The Manipulation Of Roderigo In William Shakespeare's Othello

From the beginning of the play, Roderigo complains and criticizes his own fate for not getting Desdemona’s attention and love. Roderigo’s ambition implies such a destructive impact on him that he is blindly tortured by Iago and thinking of taking Desdemona from Othello which shows that Roderigo has such a weak and unintelligent character. Roderigo’s love for Desdemona goes to such extent that he is willing to do whatever it takes and says, “I am changed. I’ll go sell all my land.” (I. III. 371). At this point, Roderigo’s ambition and desires have blinded him to the point that he is willing to change himself and sell all the wealth he has in hopes of winning Desdemona. This idea was proposed by Iago to manipulate Roderigo and steal all his wealth which portrays Roderigo’s unintelligence and poor character as he is being controlled by an another person without realizing that his ambition is blindingly leading him to a damaging pathway. Later on in the play, after being manipulated by Iago on several occasions, Roderigo’s superego starts to wake him up from Iago’s horrible mind games as his character starts to change up a bit and he realizes that his ambition has gotten him into a huge trouble for his future leading him to the pathway of humiliation. He slowly begins to understand that his ambition is pointless and it is going to give him nothing but regrets so he says, “With naught but truth. I have wasted myself out of my means …. Nay, I think it is scurvy, and begin to find myself fopped in it.” (IV. II. 185-194). At this point, Roderigo has realized the mistake he has made of thinking of winning Desdemona and now, he regrets everything he has done but most importantly, he has sold all his lands, jewellery, and fallen into poverty through Iago’s psychological manipulations. He has tried

Iago is a very clever person and he enjoys seeing how idiots make fools of themselves. One of these idiots is Iago's "buddy," Roderigo. Roderigo is a typical wealthy, Venetian aristocrat who is madly in love with Desdemona and he has given Iago the task of helping him woo her. Iago uses this to his advantage, even though Iago uses Roderigo to ruin Cassio and Othello, he gets some amusement by watching Roderigo prance around and go nuts over Desdemona. Iago also finds it funny when Roderigo wants to go kill himself after he finds out that Desdemona married Othello. There are multiple times throughout the play where Roderigo should have known that Iago was just using him for money and some laughs and since Roderigo doesn't pick up on this, Iago can use Roderigo to his advantage.

Making him think that Cassio is always this violent towards his own men. Which makes Iago look respectful because he is being honest. Once Othello fines out Cassio is immediately fired and then Iago becomes the more loved in Othello’s eyes. Roderigo is a character that we see in both the film and play on how Iago uses him to fulfill his desires. Iago persuades Roderigo that he can still win the love of Desdemona’s away her husband and that the only person standing in the way is Cassio.

Iago informs Roderigo of Desdemona’s alleged affair and instructs him to “knock out his brains. (Shakespeare, 1080)” Being in Cyprus, Iago was changed from being powerless to the most powerful. Iago was able to manipulate everyone close to him by using the power Othello gave him.

In Shakespeare’s play, Othello, several incidents occur that portray the purpose of Roderigo’s character. If one event is isolated from the rest, the thematic desire is lost. It is only when the events are looked at as a whole that the actual theme is obtained. Roderigo is a minor character who carries out a vital role in the play. Although Roderigo has very few lines, he plays a crucial role on a thematic level.

From the beginning of the play Roderigo has an irrational infatuation with Desdemona. He admits to Iago that "it is my shame to be so fond, but it is not in my virtue to amend it" (1.3.314-14). He has been rejected by her father as her suitor, and even when he learns that she has eloped with Othello, he does not want to abandon his hopes. By himself, Roderigo is merely a foolish gentleman with an adolescent case of puppy love. We are not to take him seriously when he threatens to drown himself at the end of act one. It is only as he becomes increasing under the power of Iago that he loses all power to reason for himself. This is Roderigo's main fault--he allows Iago to think for him and put him into situations he would normally avoid. Iago controls Roderigo by appealing to his sense of manhood, "Come, be a man. Drown thyself? Drown cats and blind puppies" (3.3.327-28). Iago encourages him to stop acting like a helpless animal and behave like a man. For Iago this means to go out and take what you want--in this case, Desdemona. Actually, he has no respect for Roderigo's whining. He feels that Roderigo is less than a man because he allows another to affect him so much without taking decisive action, "Ere I would say I would drown myself for the love of a guinea hen, I would change my humanity with a baboon" (1.3.313-14). Roderigo is a senseless

Roderigo along with Othello were the two most directly manipulated by him. Due to their weakness they both get played by Iago.“You can trust me. Go now and get cash. I told you before, and I’ll tell you again and again: I hate the moor. I’m devoted to my cause of hating him, just as devoted as you are to yours. So let’s join forces and get revenge.” (I.3.58). Roderigo’s vulnerability for desdemona is what got him trapped into Iago’s hands. To his advantage being that Roderigo is a wealthy man he uses him as a walking ATM. He takes all his money and even makes Roderigo sell his all his land to fill Iago’s pockets promising him something that was almost impossible to happen, Desdemona in return. Poor Roderigo trusted him with his eyes closed.

However, Roderigo’s actions end badly, Iago has no interest in assisting him in his pursuit of Desdemona he is only concerned with receiving Roderigo’s assets. Another action Roderigo performs out of motivation to win Desdemona’s love is engaging in a brawl with Michael Cassio. Iago, a master manipulator convinces Roderigo that Cassio is sleeping with Desdemona, that Desdemona is unhappy with Othello, prompting her to commit adultery. Roderigo, angered that Desdemona is not showcasing love towards him promises to kill Cassio so Desdemona and Othello must stay in Cyprus rather than going to Mauritania. This will allow Roderigo enough time to woo Desdemona.

Over the course of the book Othello, Iago, who is a convincing villain, manipulates Roderigo who is extremely naïve. Although it is obvious to the reader that Iago’s claims are untrue, Roderigo rarely speaks up to facilitate his own ideas in their talks. For example, Roderigo in convinced that Othello and Desdemona are in love, which they are, but Othello assures him they are not and he has a chance of winning Desdemona through Othello. “I hate the Moor… If thou canst cuckold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a sport” (1.3.350, 352-353). Iago tells Roderigo to do himself a pleasure when he is really helping out Iago for Iago’s personal pleasure. The reason Iago is going to great lengths to ruin lives is that he believes that Othello has

Initially Iago manipulates a character by the name of Roderigo. Roderigo is a Venetian gentleman that is in love with the wife of Othello, Desdemona and will do whatever it takes to win her over from Othello. Roderigo who is oblivious to the idea and fact that Iago is manipulating him to achieve his goal of getting revenge against Othello. Iago’s first implication of manipulation occurs when he advises Roderigo to go make money. Iago states "Thou art sure of me. Go make money. I have told thee often, and I re-tell thee again and again, I hate the Moor. My cause is hearted: thine hath no less reason. Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against him" (1.3.358-360). In this quote, Iago is constantly urging Roderigo to side with him in bringing down their common enemy, Othello. He is stating that his cause is sincere and heart-felt towards helping him win Desdemona. He is also telling Roderigo to literally go out and make money, and in exchange he'll have Desdemona under his arm because Iago tells him that Desdemona loves fancy things, and that the only reason she is with Othello is because he can buy these things for her. Secondly Iago convinces Roderigo to kill Cassio, a man who Iago tells him is sleeping with

In the play Othello, Shakespeare uses Iago's manipulation of Roderigo to show readers the intentions of individuals aren’t always known. The play opens with Iago and Roderigo speaking poorly of Othello while walking near Brabantio's house. Although Roderigo doesn’t have an actual reason to dislike Othello, Iago distinguishes the common dislike of Othello and uses it to his advantage. He makes his stance clear by stating “I follow him to serve my turn upon him”, which allows Roderigo to acknowledge Iago's position (Othello. I.I.45).

Meanwhile, Roderigo is depressed and thinking of suicide. (302) Iago talks him out of it, telling Roderigo to make money and be prepared for when the moore and Desdemona break up. (331-339) Roderigo is convinced and decides to sell his land to continue with Iago’s plans. (373) Iago then has a monologue, telling of his scheme to ruin Othello. He decides he will pit Cassio and Othello against each other and make Desdemona look like a liar.

Iago manipulates Roderigo. Othello has told Iago to murder Cassio. Iago then turns to Roderigo to do his dirty work. He says to Roderigo, “If you will watch his going thence, which I will fashion to fall out between twelve and one, you may take him at your pleasure: I will be near to second your attempt, and he shall fall between us. Come, stand not amazed at it, but go along with me; I will show you such a necessity in his death that you shall think yourself bound to put it on him” (4. 2. 235-242). Iago was more than well informed by roderigo himself about how much he was willing to sacrifice for Desdemona. He even has mentioned killing himself over her. Iago uses this to his advantage when he implies that to be with Desdemona, Roderigo has to kill Cassio. Additionally, if Cassio is killed it will only prove himself more veritable in othello's eyes, which is exactly what he needs at all times to ensure that his plot will go through.

To make his plans work, Iago used psychological manipulation on his victims and used their emotional weaknesses to his advantage. Iago's first victim was Roderigo. He manipulated Roderigo by feasting on the emotions and desires he had for Desdemona. Iago made Roderigo believe that he could help him get closer to Desdemona, and Roderigo, being very gullible, believed this. Iago convinced Roderigo to start a fight with Cassio and to even sell his properties so Iago would have enough money to travel to Cyprus.

In the third scene of the third act in William Shakespeare’s, Othello, Iago confronts Othello about Desdemona’s faithfulness to their marriage. He passive aggressively accuses Desdemona of cheating on her loving husband, Othello, with his friend and lieutenant, Michael Cassio. At the beginning of the play in Act 1, it is determined that Roderigo, a dissolute Venetian who is lusting after Desdemona, is giving Iago money to buy gifts in an attempt to win her love. Iago gains Roderigo’s trust by promising that he can make Desdemona fall in love with him. In reality, he is using Roderigo’s money and hope for love as a means of control.