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Animal Imagery In Othello

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Discuss Shakespeare 's Use of Imagery in Othello to Reveal Character A lack of empathy makes for a true villain. In Shakespeare’s tragic play Othello, the nature of Iago’s character is revealed through the use of animal, plant, and devil imagery. Iago is revealed to view others as less than him, manipulating them with a lack of conscience, and having a desire for the destruction of others. The imagery enforces his role as the villain of the play, one who manipulates others for his own self interest. Firstly, Shakespeare uses animal imagery to show that Iago views others as less than him. This is first seen at the very beginning of the play, wherein Iago provokes Brabantio by telling him that “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram / Is …show more content…

Lastly, devil and hell imagery are used, revealing Iago’s evil nature, hoping for the destruction of others for his own self-interest. Iago calls on the devil and talks about monsters several times throughout the play. One instance being after he had concocted a plan to make Othello jealous with Cassio, saying “... Hell and night / Must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light” (1.3.340–41). Iago calls upon the forces of evil, being Hell and night, to help him carry out his plan. While he knows that his actions are immoral, he embraces it fully by calling for evil forces to help in his plans to destroy Othello’s life. This imagery shows Iago’s true nature to the audience, one that wishes for the corruption of people’s lives and actively acting it out. Moreover, Iago refers to himself as a devil in a soliloquy after Cassio drunkenly --------, saying "When devils will the blackest sins put on, / They do suggest at first with heavenly shows, / As I do now" (2.3.351-353). He reveals his intentions to harm Othello to the audience, showing that he does not have empathy for Othello or those his actions would affect, showing his ------------------------------------------------------------------------. Iago is also called a devil by other characters in the play after he is found out to be the one who orchestrated Othello’s undoing. After Othello has realized he has been manipulated by Iago, he says “I look down towards [Iago’s] feet; but that 's a fable. / If that thou be 'st a devil, I cannot kill thee.” (5.2. ------). Othello believes Iago to be as evil as the devil, expecting to see hoofs of a goat, symbolic of the devil, when he looks at Iago’s feet. This devil imagery is used to emphasize Iago’s evil nature. With his plan to destroy Othello being revealed to the other characters, he is now seen as an incarnation of the devil, because of the tremendous amount of pain Iago caused Othello, having purposefully orchestrated it for his own self interest. Thus, by taking

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The classic hero vs. villian storylines have been used in traditional and nontraditional texts for centuries. The creators use classic character foil in order to achieve the distinguishable hero and villain. Othello by William Shakespeare uses character foil to achieve a , protagonist Othello and an ,Iago, antagonist the play and in the movie adaptation Othello by William Shakespeare, Iago/Ben Jago is a villain because of how he manipulates others in order to get ahead and they also have some differences, but in the play Iago is more of a villain than Ben Jago in the movie adaptation. Throughout the play Othello by William Shakespeare, Iago is a villain because of how manipulative he is.

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In the beginning of the novel, Shakespeare describes Iago as a mastermind of manipulating others. Iago holds a grudge and resentment towards the Moor, Othello, because another soldier, lieutenant Cassio, has been promoted

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Although many may not believe that Satan is a being present in the lives of all, the Bible portrays him as “the father of lies,” and a “thief” whose purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy (King James Version, John 8:44). His purpose is that of pure evil. In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago demonstrates similar characteristics. Utterly consumed by his malevolent desire for revenge, he describes how “nothing can, or shall, content my soul,” until he achieves it (Othello 2.1.223).

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In Shakespeare’s Othello and George Orwell’s Animal Farm, characters ability to manipulate others with ease is the flaw in societies structure, consequently, leading both works into tragic outcomes. This is done by blurring the perception of appearance versus reality, limitlessly committing to one’s desires, and taking advantage of others flaws. Throughout both novels, the villains mislead the other characters by forcing them to misinterpret what they see. This in result, allows the villain to gain obstructive power.

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Throughout the act, Othello is referred to as an evil or unwanted creature. Only to worsen this current situation, his ancient, Iago, is the one who is causing this issue. In Othello, Iago uses his imagery to Brabantio to rouse him from his sleep, “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise!” (Shakespeare 1.1.11).

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Josh Ridolfi A villain can be described as many things, a felon, a perpetrator, and an outlaw. A villain of all villains, however, can only be described as evil. In the play Othello by William Shakespeare, the character Iago is portrayed as a vile charlatan. He gaslights Othello into believing his faithful wife Desdemona is copulating with Cassio, and Iago also manipulates Roderigo to his own desires all because he is skipped over for a promotion.

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The literary device of imagery allows an author using it, to enhance our understanding of the characters, plot or message in a written work. In the Shakespearean play Othello, Iago the antagonist, uses animal imagery to influence the actions of other men. Specifically, Iago uses animals as metaphors for people to manipulate others into helping him take spiteful revenge against the protagonist, Othello. The effectiveness of Iago’s use of animal imagery is especially apparent during his conversation with the racist, white, Venetian, Senator Brabantio. By metaphorically comparing Othello to animals in this conversation, Iago plays into Brabantio’s prejudice against Othello as a black-skinned and therefore subhuman, outsider.

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He states, “the demi-devil Iago has ensnar’d my soul and body” Othello feels bad that Iago betrayed him into believing the worst of his wife. Betrayal can be harmful, it can not only cause emotional pain but physical as well. We witness the death of characters and broken bonds. Betrayal can destroy one’s life and have an immense impact on others. If Othello would have been a rationalized man he would have discussed his concerns and fears directly with his wife, rather than speculating

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In the play Othello, William Shakespeare creates an elaborate tragedy with various in depth characters, enhancing the story with powerful characterization. Iago, the main antagonist of Othello, exemplifies Shakespeare’s use of characterization to create in depth and complex characters. Using his manipulative nature, intellectual mind, egotistical attitude, and dishonesty, Iago controls the other characters in order to achieve his goal, leading Othello to succumb to an overwhelming jealousy causing his downfall. In order for Iago to gain control of the characters in the play, he manipulates Othello, Roderigo, Cassio, and more to believe false information and turn on one another.

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(Evans 4). He works behind the scene pushing and infuriating Othello with jealousy then hides innocently. He plots and uses schemes to advance in his own desires. Although he does display satanic ways there was very little that was miraculous about his manipulation of Othello. Shakespeare utilizes Iago to the utmost to demonstrate the danger of jealousy.

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Iago also manipulates Othello with jealousy. When Othello is gone at war, Iago tells him that Cassio and Desdemona were getting too close. At first Othello does not believe him, but by Iago saying “nothing,my lord; or if- I know not what” Othello starts to question if it is true (III. III. 39). Iago constantly uses his “innocence” to make Othello jealous and start to assume that it is true. These actions eventually lead to a tragic event.

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The two characters are meant to balance each other out, but Iago gets too deep in Othello’s head, leaving him susceptible to lash out. Shakespeare wants to bring attention to the fact that no matter how hard one tries, the darkness creeps on eventually and wins. By this point in the play, all the character’s true colors have been shown. “Othello is forced to recognize that he lives in a tragic world, and he pays the price” which causes him to have his tragic downfall(Harbage). Othello saw the good in people, until his peers lied to him and betrayed him.

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Iago’s powerfully disruptive insinuations torment Othello to fall precipitously into his intricate trap, believing in the prospect of Cassio and Desdemona’s fictitious affair. Through the use of linguistic techniques such as elliptical speech, subservient vocative choices and a hesitant tone, Iago is able to construct artful innuendoes to deceive and manipulate Othello. Supplementary to linguistic techniques, dramatic techniques such as dramatic irony reinforces Iago’s role as a two-faced villain, who is making a pretence of being Othello’s loyal ensign. Eventually, Iago’s villainy nature sows a seed of doubt in Othello that germinates into the murder of Desdemona. Through the characterisation of Iago as a notorious villain, Shakespeare is able to hold Iago’s actions accountable for the play’s tragic downfall, establishing a sense of powerlessness amongst the

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