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Iago's Deception

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Iago, the manipulative wordsmith, seems to be one of Shakespeare’s best depiction of a maniacal character who can not only deceive others but also make those around him trust what he is saying while also moving them in the direction of their eventual sad end. He is a man who has loose morals and has no problem using his place and power in the military to any advantage that he sees fit. The seeds of deceit In the beginning of any great play we see the characters and make assumptions of their character, yet with Iago we do not have to do this because he tells us of his plans and deceit early on. In Act 1, Scene 3 Iago hatches his plan to deceive his leader into believing that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair. Iago mentions that he thinks …show more content…

Shawn Smith writes “Iago's manipulation of "proof" as part of his Machiavellian rhetoric is a deception that preys not only on Othello's idealistic faith in language and love, but on Othello's faith in general.” (Love, Pity and Deception in “Othello”) In Act 3, Scene 3 Iago and Othello have a long and meaningful conversation of friendship and trust, yet the real meaning behind the whole conversation is for Iago to convenes Othello that he has many reasons to distrust both Cassio and Desdemona. " Shakespeare’s Iago has a jumble of motives for what he does: Cassio has got the job Iago wanted as Othello’s lieutenant, and Iago suspects both Othello and Cassio have been sleeping with his wife. He cannot shut his mind off until he has imagined all the ways he could be injured, and when he looks inside himself, he finds not motiveless malignity but a whirlpool of grievances, beginning with his own unclear feelings.”(Leggett; Love and Faith in “Othello” and “Otello”)Up to this point Cassio has been a trusted friend who even helped Othello win the heart of this sweet wife early on. Cassio played the role of the go between Othello and Desdemona when they had started their love affair. Iago is making sure that Othello trusts no one in this scene. When Iago is alone, and we can hear his thoughts we see the levels of ruthlessness that he will sink

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