Iago's Manipulation of Othello in William Shakespeare's Play
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Iago's Manipulation of Othello in William Shakespeare's Play
Iago has previously taken the audience into his confidence and we know
what he is going to do. In Act 1 Scene 1, he uses animal imagery such
as "For daws to peck at", "Barbaryhorse", and "an old black ram is
tupping your white ewe"; and images of disease like "poison his
delight" and "Plague him with flies". These images add depth and
cruelty to what he says and provide amusement for the audience. He is
telling Brabantio in the worst possible away about his daughter's
relationship with Othello and he's bad mouthing Othello behind his
back. This makes the audience feel sympathy for both Othello and
Brabantio but the images are so obscene that they can be found funny.
Iago relates to the audience by doing this, therefore getting them on
his side early on in the play.
In Act 1 Scene 2, Iago shows diversity in the way he speaks to
different people and we see deeper into the real Iago; it is as though
he is changing faces. The audience has previously seen him speaking to
Roderigo with little respect and using cruel and racist comments
towards Othello. Now they are witnessing him deceiving Othello by
pretending to be loyal and honest whilst also deceiving Roderigo by
telling clever lies. The way that Iago manipulates Othello makes the
audience think and then realize that people believe him to be honest
because he is sly.
However, Othello proves harder to deceive than Roderigo and Brabantio
because he confident and proud. At the end of Act 1 Scene 3, Iago
starts to plot the downfall of Othello. Firstly, he gives instructions
to Roderigo and then, in a soliloquy, tells the audience his plan as
it comes to mind, "How? How? Let's see". By making Iago do this,
Shakespeare forms a relationship between the audience and Iago and
lets them know everything that's going through Iago's mind. He reveals
his motives to the audience, "'twixt my sheets he's done my office",
he believes that Othello has been to bed with his wife and wants to
Iago has previously taken the audience into his confidence and we know
what he is going to do. In Act 1 Scene 1, he uses animal imagery such
as "For daws to peck at", "Barbaryhorse", and "an old black ram is
tupping your white ewe"; and images of disease like "poison his
delight" and "Plague him with flies". These images add depth and
cruelty to what he says and provide amusement for the audience. He is
telling Brabantio in the worst possible away about his daughter's
relationship with Othello and he's bad mouthing Othello behind his
back. This makes the audience feel sympathy for both Othello and
Brabantio but the images are so obscene that they can be found funny.
Iago relates to the audience by doing this, therefore getting them on
his side early on in the play.
In Act 1 Scene 2, Iago shows diversity in the way he speaks to
different people and we see deeper into the real Iago; it is as though
he is changing faces. The audience has previously seen him speaking to
Roderigo with little respect and using cruel and racist comments
towards Othello. Now they are witnessing him deceiving Othello by
pretending to be loyal and honest whilst also deceiving Roderigo by
telling clever lies. The way that Iago manipulates Othello makes the
audience think and then realize that people believe him to be honest
because he is sly.
However, Othello proves harder to deceive than Roderigo and Brabantio
because he confident and proud. At the end of Act 1 Scene 3, Iago
starts to plot the downfall of Othello. Firstly, he gives instructions
to Roderigo and then, in a soliloquy, tells the audience his plan as
it comes to mind, "How? How? Let's see". By making Iago do this,
Shakespeare forms a relationship between the audience and Iago and
lets them know everything that's going through Iago's mind. He reveals
his motives to the audience, "'twixt my sheets he's done my office",
he believes that Othello has been to bed with his wife and wants to