Probably the most obvious form of manipulation from Iago is the plan involving the handkerchief, in which Iago persuades his wife, Emilia to steal Desdemonas handkerchief (which was a gift from Othello) which he later plants on Cassio. In the book Othello, Iago is a very manipulating man, throughout the book he manages to manipulate three main people, Roderigo, Cassio, and Othello. I believe Iago has nothing to do with Othello's downfall as Othello is an easily mislead man who is easily influenced. In the first act, we find out how Othello perceives Iago when he says he is, "A manof honesty and trust. Here he has played on Roderigos love for Desdemona and managed to ensure that he travels to Cyprus. Interestingly, he is the only character able to switch between prose and verse, something that he constantly uses to his advantage, particularly when he deceives Roderigo. It is important to realise that during the time of the plays creation, matters that are seen as unacceptable nowadays such as racism or sexism were common during this period. The main reason for Iago's success was based on the social differences between the two. Iago is a unique and complicated character. Shakespeare crafts Iago's evil characteristic through the way he manipulates others in order to carry out his plans and his unfit motivation for his maliciousness. Iago is so determined to bring Othello and other innocent people down just so he can succeed in getting his revenge for Othello. When Othello is gone at war, Iago tells him that Cassio and Desdemona were getting too close. The fact that Desdemona and Cassio get on so well together could be another factor in the assistance of Iagos plot, and perhaps even the fact that she ended up in Cyprus, just as in the case of Roderigo. This idea of a character experiencing a tragic fate is represented through two different texts with similar protagonists. Iago also manipulates Othello with jealousy. The audience is confronted with Iagos manipulation at the beginning of the play when Roderigo and Iago try to define and mock Othello using racial terms such as Moor, barbary horse and thick lips. The first major difference in Iagos manipulation of Othello, compared to the other two, is his large use of imagery in his language. Iagos manipulation of Cassio is quite similar to that of Roderigo, in the fact that language plays a major role. Hence it is difficult to say whether Iago or chance was most responsible for Cassios downfall. A reader can identify his flaws based on his conversations and relationships with other characters. When controlling Roderigo, Iago uses his knowledge of his weaknesses, in this case his love for Desdemona, in order to get what he wants. Othello is, How many lies have been told today? To begin with, Iago told Roderigo, I will follow him to serve my turn upon him. The quote means Iago's intentions are to mislead Othello by gaining his trust and turning him into a killer beast. The reader does not want to realize unpleasant flaws in an honorable character; just, Customarily, an author will construct a narrative in which the protagonist, a character contrived to be implausible, as well as honorable is destined to decline along the path of tragedy leading to suffering and misfortune. In an instant, a character can be taken from their peak to their lowest low. Iagos psychopathic manipulations of Cassio then ultimately cause his downfall once Othello discovers that Iago has been dishonest, his punishment of torture and imprisonment at the end of the play is his downfall. Iago, however, aids in Othello's downfall through manipulation. In Shakespeare's Othello, it is shown that Othello's downfall is a consequence of his own weaknesses. His character contains more than one tragic flaw, something that was commonly found in most if not all of Shakespeares main characters in his tragedies. Iagos manipulation has not only lead Othello to believe the rumor is true, but has lead him to kill his own wife as well. Near the middle of the play, as Cassio and Desdemona having been talking, Cassio hastily leaves when he sees Othello and Iago appear, Iago quickly but subtly says Ha! Therefore we have to wonder how well his plan would have worked without the intervention of fate. Iago's deception is what drives the characters in Othello thereby compounding the belief of his responsibility for the outcome of this tragedy. Read More Often when characters feel real, they are stereotyped illusion based on an audiences feelings. Each of the characters, were pried on their specific type of vulnerability: love, status, and jealousy that blurred the lines between appearance and their reality. Therefore, in this case, a large part of Roderigos downfall is a direct result of Iagos manipulation, particularly through his use of language. As a result, he devises to use other people to obtain what he desires by influencing the characters in the play to suit his plan. Similarly, author William Shakespeare presents his ideas of a tragic hero through the character Othello, in the play Othello. Iago constantly uses his innocence to make Othello jealous and start to assume that it is true. III. This shows how far people will go just to get/accomplish what they want. Prose can be considered to be a more informal way of talking; therefore Iago uses this in order to guarantee that Roderigo (and others) trust him. When Macbeth arrives home she suggests they kill him, after he declines, she starts questioning his manhood and peer pressures him until he decides to kill Duncan. Iago and Othello are kind of similar, they both are jealous of something in life that makes them do irrational things, no matter what the cost is. Behind his faade as a dependable ensign and companion, Iago is a multilayered, tricky and manipulative scalawag, coming up with disarray and bringing about setbacks toother characters for requital. Othello seizes on this, and Iago works at building up his suspicions. This contrasts Cassios language completely, who speaks highly of Desdemona calling her a most exquisite lady [II iii 17]. O, farewell,Farewell the neighing steed and the shrill trump,The spirit-stirring drum, thear piercing fife,The royal banner, and all quality,Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war! (III.iii.353359). This time allotted to Iago is time for him to conspire against Othello. As a result of him being so gullible, it leads to him becoming jealous which leads to him losing control of, His false sense of suspicion and jealousy leads him to make this drastic decision even though sometimes he doubts the truth of the information that he is getting from iago and other sources he is so obsessed with revenge and jealousy he can not even see the logic in the situation. Iago gradually drove Othello to the edge, he convinced him of the affair between the two and so he felt the need to kill her. By way of Iagos manipulation and lies, Othello begins a metamorphosis of his character, that causes him to become a man who loses sight of his moral responsibilities and duties, leaving his decisions completely governed by his passion. His expression of his jealousy quickly devolves from the conventionalFarewell the tranquil mindto the absurd: Farewell the plumd troops and the big warsThat make ambition virtue! Understanding that this might be due to the fact that Othello is an outsider, of a different religion, and of a different ethnicity, Iago is able to identify that Othello, for all his greatness, is extremely scared and insecure about losing everything. Untruths and misdirections are normal in the public eye, and numerous people veil their actual goals with a lacquer. Even though Iago tells Othello it is a dream, Othello believes that his wife cheated on him proclaiming, O monstrous! In Shakespeare 's play Othello, the character Iago is the same as those tricky people. A character can also possess a flaw in which another may exploit and manipulate; such is the case in Shakespeares, Othello allows himself to be poisoned and muddled by Iagos fallacious words (Anand, 77). Shakespeare has chosen to do this in order to highlight how much Iago has managed to manipulate Othello, and how jealous he has become as a result. Throughout the whole play Iago refers to himself as an honest man(2.3.285.) Othellos outsider status and ethnic difference is an important factor in Iagos manipulation as it encourages Othellos insecurities and is thus a flaw which Iago uses in his manipulation. Traditionally, in most Shakespearean plays, prose is spoken by low status or comic characters, whereas verse is used by upper-class characters. The Shakespearean character Iago is the trusted friend and advisor of the General Othello, who plots the downfall of several characters within the play, due to a number of reasons including jealousy and a search for revenge. To see Iago simply a liar and fraud, while viewing Desdemona as simply pure and fair would flatten Shakespeares depiction of this human reality. Iago's deception and the ultimate death of Roderigo, Othello, and Iago's own wife Emilia, shows how harsh and inhumane Iago is. Othello expresses his inadequacy in. After he kills Desdemona, Othello explains his reasoning to Iagos wife, Emilia, justifying that Cassio did top her, ask thy husband else (Shakespeare 1360), meaning that he killed his wife because according to Iago, Cassio and. Criticism of Iago shows that he tries to use Othellos black race to turn him into blackness and make him evil. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Clearly, Iago controls the general population around him by utilizing their shortcomings: The following passage is significant to the play Othello in retrospect to the plot progression, as it reiterates themes and introduces important facets to the plot development. The play "Othello" was written by Shakespeare, the play tells the story of a powerful general named Othello, whose marriage and life were ruined by a manipulative, and envious soldier, Iago. Another element of fate that plays a role in his downfall is the very myth of the handkerchief, this being that Othellos mother had received it from the Sybil who said that it should be given as a love token, and if it were ever lost or given to someone else, the love would be broken. Othello believes the handkerchief to be magical, and so the thought that Desdemona has given it to someone else is awful in his mind. Reading this well, Iago is able to understand that this doubt is what lies at the heart of all of Othello's success. Driven by jealousy and hatred, Iago plots against Othello to destroy his character and reputation. Othello asks him to say more but he refuses to do so. However, once Othello heard the rumors he became devastated and demanded answers. To what extent is Iago responsible for the downfall of other characters in Othello? He jumps to conclusions far too easily which Iago uses to his advantage. How is Othello manipulated by Iago in act 3, scene 3 ofOthello? Iagos use of repetition in his language is also a key feature in his manipulation of Roderigo. Farewell the plumd troops and the big wars. Therefore, it could be said that Cassio and Desdemonas downfall are caused by the handkerchief, but Othellos actual death/downfall doesnt come later, until he realises that his wife was innocent. To Othello, Iago is more reputable now causing Iago is, at this point, reputable, meaning Othello will to believe anything that Iago says even if it is a lie. This is the case in Shakespeares Othello. Through Iagos cunning manipulation and Shakespeares crafting of language, this passage is constructed as a pivotal point of the play, marking the transition of Othellos personality and revealing his deepest insecurities that eventually lead to his downfall and tragic ending. He comes up with a very good plan to get each other to turn against one another. Iago who is known for always being true and honest towards others has easily earned the trust of everyone around him, thus giving himself an advantage on his schemes. Othellos many accomplishments as commander and a soldier in the battle shows that is determined to accomplish many things . And particularly when Othellos insecurities with his race, decayed his love for Desdemona, benefiting from jealousy. Firstly, Iago attempts to take Cassio into his confidence by his use of mens talk, in other words, the way in which he speaks of Desdemona. Othellos confidence for a loyal man to maintain honesty and morals are contradicted through Iagos actions: in a man thats just / They are close dilations, working from the heart, / That passion cannot rule (3.3.123). His and Desdemonas death was a result of Othellos own vulnerability, not necessarily Iagos ingenuity (Christofides, 6). In the tragic play, Othello, William Shakespeare creates the true wickedness of the character, Iago, through his devious plans created to cause the demise of Othello. When controlling Roderigo, Iago uses his knowledge of his weaknesses, in this case his love for Desdemona, in order to get what he wants. Iago reads and understands many of the characters in the play rather well. In the novel Othello by William Shakespeare, Iago demonstrates the character of an insecure man who encounters insecurities that come in the forms of jealousy, personal/sexuality, and identity. The element of chance does not play much of a role on the downfall of Roderigo. He uses all their weaknesses to bring them down. Manipulation and jealousy are the two major themes of the play. He tells Cassio that in order to regain his title and reputation, he must speak to Desdemona, because she is the only one who can change Othellos mind. Latest answer posted April 07, 2021 at 11:18:50 AM. The handkerchief is then given to. Elements of fate and Iagos plotting work hand in hand, and without chance it is questionable whether the entire conspiracy would have worked at all. Iago talks to Cassio about Bianca while telling Othello that the subject of their conversation is the Moors wife. This is again another part of chance that played nicely into Iagos hands. Othello's downfall began when he wholeheartedly trusted the wrong person, Iago. Iago knows Desdemona has control over Othellos heart and social standings, and an affair would cause him to lose his position and respect in society. Through Iago's cunning manipulation and Shakespeare's crafting of language, this passage is constructed as a pivotal point of the play, marking the transition of Othello's personality and revealing his deepest insecurities that eventually lead to his downfall and tragic ending. He does this throughout the play, allowing Othello to form his own conclusion, with a little help from Iago.
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