Assess The Role Of Iago's Deception In Othello

Throughout the play, Iago is presented as deceptive, in act 2 scene 3, Cassio states “You advise me well” to Iago, this is showing that Cassio is naive to Iago’s deception which links to the theme of tragedy as Cassio’s trust and unawareness of Iago will evidently destroy him in the near future, this quote is followed by “Good night, honest Iago” which furthermore emphasises the fact that Cassio trusts Iago, to the extent of calling him “honest Iago” as “honest” shows that his image of Iago is a truthful, righteous man who seeks justice, when in reality, Cassio has fallen into Iago’s web of deception and deceit, in which Iago will use to furthermore manipulate him to carry out his plans of destroying Othello. This creates a sense of dramatic

In the same extract, Iago states “I’ll pour this pestilence into his ear”, this is foreshadowing that Iago is going to manipulate Othello into thinking Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio, whom he has set up a meeting between the two, and Iago is going to use this to furthermore create distrust between Othello and Desdemona, this therefore allows the audience to see how Iago’s plan has developed throughout the play. Soon after, Iago quotes “So I will turn her virtue to pitch”, this is implying that Iago will turn her good intentions into a trap to manipulate Othello, this creates a foreshadowing of tragedy as Iago will turn an innocent meeting into a trap that will ruin Desdemona’s reputation with Othello, and as the audience already knows, Desdemona has deceived her father previously in the play, thus Othello will more likely believe Iago’s trap. Iago then quotes “When devils will the blackest sins put on, They do suggest at first with heavenly shows, As I do now.” Iago is comparing himself to the devil as he depicts them to put on their most heavenly faces when committing their biggest sins, much like he is doing now which links back to his visage of manipulation, which in essence is a mask to hide his true nature, much