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Iago importance in othello
Iago influence of othello
Important character of iago in othello essay
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During the 1600’s, the play Othello was written by William Shakespeare, a time that was subject to class inequality and common love affairs. Such attributes are commonly described in the play as defining elements of a character's trustability and worth. These elements also play a major role in Iago’s greater plan to ruin Othello’s life. Even though Iago seems like an honest and trustworthy man, Othello’s sorrow and suicide and directly linked to Iago’s actions. Although some may argue that Iago’s manipulation tactics seem to transform Othello from a confident man to one corrupt of jealousy, it is in fact Iago’s greater scheme of revenge on Othello that causes him to change so significantly. Furthermore, in the play Othello, jealousy fuels the …show more content…
Othello, at this point, has lost all faith in his wife and will not be stopped in achieving his revenge against her. As Othello watches at a distance, Iago sets up a situation with Cassio holding Desdemona’s handkerchief, thereby increasing Othello’s jealousy: “As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad/ And his unbookish jealousy must construe/ Poor Cassio’s smiles, gestures, and light behaviors/ Quite in the wrong” (4.1, 117-120). By portraying Cassio in this fashion, Iago succeeds in furthering Othello’s jealousy over his wife’s supposed affair, as well as making him strive to achieve his revenge. Othello’s revenge against his wife, Desdemona, finally takes place in their own bedroom, where Othello finally decides to go through with killing Desdemona: “But while I say one prayer!/ It is too late. He smothers her.../ Farewell./ Commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell,” (5.2, 104-153). In the end, Othello gets so fed up with his jealousy over Desdemona, that he plans and succeeds in killing her, the most tragic revenge. This shows that at the end of the play, Othello’s insecurities about his wife supposedly cuckolding him, got the best of him, and therefore, led to Desdemona’s tragic death, along with the suicide of Othello, for he did not wish to live with such a
The play, Othello is one of the most famous tragedies composed by William Shakespeare during the Renaissance period. It powerfully portrays a world where the acts of evil ultimately vanquishes fidelity, nobility and integrity. The central themes jealousy and manipulation embodies the foretold tragedies and the downfall tragedies of the characters due to one’s insecurities. Through the use of literary techniques and figurative language, Shakespeare has effectively explored the themes of jealousy and manipulation.
Throughout Othello the Moor of Venice we experience a rather uplifting story that seems to somehow come crashing down on not only the characters in the story but the reader also. Author William Shakespeare does a tremendous job at connecting us with the characters in the play. Othello, the protagonist in the play, falls slowly into the pit of destruction where jealousy takes control. He along with many other characters in the play are manipulated by Iago and slowly taken down from a peaceful, love filled, and triumphant place in their lives to one that is dark and revengeful. Many are led to their deaths because of the terrible deeds done by Iago, some of which include Othello himself who commits suicide only after murdering his new wife over nothing but the mindset of jealousy and hate. Shakespeare explores a vast amount of literary content here some of which delve into Jealousy. Jealousy alongside intense deceitful manipulation can introduce a person to another sinister side of themselves they never knew to existed. Iago 's ultimate goal in the play is not yet clearly laid out; there is much to
...race, beauty and status put her on a pedestal like a goddess allowing him to idolize her and therefore never truly deserve her. Beneath his noble persona on display for all to see, the idealistic view of his wife, leads him to believe that she will never be able to fully reciprocate the love he has for her. Iago’s exploitative tactics used for revenge trigger Othello’s fatal insecurities to surface for the ultimately climactic ending in which he smothers Desdemona with a pillow before discovering “honest” Iago had been deceiving him, as well as the majority of the other characters, the entire time. Outraged, Othello attempts to stab Iago as revenge for being manipulated into killing his beloved wife, however when his hasty murder attempt fails, the heartbroken and worn-out man stabs himself next to the already dead Desdemona, whom he never believed he was worthy of.
Desdemona has, therefore, some quite serious faults as a wife, including a will of her own, which was evident even before she was married. This does not mean that she merits the terrible accusations flung at her by Othello, nor does she in any way deserve her death, but she is partly responsible for the tragic action of the play. Othello’s behavior and mounting jealousy are made more comprehensible if we remember what Elizabethan husbands might expect of their wives. (45)
The play “Othello” by William Shakespeare was written in 1604 during the Elizabeth era. Othello is one of the most extraordinary characters in all of Shakespeare’s dramas. He enjoyed unheralded success in the combat zone, which gave him the reputation as one of Venice’s most competent generals. Even though he has great success in the battlefield, he has a dramatic flaw that causes a downfall in his life. The dramatic flaw that causes his downfall is jealousy. This was brought on by a simple persuasion of Iago, the evil character in the play. Even though Iago used extreme manipulation to get Othello to be jealous, Iago did not really have to try very hard to get Othello in a jealous state of mind. Othello was blinded by his jealousy which led him down a path of constant questioning of his wife and his friend Cassio. Throughout the play we see his dramatic flaw sink him deeper and deeper into a cloud of doubt which eventually leads him to kill not only his love of his life but also himself.
“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock.The meat it feeds on; that cuckold lives in bliss. Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger; But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er. Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves” (3.3.163-168). In Shakespeare’s Othello, jealousy is the common theme that becomes Othello’s undoing. Through text in the play, the audience can notice Othello slowly begin to become crazed through his speech.
...o confronts Desdemona while she is alone in her room. He asks Desdemona if there is anything she wants to tell him to try and get rid of her sins. He also says that this would be best for her because his mind is made up and she is going to die anyway. At this point Othello has convinced himself that what he is dong is fully justified because Desdemona will betray other men if he does not go through with it. Desdemona pleads for just one more day but he says that he just cannot grant this and that she must die now. Othello proceeds to suffocate Desdemona in her own pillow and though Othello hated to have to do it he at least feels that she can do no more harm but this all changes when everyone enters the room. After a few short dialogues Othello is informed that Iago had been lying the entire time and Othello proceeds to kill himself.
3 Nov. 2016. In this ebook, the author expresses that Othello wasn't only hurt because his wife Desdemona was cheating on him but also because he felt his masculinity and his pride were ripped away from him. The author explains that Othello didn't know another way to get his masculinity and pride back other than to cause her death. He talks about how the men where acting like Neanderthals and it resulted of him killing his own wife.
Iago intends to orchestrate the demise of Cassio and Othello. On the surface, winning a promotion was the catalyst for Iago’s rage but bringing down only Cassio does not satisfy his bloodthirsty rage. Although Iago is cunning and ruthless in his pursuit to ruin Othello, the plot spins out of his control and only gains traction when his wife, Emilia unknowingly helps him. At this point Iago is poised to fail but the possession of Desdemona’s handkerchief provides a key piece of “ocular proof (Shakespeare)” that Othello requires to be convinced of Desdemona’s infidelity. Iago loses control of the situation. His stated purpose is to suppl...
Othello is a book by Shakespeare built around tragedy and manipulation. In the book the character Desdemona is killed by her husband Othello. Our job today is to figure out if it was Othello’s fault for committing the crime, Iago’s fault for framing her, Or Desdemona’s fault for not fighting harder to get Othello to believe she was not having an affair. In the story Othello is convinced that his wife is having an affair with a man named Cassio.
For the characters Iago and Cassio, there has been a sort of jealousy domino effect. Iago is jealous that Cassio got lieutenancy instead of himself. So he is determined to hurt Cassio and Othello in the same process. He succeeds at hurting Cassio but eventually finds himself in a job- jealousy situation again. In act IV, scene ii, Iago does not want Cassio having the powerful job of taking over for Othello in Cyprus. Iago thinks that if Cassio is dead then he can take the job, yet again. Instead of confronting Othello about why he may not be fit for receiving these jobs, Iago wants to hurt someone for it. He is letting a trivial situation make him jealous of others to the point that he would let himself take someone else’s life. In Cassio’s situation, an object gets used to spark jealousy upon someone else, but it was not even intentional. Cassio’s lady friend, Bianca, is afraid that “[the handkerchief] is some token from a newer friend./ To the felt absence now I feel a cause” (III.iv. 206-207). It can be described as a domino effect because the handkerchief was originally planted to make Othello jealous of Cassio, but now it has also made Bianca jealous of some other nonexistent women. The nature of jealousy is scary because it can destroy bonds and relationships even when it was not intended. In Cassio’s case, he made someone jealous without even trying and it will jeopardize his relationships. Most often people do not ask for the burden of having a jealous feeling, but it can consume their mind while destroying others in it’s
Othello’s own problems lead him to murder Desdemona. He has insecurity issues with himself. In the beginning of the play, Othello is confident. Iago speaks of Othello in a lowly manner oftentimes. He even calls him an “old black ram” and describes him as “tupping your white ewe” (1.1.9) when he wakens Brabantio with news of Desdemona’s marriage to Othello. Othello starts to degrade himself by saying “rude am I in speech” (1.3.96). This loss of confidence puts a dent in his relationship with Desdemona, laying the pavement for her later death. He is gullible for allowing Iago’s remarks to affect him. Therefore, Othello’s own personal conflicts lead to Desdemona’s demise.
Going to him to speak about the suspected relations between his wife and Cassio, he plays the situation as if he is reluctant to say what is going on between the two of them. Othello pulls the suspicions out of him, but Iago brushes it off, saying “Would take no notice, nor build yourself a trouble out of his scattering and unsure observance” (3.3.150-151). Although, he simply does this to remain a tight hold on the illusion of trust Othello has for him, knowing he has already said enough to give him a strong paranoia. Now, Iago needed proof, an item or object that could create an idea of Desdemona at Cassio’s place. Finally, he persuades his wife to take the handkerchief in which Othello had gifted Desdemona as a symbol of his love for her, because Othello argued, “No, Iago, I’ll see ‘before I doubt; when I doubt, prove”
His love for his wife turns to hatred and hostility: “Ay, let her rot, and perish and be damned tonight, for she shall not live. No, my heart is turned to stone” (Shakespeare 4.1.200-202). This hate leads Othello to crave revenge. He wishes to kill Desdemona to take vengeance for her alleged actions. The profound anger allows Othello to consider such drastic revenge tactics towards someone he once loved and had a previous devotion to.
Othello gives this to his wife Desdemona. This symbolizes their relationship. When Othello is unwell Desdemona goes to wipe his face and Othello lets it drop to the floor. He then states, “your napkin is to little”(III.iii.289). When they leave Emilia enters and picks up the handkerchief to keep. She continues to state how her husband has been trying to get ahold of this item. When Emilia retrieves it to him, Iago immediately starts to come up with a plan to ruin Othello’s marriage. Iago is so manipulative the he makes Othello believe that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio without any actual proof. Iago willingly destroys the relationship between Othello and Desdemona without feeling any guilt. He goes to Cassio and gives him the item as evidence to break up Othello and Desdemona. To Othello the handkerchief was valuable because it was the first gift he gave Desdemona. When Iago spreads the word out about her cheating, Othello demands for the handkerchief back. She does not have the item and attempts to change the subject. Othello demands “Fetch me the handkerchief: my mind misgives”, (III.iv.84) then she states “Come, come: you’ll never meet a more sufficient man” (III.iv.86). Othello is overwhelmed and walks