Manipulation In Othello

ORIGINAL TITLE

10 English, 10ENG10A

Melbourne High School, 10

Enki Xyzen, 10A

In breaking the fourth wall, Shakespeare invites us to be party to Iago’s manipulation of the other characters in the play. With his vow of silence, however, he effectively shuts us out leaving us to wonder what his true motivations may have been, for, up to that point, they have been under-defined. Upon reflection, such a stratagem suggests that Shakespeare has rendered his audience as equally susceptible to Iago’s Wiles.

Throughout Othello the audience is privy to Iago’s plans. Shakespeare achieves this by breaking the fourth wall and allowing Iago and Othello to speak directly to the audience. For example, Iago asks us “How then am I the villain?” This question

He and Roderigo visit Brabantio’s house in the middle of the night and Iago says to Brabantio “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise;” (1.1.89-90). Iago’s statement is not entirely correct and he knows but Brabantio doesn’t, because even though Desdemona and Othello may have been a couple they had not yet consummated their relationship. Later in the play Iago’s vow of silence awakens the audience to Iago’s lack of motives and so Shakespeare’s attempt to demonstrate to the audience that we to are just a susceptible to manipulation as Othello is complete. Shakespeare achieved this through the lack of backstory and motives he provided for Iago yet Othello and us still fell for Iago and believed him throughout the play and when we were waiting for the grand reveal Shakespeare exposed us by taking that away. “I say thy husband. Dost understand the word? My friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago.” This line is the beginning of the unravelling of the plans and trickery woven by Iago. In the lines above Othello is explaining to Emilia who told him Desdemona was cheating on him with Cassio. Emilia then realises that Iago has lied to Othello and caused the death of her