Iago's Soliloquies in William Shakespeare's Play Othello
"Othello" is a tragedy which was written in 1622 by William
Shakespeare, the title "Othello" is eponymous which means that a
character gives its name to the title. Othello is not the main
character, where as in "Macbeth" Macbeth was the main character. Right
from the beginning Shakespeare is trying to hide the importance of
Iago. Iago may be in the first scene but it starts off half way
through a conversation making the reader think Iago is just a minor
under Othello and therefore not as significant.
Conventionally soliloquies are used to portray what the character is
thinking in his mind but Iago uses soliloquies in a different manner,
he plays with the audience, manipulating their expectations, so they
never uncover the true character of Iago. All three soliloquies have
one thing in common; Iago speaks in poetry of ten syllables a line,
"That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it;"
Iago impresses the audience during his soliloquies by using poetry,
which is ironic because naturally he would speak in prose, poetry is a
structured format of writing, which requires planning, and therefore
Iago's soliloquies have a pre-planned nature. This suggests that Iago
doesn't speak from his true feelings but plans what he says for his
advantage.
The first line of the first soliloquy.
"Thus do I ever make my fool my purse:
For I mine own gain'd knowledge should profane."
The word "thus" makes the sentence sound like a conclusion and the
colon at the end suggests that he will explain the statement. By
repeating the word "my" a possive pronoun and with the sentence
...
... middle of paper ...
...d said enmesh them all, then the point
would have stood out and had the desired shocking effect because the
use of "them" rather than the abbreviated form " 'em" puts more
emphasis on the verb, which tells the audience what is happening but
instead the final line just passes the audience by. With Iago been
rushed so much that he can't have a dramatic ending by the incoming of
Rodrigo. Iago is losing his timing and everything is getting out of
control.
In the end trying to destroy Othello and boast and brag to the
audience for his own glorification was too much. Iago couldn't
concentrate on what needed to be done to destroy Othello because he
was too interested on what people thought of him; because that is what
mattered to Iago. Iago didn't set out to destroy Othello for greed,
wealth or position but for respect.
Iago’s Use of Rhetorical Strategies to Manipulate Othello in Shakespeare’s Othello. Rhetorical strategies are continually used to get a point across, or to manipulate another. Iago uses many devices to put false accusations into Othello’s head. In lines 330-447 in Act 3 scene 3, Iago uses rhetorical questioning, imagery, and sarcasm.
Iago in William Shakespeare's Othello When the play "Othello" was first written by Cinthio the character of Iago was simple, and he had a legitimate motive for the trouble he was causing. In Cinthio's version Iago had a great love for Desdemona and because he was unable to fulfil his love, he became frustrated and expressed this frustration by creating havoc. Shakespeare, however, upon writing his version of "Othello" rejected this idea and converted Iago into a more complex character, and directed his hatred not against Desdemona but against Othello.
Othello sends her off to get Desdemona and says to the audience “She says enough, yet she’s a simple bawd/That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore,/A closet, lock and key, of villainous secrets./And yet she’ll kneel and pray, I have seen her do ’t.” (4.2.21-24) Othello is dismissing her statement under the principle that any woman would say the same story and the only truth he can trust would be what he is told by a man. Othello uses words such as “whore” and “villainous,” which are words first spoken by Iago. These are used only in the most demeaning way and this shows that he truly believes that no matter what evidence he is shown, or who claims she is a good wife, that she has just hidden her true nature from them as he has seen her “kneel and pray” just like any good wife.
In Othello, Iago uses his fine reputation as an “honest man” and Othello’s insecurities to manipulate him and carry out his master plan of destroying Cassio, Othello, and Desdemona. Iago’s insight towards the other characters’ weaknesses enables him to let them know exactly what they want to hear, which helps him gain their trust. He plays upon the insecurities of others to maneuver them into carrying out the actions he needs done in order to fulfill his own desires. In looking at Othello, we will consider the Othello’s blind acceptance of “the truth” as it is presented to him and find that when we blindly take another’s “truth” and accept it as our own, we merely become tools utilized by the person who gave us that supposed truth and give up the power of being ourselves—we fail to assert a self.
Critics such as M. R. Ridley believe that the ability to hurt is the most
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.
“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 is a powerful predator who exploits those around him by infecting their perceptions of truth with carefully chosen fallacy. His skill in finding the proverbial chinks in others' armor allows him to skillfully weave his machinations of destroying Othello into their minds and actions; by manipulating character's perceptions of Desdemona, Iago gains the leverage he needs to exploit each character. No one is impervious to Iago's seething purpose; even Othello falls prey to Iago's suggestions and insinuations about Desdemona. Iago's constant presence as the stager, as well as his ceaseless - but subtle - reinforcement of events through narration, allows him to be the pivotal force that directs Shakespeare's Othello.
Iago utilizes an unassuming manner of speech that reflects his guise of loyalty to persuade Othello of Desdemona’s infidelity. Iago knows that the idea of Desdemona’s adultery will be manifest itself much more powerfully in Othello’s
In William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello, Iago demonstrates a mastery of manipulation over people who had previously trusted and confided in him. His sudden turn from Othello’s loyal ensign to rage-filled villain seems indicative of a man who can no longer accept his position in life. Iago’s plotting of Othello’s demise starts as idle talk of a disgruntled 28 year-old career military man passed over for promotion. Iago believes that such a promotion may never come after Othello rejects his candidacy and makes it clear that he did not believe him suitable. He sees Othello is only concerned with personal and political gain with his choice of Cassio as lieutenant. When Iago teams with love-scorned and desperate Roderigo, he begins to construct Othello’s downfall. Iago is declaring an all-out covert war on Othello, Cassio, and anyone else who gets in his way. In Iago’s first speech in Act I Scene II, he proclaims hatred for Othello and lays out his plan for seeking vengeance. “After some time, to abuse Othello’s ears that he is too familiar with his wife (Shakespeare 1473).”
Make an argument that Iago is the hero, not the villain of this play. Why could we look at him that way? If he is the hero, who does this cast as the villain and why? What values are important if Iago is the hero?
Critical Analysis of Iago's Soliloquy in Act 2 Scene 3 of Othello by William Shakespeare
Without a doubt, one of the main themes that runs throughout William Shakespeare’s tragic play, Othello, is that of honesty. In the play, the most interesting character is Iago, who is commonly called and known as "Honest Iago." However, this could not be farther from the truth. Through some carefully thought-out words and actions, Iago is able to manipulate others to do things in a way that benefits and moves him closer to his own goals. He is smart and an expert at judging the characters of others. Because of this, Iago pushes everyone to their tragic end.
The tragedy "Othello" by William Shakespeare is a story based upon the revenge of two characters, Othello and Iago. These two characters help to prove Murphey's Law which states that if something wrong can happen it will: for Othello it is the wrongful killing of his wife and friend, for Iago it is getting caught for his actions and finally being tortured. Many historians, actors, and readers would like to argue that Othello and Iago are very complex but at a closer look you will notice that their actions are purely based upon revenge for their iniquities.
Iago has been excellent at saying the what is needed to get to people, he misleads them to get a reaction he wants out of them. He is clever with his words to avoid confrontation that can easily happen. “Othello 's confusion is the human experience of language. In other words, language itself, not the outside world, determines meaning” (Christofides 2). Iago uses his words against Othello to get him to do Iago’s doings. Iago has an eloquence with