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Othello Persuasive Essay

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Jozlynn Nichols Virginia Rogers Eng-102-W61 4 April 2023 Othello Othello, written in 1604, is often considered one of Shakespeare’s most tragic pieces. Many believe that the play contains one of the most evil characters in literature, Iago. Iago is thought to be an honest man, but it is too late when the other characters realize how deceiving he truly is. Only the audience is aware of Iago’s plans because of his multiple soliloquies and asides. During his speeches, the audience learns whom Iago’s hate is targeted towards. In the play, Cassio, Othello, and Desdemona are destroyed due to Iago’s jealousy and manipulation. Even though Iago ruined many characters' lives, his main target was to destroy Othello. Othello …show more content…

The primary lie that Othello believed was that Desdemona was cheating on him with Cassio. This caused Othello to become jealous and demand evidence. Once Othello realized that Desdemona no longer had the handkerchief, he became resentful towards her. Iago’s persuading eventually pushed Othello to murder Desdemona. But quickly after, Iago admitted to falsely accusing Desdemona of cheating. Othello then commits suicide after he realized how grave of a mistake he had …show more content…

Iago believed that he could get revenge by ruining Desdemona. He started spreading lies about how she was unfaithful. His plan was to ruin their marriage, which was symbolized by a handkerchief heirloom that Othello gifted to Desdemona. Knowing this, Iago stole the handkerchief and planted it inside of Cassio’s house. This resulted in Othello becoming furious with Desdemona and showing his jealous side to her for the first time. Their relationship was destroyed, but Iago decided to push Othello one step further. Iago’s manipulation and lies lead to Othello murdering Desdemona after she refused to state that she had sinned. As Iago spread rumors about Desdemona, Cassio was also brought down. Cassio was a young officer that was promoted to lieutenant by Othello. He was married to Bianca but did not care for her even though she had loved him. Iago is believed to be a trusted friend of Cassio's, but Iago was secretly envious of Cassio's promotion to lieutenant. Iago tricked Cassio into damaging his own name, in hopes of getting Cassio to lose his

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In chapter 3 scene 3 page 141 Iago accuses Desdemona of cheating on Othello with Cassio. Othello is in distress and in disbelief that she would do such a thing. This ends in Othello believing the lies and murdering his own wife when she was fully loyal to him. Desdemona never did anything wrong and only lied in order to save her own life. Her goal in her marriage was to live happily with her husband but Iago ruined that for his own selfish desires.

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Othello, one of the main characters in the play is a very trusting person causing him to be easily manipulated by others. Iago, a flag bearer and a friend to Othello uses his trustworthy persona against him to get revenge on him for not giving him the job as lieutenant. One of his manipulation tactics is to tell Othello that his wife is having an affair with a man named Cassio. In the play, Iago begins to talk to Othello about his proof that his wife is actually cheating on him by telling him, that Desdemona gave a handkerchief to Cassio, in which Othello gave to her that was passed on by his parents. Othello was not happy about that which ultimately lead Othello to be disrespectful towards Desdemona by hitting her, constantly calling her a whore and later killing her for thinking that she was cheating on him with Cassio (Shakespeare 1603).

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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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Iago’s hatred of Othello stems from the rumor that Othello bedded his wife Emilia and was fueled by Othello’s choice to promote Cassio, the inexperienced soldier. The story begins with Iago manipulating Desdemona’s (Othello’s wife) father. Convincing him that Othello used witchcraft to win over Desdemona. When that plan fails, another is hatched as Iago plans to use a small gesture against Cassio. He will succeed in convincing Othello that his wife was unfaithful.

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Iago used this to make Othello believe that Desdemona his wife was cheating on him with his lietenteunt Cassio, Othello acts as if he dosen’t believe it but you can tell by the way he acts as in lashing out and getting angry and yelling at Iago, telling him if hes lying he’ll kill him and all of those kinda things. Iago uses these against Othello so well and Othello tursts him to much to not believe him. Jealousy was another thing that Iago used so well against Othello to make him angry and bloodthirsty. Iago kept saying that Cassio was doing all of these things with Desdemonea like saying that they laid in bed naked and things like that, causing Othello to be very jealous and angry at Cassio.

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Unfortunately for Cassio, it was all a part of Iago 's plan, he then planted the handkerchief that Othello gave Desdemona as a symbol of love, in Cassio 's room. He told Othello of the connection between Cassio and Desdemona, and as she kept bringing his name up to reinstate him, it became more evident to Othello. Iago gradually drove Othello to the edge, he convinced him of the affair between the two and so he felt the need to kill her. Afterwards Othello found out that she didn 't cheat on him, and so he killed himself. The ultimate payback, driven by

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Othello starts to believe Iago’s lies about his friends and wife, leading Othello to change his behavior towards his closest allies. Iago instigates a fight between Cassio and Montano, and Othello must take charge of his soldiers, he says: Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, Making it light to Cassio. Cassio, I love thee But never more be officer of mine. (2.3.210-213) Othello makes the decision to fire Cassio, and things get worse when Iago makes his wife, Emilia, steal Desdemona 's handkerchief.

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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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Iago tells Othello “observe her well with Cassio. Wear your eyes thus, not jealous nor secure” (Oth. 3. 3. 198-99). By telling this to Othello, Iago hopes that Othello will continue to believe the lies about Desdemona and hopes to ruin their marriage and strip Cassio of lieutenant. When desdemona tries to figure out what is wrong with Othello she turns to Emilia.

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Iago’s powerfully disruptive insinuations torment Othello to fall precipitously into his intricate trap, believing in the prospect of Cassio and Desdemona’s fictitious affair. Through the use of linguistic techniques such as elliptical speech, subservient vocative choices and a hesitant tone, Iago is able to construct artful innuendoes to deceive and manipulate Othello. Supplementary to linguistic techniques, dramatic techniques such as dramatic irony reinforces Iago’s role as a two-faced villain, who is making a pretence of being Othello’s loyal ensign. Eventually, Iago’s villainy nature sows a seed of doubt in Othello that germinates into the murder of Desdemona. Through the characterisation of Iago as a notorious villain, Shakespeare is able to hold Iago’s actions accountable for the play’s tragic downfall, establishing a sense of powerlessness amongst the

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