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Manipulation In Shakespeare's Othello

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T.F Hodges once said,"Manipulation, fueled with good intent, can be a blessing. But when used wickedly, it is the beginning of a magician's karmic calamity." Manipulation will only be suitable when a person is completely selfless. People however will never be completely selfless, therefore they always will try to better themselves by manipulating others. This phenomenon is also elucidated in Shakespeare's tragedies. In Othello, Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to demonstrate that resorting to manipulation for personal gain often results in disaster for all parties. Iago's manipulation of Othello destroys his relationship with Desdemona. Othello tells Iago, "Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her!/ Come, go with me apart; I will withdraw,/ To furnish me with some swift means of death/ For the fair devil. Now art thou my …show more content…

Iago tells Roderigo," I could never better stead thee than now. Put money in thy purse; follow thou the wars; defeat thy favor"(I.iii.341-342). Iago needs Roderigo's money, so he makes a false promise of Desdemona's love to motivated him. However , Desdemona is in love with Othello so it is not feasible that Roderigo could win her favor. Later on, Iago implores Roderigo,"Wear thy good rapier bare,/ and Put it home: Quick, quick; fear nothing;/ I’ll be at thy elbow"(V.i.2-4) Iago encourages Roderigo to assassinate Cassio, because he promised Othello that he would eliminate Cassio ,but Iago is not the type of character to get his hands dirty so he gets Roderigo to do the deep for him. Also Iago promises to be right Roderigo his side the whole way but after the fight he instead kills Roderigo to prevent him from leaking how Iago orchestrated the whole affair, which illustrates how despicable of a person Iago is. Iago's manipulation of Roderigo ultimately ends in disaster because Roderigo is dead ,and Iago has gained nothing while ruined everyone's

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