For this essay, I am going to exercise my opinion of how power and control generate the play and how different characters use it, especially Iago. I’ll also take a look at how power and control may shift between the characters throughout the play. Shakespear's play Othello regards social customs through the relationships between characters. By taking a look at these characters relationships, through an analysis of race differences, gender status, and social class, an argument that, as in all other communities of people, particularly in Europe, Venetian consists both of given power to a particular party, arises. These relationships, such as Othello’s, Iago’s, Emilia’s, Desdemona’s, Bianca’s, Cassio’s, or Lodovico’s and a few other characters, are shown through speech verses and actions.When being shown in interactions of all kinds such as speech, discussions, etc. Iago is quite obsessive about having control over others. In act 2, scene 3, he demonstrates his control over Cassio when he tries to force him to drink an alcoholic beverage. Even though Cassio higher ranking in the Military than Iago, he still lets Iago …show more content…
Control and Power are used to create each other and the other way around. It is paramount because it allows Iago to gain and operate the control over Othello and Cassio. Since the beginning of the play, power is put into different rankings regarding the Military. Since the beginning acknowledging Othello as a high-ranking official in the top of the power ranking. However, something really interesting happens at the begin particular dark skinned. As the play progresses, he obtains control over several high-ranking characters. On the beginning of the play, you can also notice Iago is deceitful when he convinces Roderigo to give him all his money in exchange for getting Desdemona to get together with him, However as we now know it turned out to be nothing but a
As you can see he doesn’t have any empathy towards Cassio getting discharged which makes him a truly evil character. Although Othello liked Cassio very much, Iago had to ruin his reputation. He convinces Roderigo in this quote and that gives him the ability to get Roderigo to fight Cassio, “First, I must tell thee this: Desdemona is directly in love with him.” He realizes that Roderigo has a crush on Desdemona so he uses that in his favor. Proving once more that he has no empathy towards anyone while devising his master plans. This isn’t the only person however the biggest influence he's had on someone was when he manipulated Othello. He
Everyone has control over something, weather it be themselves, someone else, or a possession, they have control. Throughout the play “MacBeth”, by William Shakespeare, Macbeth is so called controlled by three witches and their fate. Macbeth is not a helpless victim of fate as he was completely in control, so he was responsible for his actions that he committed.
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.
To summarize, one important theme in Shakespeare's "Othello, the Moor of Venice" is the theme of control; possession of control changes dramatically throughout the play. Othello's control is stolen by Iago, and Iago's overbearing control of Othello's emotions causes chaos and absence of control until Lodovico arrives at the end of the story. William Shakespeare's Othello is a direct commentary on society. The theme of control in society, apparent to Shakespeare in this play, is a prevalent view of society today.
A classic megalomaniac, Iago suffers from a massive ego, and therefore feels intensely jealous when talent other than his own is recognized. The play opens to Iago announcing that he hates Othello,”Despise me If I do not. Three great ones of the city, In personal suit to make me his lieutenant, Off-capped to him; and by the faith of man, I know my price, I am worth no worse a place” (1,1,8-12). It is Othello’s pride and partiality towards his friends, Iago claims, that caused him to choose Cassio as lieutenant in lieu of his “Ancient”. While Iago is understandably slighted that a man, whose knowledge of war came from a book rather than the field, has been appointed to a position over him, saying that it was Othello’s pride that produced Cassio’s promotion suggests that Iago t...
When Macbeth becomes king he controls almost everyone, from servants to assassins. He even attempts to order the three witches to do his bidding. However, Macbeth’s actions and demeanor later in the play are the result of Lady Macbeth, who holds sway over her husband. It is she who at first coaxes and controls Macbeth, resulting in the change in his personality. The supernatural, in particular the three witches, exert control over both Macbeth and his lady. In fact, it is their influences that initiate the sequence of events, and are therefore an integral part of the play.
Texts and their appropriations reflect the context and values of their times. Within Shakespeare’s Othello and Geoffrey Sax’s appropriation of Othello, the evolution of the attitudes held by Elizabethan audiences and those held by contemporary audiences can be seen through the context of the female coupled with the context of racism. The role of the female has developed from being submissive and “obedient” in the Elizabethan era to being independent and liberated within the contemporary setting. The racism of the first text is overtly xenophobic and natural, whilst the “moor” is unnatural whereas the updated context portrays Othello’s race as natural and racism as unnatural. Therefore these examples show how Shakespeare’s Othello, and it’s appropriation, Geoffrey sax’s Othello, reflect the context and values of their times.
In Act three, Scene three, Desdemona agrees to speak to Othello in Cassio’s behalf) As Desdemona and Cassio discuss Cassio’s loss of rank and trust in Othello’s eyes. Iago brings to Othello’s attention the discussion taking place between Cassio and Desdemona. Iago knowing full well why the discussion is happening. Iago hints the pair seems to be spending a lot of time together. Iago plants the seed of doubt in Othello’s mind Othello begins to ponder the idea of whether Iago suspicions are true.
One of the main reasons Iago is so successful at manipulating others is because they are too guileless to realize that he is taking advantage of them. Cassio still comes to Iago for advice after Iago rats him out and gets him fired.
Iago used reputation to his advantage in order to fulfill his plan to get revenge on Othello and Cassio. He uses each characters reputation to bring out their weaknesses, which he uses to his advantage. This includes his own. Over and over, Othello calls Iago, “Honest Iago.” Because his reputation is known for being honest, he tells Othello lie after lie because he knows Othello will believe him. This in turn helps him fulfill his plan because Othello falls right into his trap. Othello believes Iago when he says that Desdemona is cheating on him. He believes when Iago tells him how Cassio had a dream about Desdemona, and he believes Iago when he says that Desdemona gave Cassio the handkerchief. Another example of Iago using reputation to his advantage is with Desdemona. She is known for being sweet and innocent, and he exploits that with Cassio and Othello. When Cassio is desperate to get his job as lieutenant back, Iago simply tells him to get help from Desdemona because, “Our generals wife is now the general” (II.III.314-315). What this is saying is that because Desdemona and Othello are now married, she can control him, because it is his job to please her as she wishes. When Cassi...
In the first act of scene 4, we see Othello and Iago discussing Desdemona’s unfaithfulness. Othello still doesn't want to believe that Desdemona is capable, or would cheat on him. They're discussing the handkerchief, it's a very significant in the play, it's one of the first signs for Othello to believe that Desdemona is cheating on him. We usually see Othello defending Desdemona and Iago accusing her, but the roles have reversed and Iago seems to be defending Desdemona, while producing more "evidence" to condemn her. When Iago simply just says “Lie-” (Page 169, Line 33) without any further elaboration, Othello immediately assumes 'Lie with her”, which gives him more proof to condemn Desdemona and Cassio. Othello almost seems to be persuading himself that Desdemona did cheat on him when he says “Lie with her? Lie on her? We say lie on her when they belie her. Lie with her -Zounds, that's fulsome” (Page 169, lines 35-37). Right after that he falls in a trance, and Iago takes this opportunity, to make his accusation more believable. He calls in Cassio and tells him to come back again...
The tragedy of Othello, written by William Shakespeare, presents the main character Othello, as a respectable, honorable, and dignified man, but because of his insecurities and good nature, he is easily taken advantage of and manipulated by his peers and alleged friends. The dynamic of Othello’s character significantly changes throughout the play. The contrast is most pronounced from the beginning of the play to its conclusion, switching from being calm and peaceful to acts of uncontrolled venomous rage. Othello’s motivation in the play appears to be his love and concern for his wife Desdemona, which ironically, ends up being his downfall in the end.
Like Roderigo, Cassio also believes in "Honest Iago," for he thinks that Iago is only trying to help him. On the night of Cassio’s watch, Iago convinces him to take another drink, knowing very well that it will make him drunk. Even though he really doesn’t want to, Roderigo puts his faith into Iago and states, "I’ll do’t, but it dislikes me." Iago’s plan goes smoothly when Cassio is make to look like an irresponsible fool, resulting in his termination as lieutenant.
It is obvious that Iago does not like Cassio and this is evident when in Act 1 Scene 1 he states, 'One Michael Cassio...That never set a squadron in the field, Nor the devision of a battle know' thus criticizing his military abilities. Having said that, this is the chief motif why Iago wants to bring down Cassio. Another reason might be that Iago believes that Cassio has slept with his wife, conspicuous in a soliloquy where he says, 'For I fear Cassio with my night cap too', the 'night cap' referring to his wife.
Iago has a sophisticated way of deceiving the characters of the play, making him a very intelligent person. Early in the play Othello introduces Iago to the Duke of Venice as, “My ancient / A man he is of honesty and trust” (!. iii. 284-85). This is but one of the times in the play that Iago is referred to as honest and true. Throughout the play Iago is considered to be honest, but is actuality the villain. In order to maintain this false image one has to have a beguiling character. After Othello and his lieutenant, Michael Cassio, return from the war against the Ottomans, there is a celebration. At this celebration Iago puts his manipulation to work. He knows that Othello and Desdemona’s love for each other is very true, but he tells Rodrigo that Desdemona had love for Cassio: “With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. / Ay, smile upon her, do…” (II. I. 164-65). This quote shows that Iago deceives Roderigo into believing that Desdemona loves Cassio, when in Roderigo’s eyes it is virtually impossible. Iago basically controls Rodrigo because Iago deceives him into believing that he can have Desdemona, by both Cassio and Othello.