Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Iago's deception in othello
Iago character study
Iago in othello character analysis
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Iago's deception in othello
Iago contributes to the tragic downfall of Othello, playing him like a fiddle. The human nature of Iago manipulates the trust
One form of power is discrimination power, Iago expresses this to Othello, announcing that he is a worthless animal “an old black ram” (1:1), racial slues are used as Iago’s emotions towards Othello are jealousy, envy and the desire for his power this is to show the hatred Iago has for Othello. As we know Iago is an impolite and manipulative character throughout the play he admits that he is dishonest “I will wear my heart upon his sleeve” (1:1). This is a metaphor as Iago will never be his true self and show his true emotions. Political power is used a lot in Othello in many different contexts. After a drunk night out with Roderigo, Cassio finds himself regretting his last night decisions “Oh, I have lost my reputation!”
Throughout history many of the great generals often had a right hand man or lieutenant to help make important decisions. When Iago was passed over for this great position he was willing to go to any length to achieve the position he felt he deserved. In the play, Othello by William Shakespeare, Iago became the antagonist in one of Shakespeare's most well-known plays. Iago used manipulation, deception, and creative thinking to hatch a plan that would cause the death of nearly every main role in the play.
In William Shakespeare’s All’s Well that Ends Well, Mariana states “no legacy is so rich as honesty” (All’s Well that Ends Well). This statement allows Shakespeare to make the claim that honesty serves as a necessity for a successful legacy.
In today’s society, we have a majority of people who are continually faced with choices and loyalty are tested. Confusion and difficulties between what looks to be real and what is real may be the cause of all misunderstandings. Othello discovers from his misguided right-hand man, but soon realizes it’s too late, Othello realizes his own faults and mistakes and is (he quotes) “Perplexed in the extreme” by having allowed Iago to ‘ensnare(d) my soul and body.” Another thing we relate to is the problem with impulsive and aggressive behavior rather than dialogue and conflict resolution. It looks like even in the 21 century, we are still having to say ‘sorry’ after making assumptions and sometimes with poisonous results and sins of passion are still
Iago’s constant animalistic language shows that he views others as animals rather than people, thus, Iago dehumanizing the other characters. In Act One, scene one, Iago describes Othello as an “old black ram” (Shakespeare 1276). This description of Othello is comparing him to a ram, and such animalistic references show that Iago does not view Othello an equal. In his view of Othello as unhumanistic, Iago is most likely willing to treat him as an animal. The audience sees this treatment through his constant manipulations of Othello’s mind, planting seeds of jealousy.
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.
Throughout the soliloquy Iago has created numerous negative thoughts towards Othello. Shakespeare develops many central ideas of racism and relationship. Shakespeare creates conflict based on racism which demolishes relationship, friendship, romance, and family. Iago’s shade to Othello reveals racism in order to justify how he destroys different relationships for each character. However Iago’s bigot towards black men which him to influence the thought that they were way more sexually dominated towards other women.
Character can be broken despite how strongly it is shaped. In William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Othello, Othello was a brave Moor who was quick to marry his lover Desdemona. His sinister ensign Iago deceived him into believing his loyal wife had committed adultery. Although Othello believed the alleged accusations, he also gave up his moral character to Iago. Regardless of the lack of trust from Othello, Desdemona did deceive her father prior to the situation.
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
While he knows that his actions are immoral, he embraces it fully by calling for evil forces to help in his plans to destroy Othello’s life. This imagery shows Iago’s true nature to the audience, one that wishes for the corruption of people’s lives and actively acting it out. Moreover, Iago refers to himself as a devil in a soliloquy after Cassio drunkenly --------, saying "When devils will the blackest sins put on, / They do suggest at first with heavenly shows, / As I do now" (2.3.351-353). He reveals his intentions to harm Othello to the audience, showing that he does not have empathy for Othello or those his actions would affect, showing his ------------------------------------------------------------------------.
Frank Prentice Rand explains and gives reasons for Iago’s behavior and how he is the villain of the play. Rand’s claims that Iago shows his true face and tells his entire plan only to the readers while everyone else in the play sees him as a trustworthy and clever man the readers already know his evil side. Iago’s primary motive to become evil and seek revenge is jealousy because he suspects that Emilia cheated on him with Othello leading him to seek justice and make Othello believe that Desdemona betrayed him, thorough Iago’s talkativeness to himself the readers are aware of the real Iago while the characters in the play know the real Iago until the end.
Iago’s Prosperous Plan Iago 's plan is successful throughout the play because of his intelligence and targeting of Othello, a man who is very naive and easily persuaded. Iago builds Othello 's trust, which makes it easier for him to make Othello fall into his trap. Othello considers Iago a trustworthy friend, and therefore never questions his accusations. This allows Iago to blindside Othello with his mischievous plan.
Iago is a unique and complicated character. He is intelligent in that he is able to manipulate people and events in his favour, which he thrives on throughout the play, classifying him as the antagonist of the play. Driven by jealousy and hatred, Iago plots against Othello to destroy his character and reputation. Knowing that if he foolishly attacked such a respected man directly, he would be sentenced to death. As a result, he devises to use other people to obtain what he desires by influencing the characters in the play to suit his plan.
Iago’s honest reputation and his two-faced personality ensnares the protagonists into his plan. Initially he gets the character to think that he is generally honest and then builds that small reputation up to a bigger one so then he can spill out lies to trick them. He seems to be honest through his actions when he is in view of the character. When Iago informs certain characters that he knows have fallen into his trap, the characters will not doubt what he has to say.