couldn't
concentrate on what needed to be done to destroy Othello because he
was too interested on what people thought of him; because that is what
mattered to Iago. Iago didn't set out to destroy Othello for greed,
wealth or position but for respect.
He questions Othello and makes him think the worst between Cassio and Desdemona, and then his use of words adds color and a picture, so it has to be right. Last, his sarcasm creates the assurances Othello needed to be duped. To start, Iago uses rhetorical questions to cause Othello to question Desdemona’s love for him. When Othello finishes with “.Than answer my wrath!” Iago comes back with “Isn’t this my lord.”
Othello sends her off to get Desdemona and says to the audience “She says enough, yet she’s a simple bawd/That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore,/A closet, lock and key, of villainous secrets./And yet she’ll kneel and pray, I have seen her do ’t.” (4.2.21-24) Othello is dismissing her statement under the principle that any woman would say the same story and the only truth he can trust would be what he is told by a man. Othello uses words such as “whore” and “villainous,” which are words first spoken by Iago. These are used only in the most demeaning way and this shows that he truly believes that no matter what evidence he is shown, or who claims she is a good wife, that she has just hidden her true nature from them as he has seen her “kneel and pray” just like any good wife.
Othello and Iago in William Shakespeare's Play William Shakespeare was born on 1594, in Stratford upon Avon on 23rd April. His father was john Shakespeare and his mother was Mary Arden. His parents lost two children before William was born; they had five who all died young. In November 1582, he married Anne Hathaway.
William Shakespeare's Othello is a remarkable tale of trust, deceitfulness, lust and the most destructive of human emotions: vengeance and hatred. Iago better known as Othello's antagonist embodies vengeance and hatred to move an agenda to squash all who oppose Iago's plans. As defined by Merrium-Webster the definition of a protagonist is a principal character in a literary work or a leading actor, character, or participant in a literary work. Othello by Shakespeare is a play about Othello an example of a tragic hero with all figures centered around Othello as the protagonist yet, Othello has two main leading characters. Iago and Othello have stark contrasts as leading roles and different themes represented through the actions, words, and moral compass of both characters. As Othello plays out the audience finds that Iago is the driving force behind Othello and the cause for all chaos. Iago's thirst for vengeance due to feeling dissatisfied and passed over potential lieutenant position pushes Iago to ruin the lives of all associated with Othello. The thirst for vengeance drives Iago as Iago drives the plot achieving all goals and because of this Iago is the true protagonist of Othello.
Critics such as M. R. Ridley believe that the ability to hurt is the most
Iago is a man wronged by Othello in the fact that he was not chosen to be Othello’s lieutenant, which is what put the dastardly idea into Iago’s head to trick them all and bring them to their knees. As Iago tells Roderigo within the first act and scene of “Othello”, Despise me if I do not. Three great ones of the city,/ In personal suit to make me his lieutenant,... ... middle of paper ... ... n the end of the play.
The three characters of Iago, Desdemona and Othello are gradually revealed to the audience as Act One unfolds. All three are linked to one another and talk to and about each other. Their characters unfold through their interaction with others and how they behave in isolation. The first impression formed of Iago comes from what Roderigo says. Being gullible, Roderigo has given Iago his purse. A character who accepts an offer like this is likely to be of doubtful reputation. The first words spoken by Iago are a strong oath. Already it is obvious that he has little respect for religion. Iago also sees little point in fighting purely in theory. He despises Cassio, partly because he has never fought physically. It becomes apparent that Iago is the dominant one in his "friendship" with Roderigo. He talks the most and has many opinions. Iago looks down upon those who serve others and explains that he is only serving Othello for his own gain:
In William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello, Iago demonstrates a mastery of manipulation over people who had previously trusted and confided in him. His sudden turn from Othello’s loyal ensign to rage-filled villain seems indicative of a man who can no longer accept his position in life. Iago’s plotting of Othello’s demise starts as idle talk of a disgruntled 28 year-old career military man passed over for promotion. Iago believes that such a promotion may never come after Othello rejects his candidacy and makes it clear that he did not believe him suitable. He sees Othello is only concerned with personal and political gain with his choice of Cassio as lieutenant. When Iago teams with love-scorned and desperate Roderigo, he begins to construct Othello’s downfall. Iago is declaring an all-out covert war on Othello, Cassio, and anyone else who gets in his way. In Iago’s first speech in Act I Scene II, he proclaims hatred for Othello and lays out his plan for seeking vengeance. “After some time, to abuse Othello’s ears that he is too familiar with his wife (Shakespeare 1473).”
There are many reasons why we study William Shakespeare’s plays today. There is the insight into human nature that he knows well, allusions to old mythology and legends, and others. However, one reason stands out above the rest: his power of language. Also, this power of language is clearly shown in his play, Othello, through Iago, the antagonist of the play. Iago, who is an ensign of Othello, is furious that he was not given the promotion of lieutenancy. As a result, he uses his craftiness and his “power of language” to take revenge on Othello. Although his plan foils, he causes Othello to kill his wife Desdemona and commit suicide, all the while he deceives and exploits other characters for his plan. In Othello, Iago demonstrates his power
On closer examination, throughout the play we see Iago manipulating all the characters in turn; this shows that he is an expert master manipulator for everyone to be deceived by him. When reading this play we don’t expect Othello to be as easily manipulated by Iago as he was.
Iago was the main character who caused all the destruction at the end of the play, however there was always some worries going along in the play because Othello was a black man and he was married to the young, very much younger than him, Desdemona. Who also is a white lady. Neither the less this essay is not about Othello and Desdemona. Iago had Othello believe that Cassio was having an affair with Desdemona. There isn't really any conclusion or reasoning for Iago's doings, perhaps besides the only reason which he knows. And that reason none of us know of. The only conclusion i can come up with on why Iago has done what he done is because he was looking out for himself. This reminds me of a saying i use to always hear. "Nothing is going to happen for yourself unless you make it happen yourself." I don't know if Iago knew what the outcome of his doings would be, which was death for him, but i do believe he did the things he did because he was looking out for himself.
Critical Analysis of Iago's Soliloquy in Act 2 Scene 3 of Othello by William Shakespeare
Though Iago may not have a purpose of participating in many of his acts of evil, he presents it as a self-obsessed, driven supremacy. He plots to destroy Othello and to gain dominance by observing each weakness from Othello, and takes advantage of it. He uses his aid of human nature to help with his evil schemes and plots throughout the play. Because he identified Othello’s weaknesses and was able to use verbal persuasion to not only gain Othello’s trust, but to also use that as a benefit to what he wanted to accomplish. It is of great importance for an evil mastermind to not only know the nature of evil but to achieve the nature of good.... ...
Iago has been excellent at saying the what is needed to get to people, he misleads them to get a reaction he wants out of them. He is clever with his words to avoid confrontation that can easily happen. “Othello 's confusion is the human experience of language. In other words, language itself, not the outside world, determines meaning” (Christofides 2). Iago uses his words against Othello to get him to do Iago’s doings. Iago has an eloquence with
jealous, even though he does not know if it is true or not. Iago is