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Iago As A Manipulator In Shakespeare's Othello

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In William Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago is the master manipulator that caused all the problems and deceit in others in, Not Othello. In William Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago is far more culpable than Othello for the deaths of everyone in the play, because Iago is a manipulator and caused everyone to distrust, betray and kill each other, an example being how he caused Othello to kill Desdemona. Iago caused people to distrust each other by manipulating everyone, which caused everyone to kill each other because they trusted Iago and fell victim to his manipulative lies. Iago manipulated Brabantio, Cassio, and Othello. Firstly, Iago manipulated Brabantio first. This is proven by the quote “Call up her father. Rouse him. Make after him, poison his …show more content…

In this quote, Iago is seen with Roderigo, telling him to call Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, to tell him about Desdemona and Othello’s marriage, in order to stir up drama in his life, so he can start manipulating other characters later on to achieve his goal of ruining Othello’s life because he doesn’t like him. Secondly, he manipulated Cassio into getting into a drunk fight. This is proven by the quote “If I can fasten but one cup upon him With that which he hath drunk tonight already, He’ll be as full of quarrel and offense” (Shakespeare 2.3.49-51). This passage directly proves Iago made Cassio drink too much in order to get him to fight Montano, so he could use that as a way to get Cassio fired from his position and then use that as a way to frame Cassio as someone who is secretly in a relationship with Desdemona and ruin Othello’s marriage. Thirdly, he manipulated Othello into thinking Desdemona is cheating on him. This is proven by the quote “Therefore, as I am bound, Receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof. Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio” (Shakespeare …show more content…

Iago and Roderigo injured Cassio. The passage proving this is “I am maimed forever! Help, ho! Murder, murder!” (Shakespeare 5.1.29). Cassio is seen as being shocked after he is stabbed by Iago in the leg. Cassio thinks he will die as he screams murder again and again. At first, Roderigo was supposed to kill Cassio but he was injured by Cassio himself. Iago made Othello kill Desdemona. The passage proving this is “Do it not with poison. Strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated.” (Shakespeare 4.1.228-229). Iago has convinced Othello that Desdemona is cheating, and is telling him to kill her, and even suggests a method. By this point in the play, Iago’s plan to manipulate everyone is working and has made a lot of progress. Iago made Othello kill himself. The passage proving this is “I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this, Killing myself, to die upon a kiss” (Shakespeare 5.2.420-421). Othello is saying his last words before he dies as he realises how much Iago deceived him, and how he murdered Desdemona in cold blood, he feels regret and apologises to Desdemona. Overall, Iago’s manipulation, lies and deceit caused the deaths of many in the

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Brandon, you utilize an excellent soliloquy to demonstrate the manipulative intentions behind Iago. His own words “Now, whether he kill Cassio Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other, Every way makes my gain”, give the audience great insight into Iago’s ideologies and mentality (Bevington, 2014, p. 648 Act: 5 Scene 1, Lines 12-14). He has determined that the death of Roderigo by Cassio’s sword, the death of Cassio by Roderigo’s sword, or the death of each at the hand of the other’s serves Iago’s interest, therefore providing the audience additional evidence of Iago’s manipulation, which is the cause of the confrontation between Roderigo and Cassio. This confrontation is caused by Iago has planting a seed of hope in Roderigo. Iago knows

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He tells him “wherein none can be so determinate as the removing of Cassio” (IV, ii, 231-232). Roderigo and Iago tried to kill Cassio but Cassio killed Roderigo. Roderigo yelled “Oh, I am slain” (V, I, 27). Iago abandons Roderigo and later come back

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Cassio is attacked by Roderigo, who he then stabs. After Cassio cries out he thinks Iago kept up his end of the deal to kill him, so now he must kill Desdemona. He wakes her up with a kiss and accuses her of having an affair with Cassio. She claims innocence but it is too late for that, he

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1021 Words | 5 Pages

The only reason Roderigo wanted to kill Cassio was because of more of Iago’s manipulations. Iago used Roderigo’s love for Desdamona against him. He always had a fancy for Desdamona and he was never able to marry her. There is a lot of murdering happening in the last act of the play. Iago never ends up dying in the end and is able to be free.

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As Iago began setting Cassio up, he began to develop feelings of his own for Desdemona. Iago and Roderigo’s actions resulted in numerous deaths throughout the play. First Iago stabs and kills Roderigo. Then, Othello’s jealousy leads him to smother Desdemona because she was “false with Cassio” (Shakespeare 767). After Emilia outed Iago, he pierced her with a knife, killing her.

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After all of the untrustworthy actions it is time to find out if Iago is accurately responsible for the death of Desdemona. In the play Othello by William Shakespeare, a character named Iago, successfully manipulates the people surrunded by him in Cyprus, an island in Venice, so that they could be believe in the lies that he tells about other people so that he could look like the good guy. He even lies to his own boss, Othello. Iago told Othello that his beloved wife had been having an affair with Cassio, the lieutenant all because of his jealousy. As the Assistant District Attorney of Cyprus, Iago is fully responsible for the death of Desdemona because of being untruthful and a manipulator and will be convicted with Second-degree murder.

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Iago is the reason behind Desdemona’s death Even though Othello killed his wife Desdemona. Iago was jealous of Othello’s position, his wife and he was jealous of Desdemona’s love for her husband Othello. Because Iago was in love with Desdemona as well. In the play “Othello” by William Shakespeare Iago is the one who causes tragic events, his jealousy leads to exterminate all characters in the play. Iago seems pretty jealous because he state that he hates Othello because he passes Iago, over for a promotion, giving "one Michael Cassio" the job as his military lieutenant instead.

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Iago also betrays his wife during the play. Iago used his wife as a tool in order to make it seem like Desdemona and Cassio had an affair. Emilia later in the play no longer wanted to be his accomplice so she accuses Iago of criminal behavior in order to save Desdemona’s reputation. Of course, having Emilia around is no good for Iago so he decides to betray his wife and literally stab

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In Act 4, Iago lies to Othello saying,“What if I had said I had seen him do you wrong?” convincing Othello of Desdemona and Cassio’s affair (4.1.24). Iago knows Othello’s jealousy overwhelms him at the thought of Cassio and Desdemona, giving Iago control over Othello’s emotions and

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Unfortunately for Cassio, it was all a part of Iago 's plan, he then planted the handkerchief that Othello gave Desdemona as a symbol of love, in Cassio 's room. He told Othello of the connection between Cassio and Desdemona, and as she kept bringing his name up to reinstate him, it became more evident to Othello. 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. Afterwards Othello found out that she didn 't cheat on him, and so he killed himself. The ultimate payback, driven by

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487 Words | 2 Pages

He said Cassio had sex with her and that he must kill him. He attempted to stab Cassio but was killed instead in Cassio’s defense. Iago’s wife had revealed his true intentions. Othello kills himself after finding out, he killed his innocent wife. In the end Othello, Desdemona, Roderigo, and Emilia had died.(112

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712 Words | 3 Pages

(2.3.122-24). Still motivated to get the position of the lieutenant, Iago ill-advises Cassio to claim back Desdemona, that she was rightfully his and thus he needed to talk to her to get her back (Bevington, 2014). To sound honest, Iago assures Cassio that he “protest, in the sincerity of love and honest kindness (3.1.321) so that Cassio may agree with what he is saying. Lastly, still motivated to get the position of a lieutenant, Iago lies to Othello that Cassio is having an affair with Desdemona and that his wife prefers Cassio to him because he is ugly and old (Bevington, 2014; Adelman, 1997).

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944 Words | 4 Pages

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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Through his manipulation and deceit, Iago is able to manipulate and control the actions of the other characters, ultimately leading to Desdemona's murder. In this essay, I will argue that Iago is primarily responsible for Desdemona's death by examining his motives, methods, and the effects of his actions on the other characters. First and foremost, Iago's motives for his actions are rooted in his own jealousy and desire for revenge. He is envious of Cassio's promotion to lieutenant and feels that he has been wronged by Othello, who passed him over for the position. He also holds a grudge against Othello for choosing Cassio as his confidant, and is resentful of Othello's close relationship with Desdemona.

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In William Shakespeare’s Othello the two main characters are Iago and Othello. The entire story centers around Iago 's plan to achieve revenge on Othello for not promoting him to lieutenant. Throughout the story Iago tries to convince Othello that his wife Desdemona has cheated on him with his lieutenant Cassio. Iago’s plan is successfully and easily executed. Othello is tricked into believing that desdemona has been unfaithful and in the end he kills her.

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