Iago’s Manipulation of Othello in Shakespeare’s Othello Essay

    To most of the world William Shakespeare is recognized as the greatest dramatist in history.  His plays have been performed for centuries through various interpretations.  Shakespeare's vast knowledge, and writing style made his works interesting for both the intellectual, and the illiterate.  One of these styles is the use of motifs, which is seen extensively in Othello.  An important example that runs throughout Othello, is Iago's honesty.  This motif gave existence to Shakespeare's perfect villain.

You have told me she hath received them, and returned me expectations and comfort of sudden respect and acquaintance; but I find none” (IV, ii, 186-190). Roderigo started to see that Iago is cheating on him, but Iago is smart enough, and Roderigo is dumb enough for Iago to confuse him. In the second act during the party after the defeat over the Turks, Cassio becomes very drunk and easily taken advantage of. He then runs into the room where everyone is and attacks Roderigo. Montano intervenes and is then wounded by Cassio; Othello is forced to demote Cassio from his position of Lieutenant. With Cassio devastated he asks for advice from Iago, he then informs Cassio the only way to gain his position back is to talk to Desdemona. Cassio then leaves “good night, Honest Iago” (II, iii, 306). Shakespeare put in those two extra words on purpose; he is trying to show how Iago is already able to play with people’s minds and how manipulative he can be. Us, the audience knowing what Iago really wants to do, but Cassio puts trust into Iago with his position and future. The last person to believe Iago is honest and to trust him is Othello. Iago started to tell Othello of how Desdemona might be sleeping with Cassio, and how she is cheating on him. Othello does not believe him as there is no proof, “I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; and on the proof there is no more but this” (III, iii, 190-191). Othello knows

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 question, imagery, and sarcasm. He questions Othello and makes him think the worst between Cassio and Desdemona, and then his use of words adds color and a picture, so it has to be right. Last his sarcasm creates the assurances Othello needed to be duped.

By the middle of the play Othello’s mood and demeanor seem to shift from being peaceful and patient to very anxious, paranoid, and gullible. For example when Othello is talking to Iago and Iago suggests that maybe his wife is not being faithful to him, it becomes Othello’s obsession to get down to the bottom of it and catch her. “I have been talking with your suitor here, a man that languishes in your displeasure / Who is’t you mean / Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord” (III.iii.41-43). In this dialog between Othello and Iago, with just two sentences Iago causes Othello to lose trust in his wife and believe she is being unfaithful to him which grows stronger and stronger each scene of the play. Because Iago is extremely cunning and manipulative, he is able to control almost anyone he chooses and he is in control of Othello’s emotions because he knows the things Othello fears. Iago is pretending to be Othello’s friend but secretively is going behind his back and bringing him down. Iago convinces Othello that Cassio is having an affair with Desdemona. “I humbly do beseech

At this point within the play we only have an introduction into Iago's manipulative side, considering how Iago will use Othello's passion towards Desdemona against him through the use of a rather large theme with the play jealousy. Fast tracking all the way to act four, we see one of the most cleverly executed methods of building Othello's jealousy through the use of miscommunication. During this situation, Iago speaks with Cassio about Bianca, causing Cassio to jokingly answer the questions with some laughs and 'inappropriate' statements but what he doesn't realize is Othello is listening in with the mindset (implanted by Iago) that they speak of Desdemona instead (IV.I.110-158) . This plays an important factor into how Othello acts for the rest of the play as he finally first handed gets the 'proof' that he is looking. This appears to be the turning point for Othello, when here after he completely changes; he becomes too deep into jealousy that there seems to be no return. Soon after that conversation,

“Some people are truly great manipulators. They can lie, cheat, treat you badly, and somehow manage to make it all seem like it’s your fault” (Manipulation Quotes 1-). Iago, in Othello, manipulates the minds of several characters to hopefully reach his desired position. He wants to get higher on the totem pole and become General after bringing down Othello. The witches, in Macbeth, want to destroy the lives of anyone above them. They are able to manipulate the future and adjust how people respond to their actions. This in turn forces them into bad situations. The ability for people to be manipulated shows amongst both plays. They both try and better themselves for the future by destroying the lives of others. People easily manipulate

Iago is widely credited, in the words of Agatha Christie, as “the greatest villain of all time”. He is a manipulative character who “weaves a web of deceit” by exploiting even the tiniest faults in others. By maintaining a facade of comedy and boyishness he uses his honesty and twisted truth to play others “like a virtuoso” and “drive... them to madness”. In the play Othello, Act 2 Scene 1 is perhaps the most enlightening scene with regards to the truly manipulative character of Iago. Containing several soliloquies and interactions between all of the main characters, his manipulation is well encapsulated both in this scene in the play and in the 1965 Stuart Burge film adaptation.

He is the character that wants to get revenge on Othello, which makes him present deception from beginning to end. Iago is deceit by pretending to be loyal, caring and honest to plenty of the characters, especially to Othello and Roderigo. He confirms this statement in Act 5, scene i, when Iago talks to himself: "Live Roderigo, He calls me to a restitution large Of golf and jewels that I bobb'd from him As gifts to Desdemona; It must not be. If Cassio do remain, He hath a daily beauty in his life That makes me ugly. And besides, the Moor May unfold me to him; there stand in much peril. No, he must die. Be 't so; I hear him coming." (Act V, scene i, 15-20), in this quote Iago reveals that he has been dishonest to Othello and uncaring to Roderigo. Another event where Iago shows deception is when he gives a display to Cassio that he cares and wants to help him get his position back to lieutenant. Another way he proves deceitfulness is when Iago keeps on telling lies about Desdemona having an affair with Cassio to Othello, when he knew that she was not. Iago is the antagonist that shows deceitfulness in many ways. He provides proof by being dishonest, unfaithful, cruel and more to many of the characters in the

Iago’s must destructive manipulation of characters is Othello. His insecurities about being ‘a moor’ are what Iago uses to bend him to his will and bring him to evil. In his discourse to the duke, Othello’s love seems elevated and pure. It is filled with biblical references and religious diction such as ‘pilgrimage’ and ‘prayer’, which is a clear representation of the strengths and sanctity of their love. This strong connection of an unbreakable love is unrecognizable by the end of the play as Othello is so deeply poisoned by Iago’s immorality. He becomes convinced that ‘Desdemona must die, else she’ll betray more men’. Iago takes advantage of Othello’s alienation and detachment from Venice to create further doubt mentioning that for the women of Venice, ‘their best conscience is not to leave undone, but keep unknown. Iago recognizes Othello’s insecurities and draws them out of him. Desdemona’s very choosing of him doesn’t connote how good he is, however that there is something flawed or wrong with her. Knowing that these insecurities linger in Othello’s mind, Iago begins dropping subtle hints such as, ‘I like not that’, that he knows will cement into Othello’s head. Iago immediately repents expressing [he] cannot think it that he would steal away so guilty like’, yet Iago masterfully creates doubt in Othello’s mind. As this doubt

Humanity is constructed of people who damage and exploit others for their own self benefit. In the play, “Othello”, from Act 1 by William Shakespeare, Iago tricks Roderigo into giving him his riches and jewelry. In exchange for Desdemona's love. Iago has a diabolical tone towards Othello and the things that matter most to him. He plans to undertake Cassio and his profession. The main character, Iago, uses the literary elements; suspense, simile and foreshadowing to convey the act of being trust worthy but in reality a conman. He is known as an honest man throughout the play although, his devious actions tell us otherwise. It is human nature for people to see the commendable values in others and not their deceitful ways. Men only want to show you a fraction of who they perceive to be. Shakespeare uses suspense to create the ambience of the following acts to come. Us as readers, we are eager to find out how Iago plans on damaging Othello without someone

Iago’s tendency to deceive and manipulate every character he meets in the play is decidedly Machiavellian. He is known as “honest Iago” – in actuality, he is aggressive, wants to hurt others. He convinces Othello that Desdemona is sleeping with Cassio and intends to marry him – later persuades him to smother her in their marital bed rather than poisoning her. He tells Cassio that Desdemona will help him get his job back. He also doesn’t tell his wife of his suspicions of infidelity. Iago’s use of language is indicative– he alters his speech patterns depending on his objectives in a conversation and who he is talking to (blank verse vs iambic pentameter). Othello is a “black ram” married to a “white ewe”, and is of a higher rank with more respect.

This shows that it was evident to Iago that Othello was easy to manipulate. He knew that Othello would believe anything he said because Othello saw Iago as an honest man. So Iago used his gullibility to his advantage and told Othello all kinds of suspicions about his wife and Cassio that Othello began to believe.

Despite Iago’s evil nature, the audience is intrigued by his ability to use language to persuade others and improvise in various situations. Through these actions he is a genius. The language he uses plays an integral part in why he can successfully con so many of the people around him. The most obvious examples are the way he used language and his intellect to manipulate Othello and Roderigo. Iago is able to quickly switch characters in the first scene: he is at first expressing his motives to destroy Othello, and then quickly joins Othello when they confront Brabantio. His excellent use of language continues during the poison scene. He uses negative thoughts to lure Othello in “Ha! I like not that”. He then uses repetition and lies to manipulate Othello “Honest, my lord? /My lord, you know I love you”. By using

Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello holds one of the most mischievous characters who uses his higher social status of self appointed attributes. The dialogue of Othello constructs Iago’s character to be seen as “honest Iago” with this consistently being repeated throughout the play. Whilst this is said of Iago and is even said by himself, he treats others as though they are unintelligent and foolish. His cruelty towards the other characters in the play can be seen by the audience due to his soliloquy’s. Soliloquys are often long interrupted speeches, in which Iago stands alone on the stage and expresses his thoughts or plans out loud. Within Iago’s soliloquys dramatic irony is conveyed to the audience as they are told the future events of the play, or Iago’s plans, in which other characters don’t know. The soliloquy above, placed at the beginning of the play, outlines the relationships and past relationships between certain characters, the relationship breakdown between Iago and Emilia and also Iago’s indication of the plans he is going to act out throughout the rest of the play.

There have been many faces of Iago in William Shakespeare’s Othello, and it has perplexed many to pinpoint the motive and drive behind this character’s role. In truth, there were many reasons given for Iago’s actions in the play, but there is also evidence that it is more ambiguous than surface logic; consequently, all those reasons seem to accumulate and deepen his hate for Othello to the point of blind rage and revenge. I submit that Iago already was a terrible person that loved mischief and torment, but perhaps his villainy is due to an unnatural force.