The theme of manipulation and deception is very prevalent in the Shakespearian tragedy Othello. Roderigo is the perfect embodiment of this classic theme. His gullibility and impressionability, as well as his love for Desdemona, make him the archetypal love-fool and thus a perfect target of manipulation by the clever Iago. His other characteristic that contributes to the theme is his boldness, which sometimes borders on rashness. These traits allow him to fulfill his pivotal role in Othello and advance the theme of deception and manipulation.
Roderigo’s most predominant characteristic is his impressionability. He is easily convinced and quickly caves to pressure. In act 1, scene 1, when speaking directly to the audience, Iago remarks “If I would time expend with such a snipe / But for my sport and profit” (Shakespeare 1.1.742); Roderigo is so dumb and impressionable that Iago wouldn’t even associate with him were it not to his direct benefit. Furthermore, even Roderigo knows that he is impressionable. Before attacking Cassio (upon Iago’s suggestion), he remarks “I have no great devotion to the deed / And yet [Iago] hath given me satisfying reasons. / ‘Tis but a man gone” (Shakespeare, 5.1.8-10). He doesn’t even want Cassio dead, and yet he was convinced by Iago that it would get him closer to his ultimate aspiration of being with Desdemona. His seemingly endless impressionability allows Iago to play puppet master to Roderigo throughout the entire play, right up until his untimely death.
Roderigo’s impressionability is only matched by his boldness. Things that the common man would not dream of doing (i.e. attempted murder) are not out of the realm of possibility when it comes to Roderigo. In fact, Roderigo is the only charact...
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...s nightclub. The point being made here is that the audience needs to sympathize with Roderigo. The more the audience can identify with the character, the more powerful the drama becomes, and David Paymer is the epitomic loveable loser.
All things considered, Roderigo not only advances the theme of manipulation, he embodies it. His character flaws make him both loveable and exploitable. He does terrible things and yet, rather than condemning him, we can’t help but pity him. He has the best of intentions but they carry the heaviest of all consequences. It is these qualities that make Roderigo such a memorable character and important contributor to the overall theme of exploitation and betrayal. Poor Roderigo.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. Othello. The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2009. 1164-1244
...e used Roderigo to do his dirty work and without him he would have never been able to compromise Cassio in the first place. Roderigo seems to know Iago the best, possibly having figured out that he may have been betrayed by him, he writes letters he keeps with him which later serve to compromise Iago’s character and motives completely. Iago throughout the whole play feels like he is justified in his actions and does not let sympathy or understanding as a result.
For Shakespeare’s Iago, humans are affected by their emotions - these can be empowering or debilitating. Literature naturally mirrors this and within Othello Iago is empowered by Roderigo’s infatuated debilitation. In Act I Scene III, Roderigo is brought into a deep despair due to his inability to court Desdemona. He proclaims, “I will incontinently drown myself”; the hyperbole represents how much he craves for Desdemona. However, Roderigo is not the focal point; it is in fact Iago who feeds off his vulnerability by manipulating him into fighting with Cassio. This represents Iago’s Machiavellian nature in that he is able to make Roderigo give him money as well as bringing Cassio into a state of fury; this is so he is stripped of his Lieutenant rank and in turn promoting Iago to Lieutenant. This parallels what Iago’s monologue at the very end of Act I Scene III is trying to establish; the foreshadowing of the events that will occur. In a way this does allow for the concept that through Iago’s seeming adversity, he has strengthened his motives. On the other hand, Rodrigo’s adversities have led him down a path of turbulence making
	The first scene of Act I illustrates Iago's use of manipulation. Iago knows that Roderigo is upset about losing Desdemona to Othello. Iago himself is angry at Othello for being passed over for promotion to lieutenant for Michael Cassio. Realizing that by playing on Roderigo's jealousy he can gain an ally to work against Othello. Iago does this in a subtle manner. He explains to Roderigo that he was passed up for promotion by Othello. While doing this he makes Othello look inferior by reinforcing the fact that he is a Moor. By pointing out that Othello is a Moor Iago causes Roderigo to become even more jealous, because of the fact that he lost Desdemona to someone who he feels is of a lesser race. It even seems that Iago is toying with Roderigo when he reveals that he is a fraud when he says, "I am not what I am." (I.i.62) By using these tactics, Iago has almost gained total control of Roderigo.
With Roderigo, someone he commands control over, Iago employs pathos, allowing his plan to appeal to Roderigo’s sensitive emotions about Othello. Roderigo and Iago discuss about how each of them despise Othello when Iago says, “If ever I did dream of such a matter, / Abhor me” using pathos to confirm his hatred towards the General (1.2. 5-6). The play commences with Iago employing direct rhetoric and partnering up with Roderigo to enhance a sense of comradery. Harsh language such as “Abhor me”, exemplifies the hateful emotions Iago feels toward Othello as well as enhances the emotions Iago wants to appeal to in Roderigo (1.2. 6). Affecting Roderigo more influentially, Iago uses deeper, more personal pathos, by highlighting the seemingly good qualities in Roderigo. Iago contrasts Roderigo to Othello pointing out, “Let not they discreet heart think it…manners and beauties: all which the/ Moor is defective in” (2.1. 215, 219-220). Firstly, Iago weighs Roderigo’s positive qualities against Othello’s negatives ones, convincing Roderigo to feel more confident with Iago and following along with his scheme. Secondly, Iago alters this rhetoric to include Roderigo’s love interest, Desdemona. By exemplifying a more personal and sensitive side when talking about “manners and beauties”, Iago can create a bigger impact in
Shakespeare, William. Othello. Ed. Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2009. Print
Roderigo is consumed by jealousy. Roderigo is jealous of the marriage of Othello and Desdemona. Roderigo loves Desdemona. With romance in Roderigo is able to be controlled by Iago thinking the down fall 0f Othello and Cassio would get Roderigo Desdemona. Roderigo is the biggest pawn Iago possesses. And probably the saddest character in the whole drama.
Shakespeare, William. Othello. Ed. Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2009. Print
He foolishly entrusts his new bride to Iago. Iago has already been depicted as an untrustworthy, scheming character and it is quite possible that he will take advantage of the new situation. Iago is straight away introduced as a dubious character. Having his fingers in Roderigo's purse show his interest in money. The language that he uses is vulgar and rude and he has no shame in his deceitful actions.
Shakespeare. Othello. The Longman Anthology of British Literature. Ed. Rossi. New York: Longman, 1999. 312-379.
Shakespeare, William. "Othello". The Norton Shakespeare. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1997.
One person Iago deceives is Roderigo. Throughout the play, Iago tells him that he hates Othello and that Roderigo should make some money so he could give gifts to Desdemona, who he admires from afar. Thinking that this is sound advice, Roderigo does just that. However, Iago is actually keeping the gifts that Roderigo plans to give Desdemona for himself. Eventually, Roderigo begins to catch on to the act and confronts Iago, but he falls right into Iago’s trap again when he tells him that killing Cassio will help him win over Desdemona. Roderigo is then lead to his death by the hands of "Honest Iago."
In accordance with the definition of jealousy, Roderigo desires the possessions of another. It is this jealousy which moves him to do many evil things in the play. He pays Iago large amounts of money to conjure up a scheme to acquire Desdemona.
Iago states that the only reason he spends time with Roderigo is for his own wealth and pleasure. His plan is to continue giving Roderigo unfulfilled promises. Iago continues to manipulate Roderigo. He convinces him that Desdemona will soon grow tired of Othello and begin to search for a younger, handsome man to fulfill her desires. Continuing to build on Rod...
Angry over being passed up for a promotion Iago decided to take matters into his own hands. In order to become lieutenant Iago devised a plan that included breaking up Othello’s marriage and eliminating Cassio as competition. Iago enticed Roderigo to be his partner in crime with the promise of attaining Desdemona’s love. Desdemona had many suitors since she was an attractive young woman, yet she “shunned [t]he wealthy,” (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 66-67), which included Roderigo, who owned multiple plots of land. Roderigo, who was naïve for thinking Iago actually had his best interest in mind, was easily persuaded since he was obsessed with Desdemona. The truth of the matter was that
Throughout the play, it is evident about how Ingo manipulates other characters by filling jealousy in their minds. In Act one, Ingo manipulates Roderigo as a disguise for his animosity towards Othello. He alludes that,