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Iago: The Main Cause Of Downfall In Shakespeare's Othello

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In Shakespeare's Othello, Iago is the main cause of every downfall throughout the play. Not only did Iago tell fallacious statements, but also structured a reputation based on “honesty” and plain speaking. However, How can one be consistently honest over long periods of time? Moreover, Iago had risen through the army ranks by his achievements, which Othello has accepted him due to his great qualities. On the contrary, Iago has qualities of the devil, which can be connected to the Medieval and Renaissance age. Thus deciding to devote his life to loathe and revenge rather than walking away. Iago represents a spider web who tries to weave his web to “ensnare them all”. It’s implied that Shakespeare created the character, Iago, …show more content…

Iago uses manipulation to turn the moor into a murderer. The main reason for Iago's success was based on the social differences between the two. In that time interracial marriage between a black and white person was unacceptable, giving Iago the chance to enrage Brabantio. 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. Once Othello's trust is gain, Othello confides in Iago about Desdemona. By doing this Iago learns about his insecurities about his race and age gap between him and his wife. As he continued to stir up trouble with his fellow peers, he went to Othello to plant “ evidence” of Cassio infidelity. For instance, Cassio and Desdemona were having a friendly conversation, laughing and hugging, which iago went and twisted the story. However, once Othello heard the rumors he became devastated and demanded answers. Iago dodged giving direct answers when questioned on his accusations. Another example would be the handkerchief, instead of giving exact proof he went on telling Othello to watch Cassio for it. Therefore, iago will prey upon his jealous preoccupation with the handkerchief as a symbol of his control over

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Iago has always been truthful and trustful to Othello. Seeing the pass up for a promotion that Iago had more experience with, made him mad. Othello says "I think thou dost; And, for I know thou 'rt full of love and honesty(3.3).” This quote is arrogant to the play

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Iago contributes to the tragic downfall of Othello, playing him like a fiddle. The human nature of Iago manipulates the trust

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Othello’s confidence for a loyal man to maintain honesty and morals are contradicted through Iago’s actions: “in a man that’s just / They are close dilations, working from the heart, / That passion cannot rule” (3.3.123). Iago, due to the understatement to his name, is not perceivable as hateful. Othello’s willingness to sense Iago’s distress, and to believe his accusations, is because of the lack of awareness Othello has for his vengeance. Iago is of such little power and relevance within societal ranking that if he were to have intentions to sabotage anyone, which he does, are not considered, thus making him easily trustworthy to those of greater dominance. Society’s view of an individual determines how others consider and surmise their persona, though these conclusions may be false.

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At this point in the play Iago had told Othello just enough to make him start to doubt his relationship with Desdemona. Iago realized that the small details would begin to drive Othello mad and he would believe anything, even if it was not real evidence of a relationship between Desdemona and Cassio. Othello will eventually let the Jealously take over and kill his wife over the lies told by

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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. Iago’s 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’s Throughout the play, since Iago is trustworthy to Othello, Iago plants seeds of jealousy in Othello’s mind. In Act Five, scene two, Othello shows the audience how he believes that Iago is “most honest” (Shakespeare 1302).

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Though given the nickname “Honest Iago”, his acts throughout William Shakespeare's, Othello, is not so honest. Iago is an intelligent, convincing, and manipulative man. He enjoys feeding off of people's misery especially when something is in it for him. His intelligence allows him to convince people using the sway of his words so fluently and make them blind to the truth by eluting them with false appearances and telling half truths. This allows him to numerous characters throughout Othello by using their personal beliefs, jealous tendencies, and misleading them into false assumptions by twisting the truth around in his own words in a way that will be beneficial to himself.

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Othello’s naive nature hindered him from seeking the truth of Desdemona and Cassio and finding out Iago had been lying the whole time. Iago may have been the cause of rumors, however Othello’s own doing ultimately caused him to suffer the consequences due to the fact that he did not communicate with his wife. He let a envious person control every aspect of his perception of his wife. He let a piece of fabric be the defining factor of whether or not his wife was faithful to him. It was the breaking factor of life and death which resulted the death of two innocent souls.

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As the audience receives more information about his hatred for Othello, it is still vague on how and why exactly Iago wants to destroy him. Because of the lack of clarity, it creates a spark of interest to hear more of Iago’s

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In the book Othello, Iago is a very manipulating man, throughout the book he manages to manipulate three main people, Roderigo, Cassio, and Othello. He uses all their weaknesses to bring them down. Iago wants revenge on Othello, because Othello overlooks Iago and his abilities, so Iago manipulates these three characters to get back at Othello in the long run. He comes up with a very good plan to get each other to turn against one another. So in the end he ends up getting what he wanted, revenge.

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“Othello” written by William Shakespeare revolves around this protagonist who is depicted as strong and powerful. To everyone he is known as Othello or the Moor. Throughout the play, Shakespeare portrays numerous counts of jealousy and manipulation around many of the characters. It is mainly illustrated through Iago, the antagonist of the play, who manipulates other to their downfall. 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.

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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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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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Kolin observes that Iago stands out among Shakespearean villains since he is the only one to survive his own monstrous acts (25). Unlike Richard III, apart from telling stories, Iago carries out a downright fraud through other means of manipulation, which makes him the most evil and intelligent character. To be exact, Iago is a puppeteer who sets up scenes to deceive the “credulous fools”—Othello, Cassio and Desdemona (4.1.45). Iago talks to Cassio about Bianca while telling Othello that the subject of their conversation is the Moor’s wife. He is so smart and careful that he even gestures Othello to come closer when Cassio is about to illustrate how Bianca entangles him.

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In the play Othello, written by William Shakespeare, Iago appears to be a clever and manipulative character from the beginning. He attempts, and succeeds, to sabotage the Othello’s, relationship with his wife Desdemona. Throughout the play, he conceals his true character and as a result, other characters see him as honest, reliable, and trustworthy. He gains Othello’s lieutenant Cassio’s trust, then backstabs him. He also uses Roderigo, a Venetian, as a piece in his puzzle to ultimately take down Othello.

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As a scheming villain, Iago begins to ensnare Othello into his trap of vengeance by echoing in Othello’s mind prospect of an affair between Cassio and Desdemona. Iago begins his insinuations by reminding Othello that Cassio served as their go-between during their courtship through a rhetorical

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