Shakespeare is prominent not only in inventing new words, but also in using such themes as death, love, and betrayal throughout his works including Othello. However the central theme of the play is jealousy which we face right from the beginning meeting Roderigo, who envies Othello because he wants to be with Desdemona. In the end of the play we see how furiously jealous Othello is because he is sure Cassio and Desdemona have an affair. In the story of Othello by Shakespeare it is clear that Iago plays a significant part as he is introduced right from the first scene. Iago was Othello 's ensign who was passed over for the lieutenant position in favor of Cassio. We tend to follow Iago during the play more than Othello. Iago leads us through …show more content…
Unfortunately he chose the wrong person to be advised by. Both Othello and Iago have their own goals and want to get the upper hand over the opponent. Othello’s goal is to get answers. Iago’s goal is to manipulate those people who as he thinks have hurt him. Even though Iago was lucky to mislead Othello, in the end nobody wins. Shakespeare depicts Othello as a person who is wholly sure of himself and truly believes in the righteousness of that he does. Ordering Iago to have Cassio killed proves his character is strong and is very determined and ready to accept serous decisions. He also becomes very passionate and even violent when he runs up against supposed Desdemona’s affair with Cassio. Love and story of Othello and Desdemona is full of dramatic irony which was caused by differences between reality and appearance, result and expectation, intention and meaning. Their love was beautiful and ugly at the same time. It was beautiful because they seemed to be truly in love with each other. On the other side it was crippled by distrust and jealousy. As it was stated before, Othello was a different person with a totally different outlook on life and reality. Unfortunately Iago was pretty skillful in manipulating Othello and using situations to his advantage. He managed to distort Othello’s reality and made him think Desdemona was not true …show more content…
Othello sees Cassio as the man most Venetian women in Desdemona 's position would like to marry and, therefore, as the man she would turn to if she ceased to love her husband. In a way, he is waiting for the dream to come to an end, for Desdemona to decide that she has made a mistake in marrying him. Othello being outclassed in intellect is his lack of self-knowledge; this is with regard to how his military background has affected his logic. He constantly commands Iago to bring him proof of Desdemona’s disloyalty “Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore”
Desdemona's naivety is the prime cause of the conflict in "Othello" because she doesn't know that Iago is depriving her in Othello's mind by using her actions against her. Desdemona loves Othello, but also is benevolent in helping anyone even if it might be practiced against her. Cassio asked Desdemona if she can help get Othello's trust back, only as Othello and Iago enters they see Cassio leave and gets a bit
Iago knows that when Desdemona grows tired of Othello she will find someone new to pity and love, this person just happens to be Cassio. Desdemona acknowledges that she pities Cassio, “That he hath left part of his grief with me, / To suffer with him. Good love, call him back” (III iii 58-59) and it is know that she continually confuses pity and love, what is to say that she does not move on from Othello to Cassio.Iago also realizes the oddity that is her love for Othello, “If she had been blessed, she would never / have loved the Moor. Blessed pudding! Didst thou / not see her paddle with the palm of his hand? didst / not mark that? (II i 274-277), Iago is seeing her “paddle with the palm of his hand”, which is a flirty gesture, and reinforcing that she may actually be cheating on
Othello and Iago are diverse in their characters and in their colors. It could be said additionally, notwithstanding, that they are comparative because of their untrustworthiness. Iago is overcome with his longing for vengeance to such a degree that he places it vigorously. Othello 's adoration and possessiveness of Desdemona assume control him until he in the long run would rather murder her than permit any other person to have her. In this way, despite their differentiations, Iago and Othello both speak to the furthest point of the same thing - human emotion.
As early as the first scene of the play Iago shows us strong motives for his actions. In this first scene we see Othello, a general of Venice, has made Cassio his new lieutant. Iago feels he truly deserves his promotion as he says "I know my price, I am worth more no worse a place."(l.i.12) Iago over here is confused why Othello has made such a stupid decision. Iago is a man with a tremendous ego who knows, sometimes overestimates, his worth. Roderigo, a Venetian gentleman, understands Iago when Iago said that he is "affined to love the Moor."(l.i.41-42) What Iago really means is "I follow him to serve my term upon him."(l.i.45) Iago wants to use Othello for his personal goals. We also must put ourselves into Iago's shoes. He is a man whose self-esteem and professional carrier have just been torn apart. Iago makes his actions of revenge toward Othello almost immediately by informing Brabantio, a Venetian senator and father of Desdemona, that "an old black ram (Othello) is tupping (his) white ewe (Desdemona)."(l.i.97)
Desdemona never confronts Othello for his change in attitude and she is blinded by things that are going on such as her missing handkerchief. Desdemona is also blinded by trying to help her friend Cassio rather than resolve her husband’s anger. Many times during the play, she is able to ask Othello what is really wrong and going on with him, but she rather chooses to continue to persuade Othello to give Cassio his job back. “I swear by every sacred spirit that I’ve said everything I can for you (...) You must be patient a while. I’ll do what I can; and I’ll do more.” (Shakespeare 209) Desdemona’s inability to confront the source becomes one of the biggest problems in the play because she has no idea what is being said behind her, and she doesn’t even care enough to find out. Iago’s plan continues to carry out due to the fact that Desdemona coincidentally keeps being found with Cassio and as she pleads to Othello to forgive him, Othello has more reason to believe that Desdemona is cheating on him with
One of Othello’s insecurities is that he “married up”. Othello thinks that by marrying Desdemona everything will be fine. Othello states, “For know, Iago, / But that I love the gentle Desdemona, / I would not my unhoused free condition / Put into circumscription and confine / For the sea’s worth. But look, what lights come / yond,” (1.2.27-32). Othello tells Iago that no one can do something negative to him again. He marries Desdemona because he loves her also, because she is wealthy and from a big family. Othello thinks that he gains the world by marrying Desdemona. Nevertheless, he does not know that marrying her may lead to huge problems, or end up with death. Not only married up lead him to jealousy, but also being Moor, or feeling lesser than others, lead him to jealousy. Othello says to Desdemona, “ By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in ’s hand! / O perjured woman, thou dost stone my heart / And <mak’st > me call what I intend to do / A murder, which I thought a sacrifice! / I saw the handkerchief!,” (5.2.77-81). These lines illustrate that Othello obtains anger form Desdemona because he thinks that she gives the handkerchief to Cassio. Othello feels that he is lesser than anyone because he thinks that Desdemona does not care about her husband’s stuff. By feeling lesser, Othello commences to be jealous from Desdemona. Lastly, Othello’s epilepsy lead to jealousy and ultimately death. At the very end of the play, Othello mentions that he does not want anyone to talk about any of the positive things that he did. He wants everyone to talk about the negative things only. Othello states, “Then must you speak/ Of one that loved not wisely, but too well;/ Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought,/ Perplexed in the extreme; of one hand,/ Like the base Judean, threw a pearl away/ Richer than all his tribe; of one whose subdued/ eyes,” (5.2.403-08). These lines illustrate that Othello is jealous from
Othello's reputation also plays a big role in this play and the outcome of it. He has the reputation of a no nonsense military general. This status in fact partly causes Desdemona's death. He becomes so distraught when he hears from Iago that Cassio and Desdemona and cheating on him he becomes angry and wants to kill her. "I will chop her into messes! Cuckold me?" He is surprised and astonished that she would go behind his back and do this. His reputation doesn't allow him to confront her with the situation and talk things over. He is also angry that his reputation would be tarnished when found out that he is a cuckold. He proves that his reputations means a lot to him when he says, "For nought I did in hate, but all in honour." Othello believed that reputation was everything, because of his status as a general and the fact that those under him and above him respected him. Othello's reputation played a big role in the outcome of the play and in part caused Desdemona's death and his own.
Othello is such a gullible character with so much trust in the wrong people. He trusts Iago before he trusts his own wife, Desdemona; he let Iago get into his mind. Iago arises any doubt Othello has for anyone he ever trusted making them all seem untrustworthy. More then anything Iago uses pathos to appeal to emotion. “ But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve For daws to peck at. I am not what I am” (Othello, Shakespeare, Act I Scene I Line 65-66). Iago talks about being open and honest; although this is not true it makes the other characters feel secure. Othello is a strong character, but Iago is his downfall. Blinded by jealousy and questions Othello will no longer trust Desdemona nor Cassio, because of this he will meet his
Iago is a very strategic and clever person, and he despises Othello because Othello appointed Cassio as a lieutenant over Iago. He plans to ruin Othello’s life by ruining his relationship with Desdemona. He starts off by telling Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, of Othello and Desdemona’s secret marriage. Iago goes to
Shakespeare develops the character Iago into an instigator and evil man. Iago attempts and succeeds to convince Othello that his wife has had an affair with his friend Cassio. We see Iago beginning his plans at the very start of the play. “But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at, I am not what I am.”(Oth 1:1:64-65) He immediately tries to start trouble with Brabantio and Othello over the marriage to Desdemona. Iago want to get in Othello’s way because he was passed over for general and Cassio was chosen instead. We see from the start how he plots against Othello and he involves several characters in his plans. “And what’s he then that says I play the villain? When this advice is free. I give and honest, probal to thinking, and indeed the course to win the Moor again? For tis easy Th’ inclining Desdemona to subdue in any honest suit; she’s framed as fruitful…”(2:3:295-300).
In The Tragedy of Othello, William Shakespeare tells the tale of the “noble Moor” whose honor and innocence bring about his downfall. Shakespeare writes of the power of jealousy, and the art of masterful deception and trickery. The story primarily takes place in Cyprus, during a war between the people of Venice and the invading Turks. In this play Shakespeare shows the feelings of Othello’s embittered right-hand man of, Iago, who feels he is passed over for a promotion and swears his revenge. He proceeds to manipulate his friends, enemies, and family into doing his bidding without any of them ever realizing his ultimate goal. He makes Othello believe that his new wife, the innocent Desdemona, is committing adultery with his newly promoted officer Michael Cassio. After this seed of jealousy has been planted, Othello’s mind takes its course in determining the true outcome, with a little more nudging from Iago. The course of action he proceeds to follow is one that not only ends his own life, but also the life of his wife and others. In Shakespeare’s Tragedy of Othello, Othello is a man who is still truly honorable, despite the course of action he takes to resolve his perceived problem.
Iago is Othello's ensign, and the main villain of the play. He hoped to be promoted to the position of lieutament, but Othello chose Cassio over him. To get revenge, he brings forth a plot to convince Othello that Cassio and Desdemona, are having an affair. Iago is truly evil, and cares only about himself.
In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago is the antagonist and villain who causes all the trouble and disorder. Othello is the protagonist, and is the main person Iago’s destruction and revenge is aimed towards. Othello is naïve and gives everybody his trust even though he may not know them or they haven’t earned his trust yet. He often refers to Iago has “Honest” Iago, which is a direct showing of irony because Iago is not honest at all (Shakespeare, I, iii. 289). Iago is so angry that Othello didn’t give him the promotion that was given to Cassio that he plans to seek revenge against Othello. He seeks his revenge against Othello by manipulating and lying to all of the people around him including his closest friend Roderigo, Cassio, Othello’s wife Desdemona and even his own wife Emilia. In the end, Iago’s lies and manipulation led to the deaths of Roderigo, Emilia, Othello and Desdemona. This isn’t the first time many of these individual characteristics have shown up in one of Shakespeare’s plays.
Othello being very easily manipulated led him to make choices that would later on kill his wife and even kill himself. Othello having poor judgment lead him to trust the wrong people and this tied to him making the wrong decisions. His jealousy and obsession with Desdemona was what lead him to kill her. If Othello did not possess these traits the drama would have ended completely different. Othello let himself believe everything Iago told him, if he chose to trust his wife the whole conflict would have been averted. His obsession with his wife was so strong that he could not help think about what she did with Cassio and the only way out was to kill her.
Shakespeare uses Iago and Othello as the main characters of the play, showing how Iago manipulates Othello into believing his wife is cheating on him. Iago, or “honest Iago”, the villain of the play, a perfectionist at manipulation, that manages to influence people into thinking his deceitfulness is an act of honesty. He spends all of his time plotting against Othello and Desdemona, eventually convincing Othello that his wife has been cheating, despite the fact that Desdemona has been completely faithful. Othello, Venice’s most competent general, and the protagonist of the play. He was a noble and respected war hero, and a loving husband, however he was the target of Iago’s atrocities, which lead him to become an irrational, violent, and insanely jealous husband who murders his own wife at the end of the play.