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. I think
that it means that whatever Iago has to do, he will tell everyone that
Othello is an evil man. He thinks this because he believes that he has
slept with Emilia, Iago’s wife, “’twixt my sheets he’s done my
office,” (Act 1, sc 3, line 369-370). However, it has many other
subtle messages and meanings. Iago could be referring to his evil plan
because “hell” tends to be used in the context of evil deeds. Also,
Othello has previously been associated to a devil. His use of “night”
could be hinting that he will perform his plan under the cover of
darkness however, it also has racial connections, night-time being
dark or black, and the colour of Othello’s skin. When “monstrous” is
said another connection with evil doings is established. It makes the
plan seem extravagant and complicated and perhaps dangerous, I think
it may be referring to danger because, in legend, monsters are always
associated with danger. The use of “birth” could be showing that the
birth of his plan draws parallel between the birth of Othello and
Desdemona’s love and Iago. The birth of a child brings blood and pain
so Iago could be suggesting the nature of his plan, murder. Iago’s use
of the word “world’s” could mean everyone or he may be saying that he
wants more power, a promotion over Cassio, or he could be using it to
imply that he wants world domination,...
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...ago mentions a variety of intentions openly
however it is possible that he had darker ones that he did not expose
to the audience. These may have included taking over Othello’s
ranking, being romantically linked to Desdemona or perhaps Othello
himself considering the homosexual meaning of the play. Ultimately, it
was jealousy that caused the bulk of Othello and Desdemona’s
misfortune however this jealousy was formed from thin air by Iago. If
Othello had not been so troubled by jealousy then their relationship
may have survived.
In Shakespeare’s Othello, the character Iago is fairly successful in
fulfilling his ambitions however he did not do it purely himself. He
played on others weaknesses so as to get what he wanted. His success
would have been far greater if it had not caused so many casualties
and fatalities.
In Othello, Shakespeare forms the villainous character, Iago through his complex language. Iago shows his evil nature towards Roderigo through his use of demeaning animal imagery. Iago also uses an extended metaphor to try and trick the ignorant Roderigo and (unknowingly to Roderigo), insults him. Lastly, Iago uses repetition to beguile Roderigo to keep paying him. Iago’s slyness is clearly seen through his deceiving language towards the end of Act I.
Critics such as M. R. Ridley believe that the ability to hurt is the most
act but he gets other people to do it. He is motivated by one main
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 in William Shakespear’s play “Othello” offers a precise explanation; Iago is a hateful, havoc seeking manipulator who holds several motives behind destroying several lives. From the beginning of the play, the reader is captivated by Iago’s character of a villain. In the beginning of the play it is revealed to the reader through the conversation between Iago and Rodriguez that Iago loathes Othello because he was not assigned the position of Lieutenant. However, it seems as the story progresses, more factors come into play regarding his hate towards Othello. He reveals another motive in a soliloquy; that he despises Othello because he slept with his wife. Furthermore, Iago 's hate towards Othello could also be attributed to Othello 's African
“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’
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.
In any story with a recurring dark theme there always must be an outsider from humanity who somehow stands out from the seemingly equal community. In the case of Shakespeare’s Othello the outsider from humanity would be Iago for he truly stands out from the rest of society. Although Othello may be physically put out of the community, it seems that on an emotional and egotistical level Iago puts himself out of society further then Othello’s blackness does. He is not merely manipulative, as other villains are; he turns aspects of truth and good qualities, which he does not possess, and uses them as weakness for his own scheme. He deceives people to follow his plans by telling them the truth and what seems to be good advice. By standing on the side and watching people he seems to learn more about them then they even know themselves. He seems to envy these people and the relationships that they possess, becuase he will never know what these connections feel like. He uses people’s strengths as their weaknesses to bring them to their doom. He causes much destruction and is driven by a force that the reader cannot even understand. Iago makes himself an outsider by not realizing that his ego causes him to hate and disrespect all of humanity.
To clearly illustrate Iago’s manipulations as a skeptic Othello and Desdemona are the last of the puppeteer’s targets to take down. Both Othello and Desdemona suffer from “the idols of the theatre” (Aph 44, Bacon 152). Bacon defines the idols of theater as “idols which have immigrated into men’s minds from the various dogmas and philosophies, and also the wrong laws of demonstration” (Aph 44, Bacon 152). Othello seems to have clear principles that he abides by and when shown that his principles are not allowing him to have the life he thought he would he has a different set of principles that he follows for revenge. “Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it, That he would steal away so guilty like, Seeing you coming” (Act 3, Scene 3). This
Iago's Hatred for Othello in William Shakespeare's Play. Though I hate him as I do hell pains. " In Shakespeare's play "Othello", Shakespeare introduces one of the most complex villains ever seen in the world of literature. Iago's.
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.
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 one of the most complex characters in William Shakespeare’s Othello. To most of the characters, he is “Honest Iago” (Shakespeare, 5.2.73). however, the audience knows that Iago is the furthest thing from honest. Iago is a devil bent on destroying the lives of everyone around him. At the beginning of the play, the audience learns that Iago is determined to ruin Othello’s marriage to Desdemona. He has appointed a new lieutenant, Michael Cassio. This angers Iago because he feels that he has much more military experience and should be the lieutenant. Iago has also heard rumours that both Othello and Cassio have slept with his wife Emilia. He concocts a malicious plan to ruin the lives of all who have wronged him, and consequently establishing
Of all the characters in Shakespeare 's literature, Iago is the most innately evil antagonist created. Although Shakespeare’s other antagonists show reasoning behind their actions, Iago lacks any type of motive. In the tragedy, Othello, by William Shakespeare, Iago, the manipulative antagonist plays the role of a master puppeteer who successfully creates chaos and disorder throughout the entire play with no motives behind them. Early on, Iago is seen by the other characters as an honest and trustworthy ensign. Although as the play progresses, this multilayered character manipulates numerous good-natured minds to become as sinful as his own. Iago’s ability to exploit his victims’ flaws in such an unsuspecting manner
reason he "would expend time with such a snipe" is but to use him. He