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Iago's Loss Of Innocence In Othello

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Ultimately, Iago's next resort is to use his criticisms to influence Othello. Iago's plan is to counteract Desdemona's "innocent" actions. The play unfolds her innocence several times in the play. In Act III, when Othello storms off angry, Desdemona's first instinct is to assume that Othello is stressed about some political news from Venice. "Something, sure, of state / Either from Venice, or some unhatched practice / Made demonstrable here in Cyprus to him / Hath puddled his clear spirit, and in such cases / Men’s natures wrangle with inferior things / Though great ones are their object. 'Tis even so / For let our finger ache and it endues / Our other healthful members even to that sense / Of pain. Nay, we must think men are not gods / Nor of them look for such observances / As fit the bridal." …show more content…

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. He influences Cassio to drink and to fire him from his position. Also, in Act II, Scene I Cassio describes Desdemona as "One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens." and Iago assures Cassio that Desdemona is his last resort to be employed again. "When devils will the blackest sins put on / They do suggest at first with heavenly shows / As I do now. For whiles this honest fool / Plies Desdemona to repair his fortune / And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor." (2.3.260-265). The significance of referring to hell and heaven is a dichotomy between Desdemona and Iago. Most people will perceive Desdemona as the victim but, her ambition to help Cassio, builds her characteristic into the military sphere. Her purpose to fix the friendship between Othello and Cassio derives from Shakespeare symbolically placing her into a role of Venetian

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