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Iago's Deception

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Recommended: Iago's villainy/manipulation in othello

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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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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1273 Words | 6 Pages

In other words, he advises Cassio to ask Desdemona’s help as she is the wife of the Moor. Iago then begins with small comments and remarks towards Desdemona’s loyalty. “ Lie with her! lie on her! We say lie on her, when they belie her. Lie with her!

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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.

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1553 Words | 7 Pages

When you look at the plot, each event is a response to Iago 's provocation. But a lack of self-control underlies the actions of Othello and Cassio. And the irony comes from how they both have high standings as authority figures. So it would be reasonable to assume that no one could penetrate their pride or morality. Nonetheless, Iago does so by getting Cassio into a fight and making Othello jealous.

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1157 Words | 5 Pages

“Just because something isn't a lie does not mean that it isn't deceptive. A liar knows that he is a liar, but one who speaks mere portions of truth in order to deceive is a craftsman of destruction.” (Criss Jami). In Othello, Iago is one of the most deceiving throughout the book. Similar to the quote, Iago is a master at manipulation.

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757 Words | 4 Pages

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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750 Words | 3 Pages

Iago’s intentions unveil themselves not only through actions, but through his engagement with the audience. “Iago’s self-understanding is well-express when he explains to viewers his plan to put a plague in Othello’s ear that will cause him to misinterpret Desdemona’s advocacy to Cassio.” (The Art) In order to commence suspicion within Othello, Iago utilizes the elopement of Othello and Desdemona. “Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see.

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480 Words | 2 Pages

Her empathy for Othello, shows her generosity and pure soul. She plays the role as a 'true and loving wife'. Iago plants doubtless into Othello's mind using her forthrightness and innocence. Iago exploits her aptitude to speak her mind with Cassio. Simultaneously, Iago situates Cassio as the enemy.

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901 Words | 4 Pages

Secondly, Iago manipulates Cassio the most throughout the book. He uses Cassio’s social status and his trust with Othello to ruin his reputation. Iago is jealous of Cassio because he is higher status and has a strong relationship with Othello. For Iago’s plan to work he needs to get closer to Othello, but first he needs to break Othello and Cassio’s trust first. So one night Cassio is supposed to be keeping a party under control Othello tells him “good Michael, look you to the guard tonight.

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769 Words | 4 Pages

reality by using the characters, he also uses situations to develop it even more. At the beginning of the play Iago verbalizes how he is going to execute his vicious plan to the audience when he mentions to himself, “Myself while to draw the Moor apart/ and bring soliciting his wife. Ay that’s the way” (2.3.407-409). Although the audience knows that nothing happened between Cassio and Desdemona, Shakespeare makes sure that Iago finds a way to “prove” to Othello, that in fact it is true, by creating the illusion that Desdemona indeed is unloyal to Othello. Iago does this to make Othello break down and become mad at Cassio.

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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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654 Words | 3 Pages

Desdemona and Othello were very much in love, but having that love be threatened by the handsome Cassio caused Othello to feel jealous of Desdemona’s friendship with Cassio. Cassio was never a real threat, but was perceived as such thanks to a few small nudges from Iago. Iago knew that Othello was insecure about the fact that he was a moor, so having him believe that Desdemona’s handsome white friend was in danger of stealing Desdemona from him wasn’t that hard. Throughout the performance, Othello is fed lies by the “Honest” Iago which could easily have been disproven by doing some basic research. Instead of doing the logical thing, he acts upon his suspicions exactly how Iago tells him to.

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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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978 Words | 4 Pages

Iago decided to kill Cassio and after that he thinks that then Cassio will leave Desdemona to Rodrigo. Then Iago had convinced Cassio to drink, because Iago knew that Cassio can’t hold the liquor. Then Iago had stroked a fight between Rodrigo and Cassio and Montano tried to break up the fight, and then the fight had a wake Othello. Iago had filled Othello’s mind with wrong ideas about Cassio and after Cassio’s name was ruined, because Cassio had lost his reputation and rank. After creating such a ruckus Imago tried to convince Cassio that if he spoke to Desdemona, he can get her assure for him with Othello and Iago knew that he wiil be able to make their friendship agaist Cassio and

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982 Words | 4 Pages

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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