Shakespeare has been prominent in his use of recurring themes throughout his works, particularly those of death, love, and betrayal. These themes are all present within Othello. The most prominent is that of jealousy. Specifically, the jealousy that affects most of the male characters in Othello. You can see the jealousy from the beginning to the end of the play and how it runs the male characters’ lives. In the beginning of the play when Roderigo is envious of Othello because he wants to be with Desdemona. At the end of the play when Othello is mad with envy because he thinks that Cassio and Desdemona have been having an affair. Not all the jealousy in the play is because of love, some of it was fashioned by other characters mainly Iago. Iago …show more content…
Iago hates Othello for promoting a different man than him. This man would be Cassio who is younger then Iago. Iago tells Roderigo that he plans to use Othello to his advantage. By telling Roderigo this “Call up her father, Rouse him…poison his delights…do, with like timorous accent and dire yell,” (I. i. 64-65, 72). Iago then convinces Roderigo to wake Brabantio in the middle of the night and let him know about his daughter Desdemona’s secret marriage to Othello. This scene is extremely significant because it gives the reader and the audience an immediate portrait of Iago as villain. His actions convey him as a manipulative character. When Roderigo tells Brabantio this it makes him enraged. Iago does not care what Roderigo feels in his heart for Desdemona at all. He wants to use Roderigo and not help him at all. His intentions are to have Brabantio go after Othello because this will cause anguish to …show more content…
He can get what he wants from almost anyone because of skill in timing and what he says. One great example of Iago exercises this would be when with Othello and Roderigo. Marcia Macaualay in her article “When Chaos is Come Again: Narrative and Narrative Analysis in Othello” says that “He [Iago] commences with an imperative, follows with a question that he himself answers, and ends with a bold assertion. He has complete command of discourse. His representation of both Othello and Desdemona is degraded: Othello is a liar, while Desdemona is a simpleton who has believed his lies”. This is an example of not only timing but also how he can twist and degrade the words that he overheard Othello saying to the Duke and Senators. He then tells the twisted and degraded version to Roderigo under the pretense that he does in fact love Desdemona. The words that he says to Roderigo are “Mark me with what violence she first loved the Moor but for bragging and telling her fantastical lies. To love him still for prating? Let not thy discreet heart think it. Her eye must be fed” (II. i. 230-234). He is representing Othello as a liar and that Desdemona actually believes in those lies he is telling her. This then gives Roderigo a belief that he can in fact tear apart the relationship that is between Othello and Desdemona. Roderigo’s manipulation by Iago is masked by the animosity that Iago actually feels for
In Othello, Iago is a manipulative person in Act 1. He manages to convince Roderigo into selling all his land instead of committing suicide. In Scene 3 of Act 1, Roderigo is very upset because Othello and Desdemona are still together. There was hope when Montano found out about their marriage; nonetheless, the two remained married. (IC; CA, IC) Roderigo loves Desdemona and seeing her with Othello makes him want to die. Iago pulls Roderigo’s puppet strings and gets him to save money instead. He convinces Roderigo that Desdemona is the type of a girl that would marry a man for money; thus, he should save all the money he can. (IC; CA, IC) Then she will lov...
After hearing Iago speak, Brabantio has had his eyes open to a new perspective of the situation. Iago then begins to uses a new manipulative strategy, he starts using bestiality to describe Othello.
He is determined to expose Othello for the beast he is by "bringing this monstrous birth to light" (1.3.395). In the first scene of the play, Iago claims that he dislikes Othello for promoting Cassio over himself and later claims that he suspects that Othello has slept with his wife, and uses these as excuses to seek revenge on Othello to prove that he is an animal unworthy of Desdemona. In reality, however, Iago's true motives are for his own evil pleasure and in this pursuit of "joy, pleasance, revel, and applause transform[s] [himself] into [a] beast" (2.3.291). Iago makes his feelings known for Othello in the first scene of Act I, when he and Roderigo tell Brabantio that the "old black ram [was] tupping [his] white ewe" and that with his daughter "covered with a Barbary horse", his grandchildren "will neigh to [him]" (1.1.85; 1.1.108). Iago quickly angers Desdemona's father with his vivid bestial images and it is here that we realize the depth of Iago's cr... ...
He is capable of twisting and turning the truth around in a many of ways to make others fall into his traps. Although it is easy for the audience to see that Iago is a masked villain, the cast is clueless. This is an example of dramatic irony. Iago is a compelling person, which is why it is so easy for the other characters in the play such as Othello, to get caught up in him. Iago wants Othello's position as the American general in the Venetian Army. He is extremely jealous that this title is not in front of him and the fact that the title belongs to a black man does nothing but anger Iago even more. Iago hankers for this position so badly that he develops a pseudo personality and tells a plethora of lies while in the presence of Iago in order to get what he wants, and this, in turn, ends in
With Roderigo, someone he commands control over, Iago employs pathos, allowing his plan to appeal to Roderigo’s sensitive emotions about Othello. Roderigo and Iago discuss about how each of them despise Othello when Iago says, “If ever I did dream of such a matter, / Abhor me” using pathos to confirm his hatred towards the General (1.2. 5-6). The play commences with Iago employing direct rhetoric and partnering up with Roderigo to enhance a sense of comradery. Harsh language such as “Abhor me”, exemplifies the hateful emotions Iago feels toward Othello as well as enhances the emotions Iago wants to appeal to in Roderigo (1.2. 6). Affecting Roderigo more influentially, Iago uses deeper, more personal pathos, by highlighting the seemingly good qualities in Roderigo. Iago contrasts Roderigo to Othello pointing out, “Let not they discreet heart think it…manners and beauties: all which the/ Moor is defective in” (2.1. 215, 219-220). Firstly, Iago weighs Roderigo’s positive qualities against Othello’s negatives ones, convincing Roderigo to feel more confident with Iago and following along with his scheme. Secondly, Iago alters this rhetoric to include Roderigo’s love interest, Desdemona. By exemplifying a more personal and sensitive side when talking about “manners and beauties”, Iago can create a bigger impact in
Iago, in the play Othello, is a very intriguing villain. Even though he is often referred to as "Honest" Iago, he lies, cheats, steals, bullies, and even kills just to get what he wants (Iago as 1). Iago starts off being evil when he finds out that Othello gave Cassio the position of lieutenant that he felt he deserved. To take this position from Cassio he must not let his conscience get in his way. This is not a problem with Iago because he has no conscience. Iago is able to manipulate anyone who gets in the way of his goals. He does this over and over during the course of the play. He uses all the characters to destroy Othello. He used the tension that was already existent to bring him down. And he also uses his intense sense of intuition.
The play begins by exposing the reader to Iago’s evil intentions and plans to ruin Othello’s reputation. Act 1 introduces the reader to this aspect of Iago as he informs Brabantio of Othello and Desdemona’s elopement, through his use of diction to appeal to pathos, “ sir, you’re robbed.[. . . .]/Your heart is burst. You have lost half your soul./Even now, now, very now, an old black ram/Is tupping your white ewe” (1.1.94-98). Iago’s constant use of the possessive word, “your,” personalizes the situation, which immediately appeals to Brabantio’s emotions of apprehension towards his possessions such as his “heart,” “soul,” and “white ewe.” The repetition of the word “now,” consecutively, emphasizes urgency, persistence, and insistence to convince Brabantio that the situation is worse than it actually is and to force him to act immediately. Moreover, Iago chooses to describe the situation with words carrying embedded negative connotations such as, “robbed,” “burst,” “lost,” “black ram,” and “tupping.” These words formulate an image that portrays disgust and detestation by depicting Othello as a thief and rough animal, especially in the metaphor of the b...
In the opening scenes, Shakespeare portrays Othello as a noble character. When Brabantio seeks vengeance for "stealing" his daughter, Othello expresses his actions with, "tongue out his [Brabantio's] complaints" (1.2.21). Throughout this scene, Othello remains calm
As much as Iago was using Roderigo, Roderigo was using Iago to try and separate Othello from Desdemona. Roderigo’s extreme feelings make him easily manipulated and unable...
Above all, at the pivotal point in the play, it is Othello, ultimately who determines the outcome of his raged jealousy. But, his anger towards Desdemona and Cassio, leaves him very little of another option, but to continue his plan. Othello demands that he will "make me to see 't” (3.3.364) “or woe upon thy life!" (3.3.366) and this expresses his emotions, such as his love for Desdemona. Furthermore, when Othello says “when I love thee not” (3.3.91) “chaos is come again" (3.3.92) , it can be seen as how Othello feels towards his insecurity due to his race. Iago uses Othello 's position of a "stranger from here and everywhere" (1.1.136-137) to exploit his insecurities; he says that "in Venice they do let God see the pranks” (3.3.202) “they dare not show their husbands" (3.3.203). As Othello is not a Venetian, he cannot defend himself from this accusation of his wife. Therefore, jealousy might be a result of the insecurity that he is feeling, but also caused by Iago who takes advantage of
Iago is a very duplicitous person. He is a villain and is Othello’s ancient. Iago seems to be everyone’s friend but all he really wants is to hurt and destroy the lives of people. Iago uses both Cassio and Roderigo to help him destroy Othello. From the very beginning Iago dislikes Othello because he gave Cassio the job as a lieutenant instead of him. In Act 1 scene 1 lines 10-27 just states how he dislikes Othello because of what he did. Since Roderigo also dislikes Othello because he had eloped with Desdemona his lover, Iago will use Roderigo to help him get back at Othello. Iago wants to notify Brabantio who is Desdemona’s father of what his daughter has done and he as asked Roderigo to help him. Iago says " Call up her father. Rouse him, make after him, poison his delight, proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen, and though he in a fertile climate dwell, plaque him with flies. Though that his joy be joy, yet throw such changes of vexation on ‘t as it may lose color. (Act 1 scene 1 lines 61-75) Iago is using Roderigo hatred towards Othello to help him notify Brabantio of what is going on between his daughter and Othello, thus causing him to be upset and doing something to Othello. Another thing Iago does to Roderigo is make it seem like he was the only one who told Brabantio about what is going on so Iago wouldn’t get in trouble but Roderigo will.
Due to this manipulation, Brabantio, who once loved Othello, drastically changes
In this quotation, Roderigo, a Venetian man who loves Desdemona, Othello’s wife, has just found out that she will be parting to Cyprus with Othello. In this scene, Roderigo tells Iago about his extreme despair at having heard the news, and his sudden will to end his
Iago states that the only reason he spends time with Roderigo is for his own wealth and pleasure. His plan is to continue giving Roderigo unfulfilled promises. Iago continues to manipulate Roderigo. He convinces him that Desdemona will soon grow tired of Othello and begin to search for a younger, handsome man to fulfill her desires. Continuing to build on Rod...
The role of jealousy, love and betrayal play a major role in The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice. The entire play is based on the human interactions of the characters as related to Othello and Desdemona. The characters’ personalities, their social status, and their relationships to each other control the story line and their fate in the play. Othello is portrayed early in the play as an outsider with animalistic characteristics by Iago and Roderigo because of jealousy. “Your heart is burst; and have lost half of your soul/Even now, now, very now, an old black ram/Is tupping your white ewe”.(531) Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, accuses Othello of using witch craft on his daughter. “If she in chains of magic were not bound/ Whether a maid so tender, fair, and happy/ So opposite to marriage that she shunned…” (535) This point is important because Othello must defend himself not only to Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, but to the entire Venetian Senate. “And till she come, as truly as to heaven,/ I do confess the vices of my blood./ So justly to your grave ears I’ll present/ How I did thrive in this fair lady’s love, / And she in mine.” (539) Othello proves himself to be an intellectual hero early in the play. He has worked hard to gain respectability and power, but because he has a different background, is from another country, is dark-skinned and is older than Desdemona, he becomes jealous very quickly of Cassio. Cassio is from the same social class, is compatible with Desdemona and is a young handsome man. Iago has also convinced Cassio to seek favor with Desdemo...