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Character analysis of Iago of William Shakespeare's Othello
Character analysis of Iago of William Shakespeare's Othello
Othello analysis
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Othello opens with the villain Iago declaring his hatred for the protagonist Othello, who has appointed Michael Cassio as lieutenant instead of Iago. Taking action, Iago conducts a plot against Othello under the pretext of gaining the lieutenancy. However, his motivation becomes unclear when he continues his plot even after successfully obtaining the position. He attempts to murder Cassio, and causes the death of Othello, Othello’s wife Desdemona, his own wife Emilia, and Roderigo, a suitor of Desdemona. Iago provides justifications for some of the deaths, but they appear unconvincing, especially when taking into consideration his deceptive nature. Shakespeare never reveals Iago’s true motives for the tragic murders. Nonetheless, considering
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.
Implicitly targeting Othello’s doubts about marrying Desdemona and insecurities about her actions with infidelity, Iago eventually impacts Othello enough that the General himself confides in Iago about his own wife. Earlier in the play, ‘honest Iago’ needs to first gain Othello’s confidence and he does so by expressing his loyalty to Cassio, “I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth/ Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio”, while Othello is present in a conflict (2.3. 203-204). Then, later in the play Iago baits Othello by suggesting that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair. Immediately, Othello wants more information; however, Iago nervously responds with, “…vicious in my guess-/ As I confess…” and tries to calm Othello by saying, “My noble lord-” (3.3 46-47, 93). When voicing his devotion to Cassio, Iago immediately begins to play on his false reputation as ‘honest Iago’. He enables Othello, and his fellow characters, to think highly of him and to respect that even when his partner, Cassio, has not been following orders, Iago would even endure physical pain and have his “tongue cut from [his] mouth” and proves his locality (2.3. 203). This leads to when Iago responds to Othello’s queries, about
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.
light are good and Iago wants to use the opposite of them to turn them
Iago takes on many different persona’s to enact his plan of revenge upon Othello. He plays the friend, a trustworthy and credible source of information for Othello in his feat of drama with his innocent wife, Desdemona. He also plays the wingman for Roderigo who is madly in love with Desdemona, encouraging him to make advances towards her to woo Desdemona away from Othello. Iago even persuades Roderigo to kill Cassio with his lies about Cassio and Desdemona’s affair. “...you may take him at your pleasure: I will be near to second your attempt, and he shall fall between us.” Iago promises to assist Roderigo in the murder of Cassio and he will be rewarded with Desdemona’s love (Navigators.) Iago’s true persona, though, is a heartless, woman-hating villain who would go to great lengths to get revenge against Othello for preferring Cassio over him for the military promotion.
wise, and get you home" this is what he tells her when they have found
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).
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
At the end of all Iago's evil intentions are the one that prevails over everything. However, with Iago's wishes coming on top; this meant that many people had to pay the ultimate price.Othello's jealousy got the best o f him and, he ended up killing the love of his life, Desdemona. Furthermore, after Othello killed Desdemona in their bedroom; Emilia, Desdemona's maid and Iago's wife, went to the Moor's bedroom and found Desdemona death. Moreover, Emilia asked Othello, the reason to why he did this; Othello gave her the reason why. However, Emilia told Othello that her husband, Iago, was a liar; that this whole time Iago played him. After knowing that Emilia told Othello the truth, Iago killed her next to Desdemona. Afterwords, Othello found
“Othello” begins with the characters Roderigo a young, rich, and foolish man who wants Desdemona to himself and the villain of the play, Iago. Roderigo is disturbed with Iago because Roderigo gives him money to buy Desdemona luxury items, but then finds out that Iago has been wasting his money all this time. The play’s protagonist Othello has decided to make Michael Cassio, a highly educated and very inexperienced in battle his lieutenant. Iago finds out furthermore becomes furious of Othello’s decision and
As Othello 's ensign, Iago is extremely infuriated, because Othello failed to make him his lieutenant. Iago 's two-faced relationship with Othello is beneficial to Iago; Othello trusts Iago and is easily manipulated by him. Throughout the play, Iago tries to influence Othello every chance he gets. The trust that Othello placed in Iago ultimately leads to his demise. Iago cunningly convinced Othello that Cassio was having some kind of intimate relationship with his wife, Desdemona. He warned Othello, "Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio," and with this Iago quickly tightens his reigns on Othello and is able to manipulate Othello to his will (Othello 3.3.197). So, unlike Polonius ' relationship with the king and queen, where Polonius was loyal to his superiors, Iago was conniving and planned against
During act five, Othello eventually ends up alone with Desdemona and confronts her intending to end her life. Desdemona forgives Othello even as he is smothering her. Having fulfilled his “revenge,” Othello had to only wait for Iago and hopefully hear the good news about Cassio. Iago’s plan didn’t go so well though, he and Roderigo had set up an ambush for Cassio who had been on a walk that night. Unknowing that Cassio had been prepared in case a situation such as this arises, Iago and Roderigo attacked Cassio. Cassio survived the situation with an injured leg, while Roderigo was not so lucky and lost his life from Iago’s sword. Upon returning to Othello, Iago was confronted by Emilia to find out his true intentions and to discover what he had said to Othello and why he was telling lies. Iago was reluctant to answer these questions and denies everything despite threats from both Othello as well as people present at the scene. Othello, angered by Iago’s refusal to speak the truth, receives the answers he desires from Emilia who tells the audience of Iago’s true nature. Iago gets captured shortly after killing his wife and becomes the focus of Othello’s anger. Othello unable to satisfy his desire for revenge, is faced with two decisions: be captured along with Iago for the crimes he’s committed, or kill himself andjoin hi beloved wife in the afterlife. Othello chooses suicide although it appears that he may attack when he draws his sword, and ends the
In 1603, William Shakespeare wrote a tragedy called Othello about a Spanish moor that ultimately fell victim to his own skepticism and emotions and murders his wife due to the machinations of Iago. Iago is the most interesting character in this Shakespearean play and in fact, has more speaking parts than even Othello himself. A man that can even convince his own wife to help with his masterfully manipulated puppetry of Othello, Desdemona, Rodrigo, Cassio, and Emilia is an exquisite character. This villain seems to have no real motive for his actions, but the enjoyment of the trouble he causes and the fact that Othello passed him over for his lieutenant. (Although, Iago seems to quite, passionately want Othello’s affections, whether as a friend
In Shakespeare's "Othello," Iago carefully and masterfully entraps Othello into believing that his wife, Desdemona, is having an affair with Cassio. He does this through a series of suggestions and hesitations that entice and implant images into Othello's head that lead him to his own demise. More importantly, Iago gives Othello the motive to murder his own innocent wife Desdemona, satisfying Iago's immense appetite for revenge.
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.