Iago and Emilia’s relationship in The Tragedy of Othello: Moor of Venice is similar to a lion, on one end it can be fierce, while on another it can be sly and cunning, and in the end it is the cunning side that becomes the strongest when stalking prey.
Iago, as deceitful of a character his is, always remains truthful when it comes to his opinions of his wife, Emilia. Iago claims throughout the play that his wife has cheated on him multiple times through out their marriage, these claims are even made in public among high ranking officers when Iago and Emilia meet on Cyprus, with Iago saying, “You rise to play and go to bed to work.” Iago’s mentioning of his spouse’s supposed cheating shows how much she truly hates everyone around him, even going to the point of combining his hate for Othello, “I hate the Moor, and 'tis thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets he has done my office." The use of the term ‘my office’ seems to dehumanize the idea of sex with a spouse and instead makes it seem like just another job. As the story progresses it becomes apparent that Iago harbors hate not only f...
“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, Othello’s ensign, and the villain of the play, performs his monstrous acts in a complex way by deceiving others to believe that he is honest and reliable while using this reputation to manipulate others. In this section, Iago says very little to deceive Othello into thinking that he has information that he would want to know. Iago’s clever use of silence and intimacy
Iago is a gender trickster, subtly and subversively manipulating the gender roles of the drama’s protagonist.... ... middle of paper ... ... “Witchcraft and Adultery in Othello: Strategies of Subversion.” Playing with Gender: A Renaissance Pursuit.
In the light of the various descriptions of an unstable person, Iago is a psychopath with his manipulative choice of words. He tells people things that they want to hear and he says it in a manner that makes him appear exceptional. “ I humbly do beseech you of your pardon, For too much loving you.” (3.3.106) In act three, Iago pretends to be Othello’s confidant, and he wants Othello to suspect his wife is having an affair. Iago has a pseudo relationship with Othello the entire duration of the play.
Beginning with the lowest rank of women, Emilia and Desdemona, Iago insults them with misogynistic and commanding comments to reveal the stark dichotomy of power between men and women in Shakespearian times. Targeting pathos, Iago uses controlling and degrading remarks to put Emilia down and to gain spousal dominance. In two scenes where Emilia expresses her true feelings, Iago snaps at her by first stating, “You are a fool, go to”, and then later orders, “Go to, charm your tongue” (4.2. 147, 5.2. 182). By telling Emilia that she is a “fool”, not only does Iago abruptly insult her, but he does so publicly, thereby reinforcing male superiority over women in their society (4.2. 147). This type of rhetoric serves Iago strategically as Iago’s public
The potential problems of their relationship are exploited fully by Iago, who plays on Othello's fears - his insecure position in a white society with a white wife, and his strict adherence to that society's norms as regards a wife's passivity and sexual behaviour--to get him to see through listening. That is, Iago uses words to twist reality and create mental images for people, and then persuades them to accept these as true. Listening to Iago is indeed dangerous.
Shakespearian tales always leave us with a plethora to ponder about the Elizabethan age and Shakespeare himself. “Othello” is no break in this mold, leaving us to ponder the roll of Iago within the harsh tale of love and murder. Iago is the one to tell Othello of his wife’s betrayal with Cassio, hence making up a story that will work to his favor yet betray those around him. Iago betrays his wife, Emilia, but not only her as he drags Othello, Desdemona, and Cassio into the mix of lies and the hatred he is spreading to improve his rank with Othello. But were Iago’s acts unjust and done for the sake of it? Is he a heartless man who’s only happiness is to bring sorrow upon others? No, Iago has a just reason for what he does, even though he causes the deaths of Cassio, Emilia, and Desdemona in his search for revenge; Iago is not a heartless fiend, just a man wronged.
Iago has no qualms about his deceitful actions. In order to rile anger in Brabantio, he wakes him with the news that his daughter has married Othello: " Rouse him, make after him, poison his delight" (1,1,69) Iago proceeds to tell the news of Desdemona and Othello's marriage to a shocked Brabantio. He uses offensive imagery, showing the extent to which he will go to win Brabantio's support against Othello. While not in the company of either Othello or Brabantio, Iago debases the marria... ... middle of paper ... ...is his trust.
One of the major themes of Othello is that of jealousy, a manifestation of paranoia and obsession in itself. Iago’s burning desire to drive Othello to madness and a compulsion to disgrace those above him can be seen, with a Marxist reading, as his intense dissatisfaction with the social system he is a part of, ‘we cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly followed’. Likewise, his intellectual superiority over his betters and peers is made evident ...
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
Language and imagination are among the most dangerous weapons Iago has at his disposal in Othello. Jealous and angered by Othello’s - his commanding officer - passing over him for a promotion, Iago develops a fierce, antagonistic perspective the aforementioned character; this sentiment quickly corrupts his volition, and he subsequently concocts a plot bent on destroying Othello. He renders this revenge scheme credible by concealing his true feelings behind a facade of loyalty and trustworthiness, and fabricating a fictitious story concerning the infidelity of Desdemona, Othello’s wife. Until the play concludes, Iago utilizes purposeful rhetoric to drive his agenda, and also a mastery of deception to mislead the minds of his targets.
“..I hate the Moor, And it is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets He has done my office. I know not if it be true, But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,Will do as if for surety” (Othello Act I scene III) In this quote, Iago is saying that he hates Othello because he’s heard a rumor around Venice that Othello is having an affair with his wife. The reason Iago was chosen was because he is arguably the main character of the play. Yes the play is called ‘Othello’ but this reader sees Iago as a more realistic, and to be
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...
Iago, the villain in Shakespeare’s Othello, is a round character of great depth and many dimensions. Iago works towards an aim that is constantly changing and becomes progressively more tragic. Yet, at times, "honest" Iago does actually seem honest. This essay will explore the complex character of "honest Iago.
...e must be a travesty, which is filled with tarnished emotions. Due to his own insecurities and phobia of a promiscuous wife, Othello is quick to believe in the bogus claims implied by Iago.