Othello Quote Analysis

Everybody wants someone that they can trust, however, by trusting someone you also give them the ability to betray you. This is why betrayal hurts so much because only a close friend can do it. In Othello by William Shakespeare, he uses Iago’s betrayal of Othello and Roderigo to warn the reader about the dangers of putting your trust in the wrong person. Othello considered Iago a close friend. He trusted him so much that he would believe whatever Iago told him.In the text Iago is telling Roderigo how much he despises Othello for giving the job of lieutenant to Cassio instead of him. Iago tells Roderigo his plan to get revenge on Othello by pretending to be loyal to him. Iago says,“O sir, content you./I follow him to serve my turn upon

But i pray you, sir,”

(Othello1.2.1-10)

In the first quote Iago talks about his plan to betray Othello for his own self-gain.Iago states that he will be loyal to Othello until he can find a way to act out his revenge. Iago then demonstrates his ability to trick and deceive when he tells Othello that he had to stop himself from killing Brabantio after he disrespected Othello. Othello gave his trust to Iago because he was not aware of Iago’s secret sinister plan of betrayal. If Othello was to question Iago’s honesty, he would have been able to avoid his tragic fate. Instead, he blindly followed him and faced the dire consequences.

Iago uses Roderigo’s love for Desdemona to persuade him to do his dirty work. Iago convinces Roderigo that if he works with him he will get to be with Desdemona. He tells Roderigo to sell his property to gain money for when he marries her. However, he is only keeping Roderigo around to do his

Go,make money. I have told thee/Often, and I re-tell thee again and again, I hate the Moor./My cause is hearted. Thine hath no less reason. Let us be/Conjunctive in our revenge against him. If thou canst/Cuckold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a sport./

There are many events in the womb of time which will be/Delivered. Traverse,go,provide thy money. We will have /more of this tomorrow. Adieu/”

(Othello1.3.357-365)

Here Iago convinces Roderigo to sell his possessions so he will have the money to marry Desdemona. He says, Thus do I ever make my fool my purse./For I mine own gained knowledge should profane/If I would mine own knowledge should profane/ If I should time expend with such a snipe/But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor,/And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets/He’s done my office. I know not if’t be true/But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,/Will do as if for surety.He holds me well./The better shall my purpose work on him./

(Othello1.3.374-381)

In this quote Iago talks about how he doesn’t care for Roderigo and only spends time with him because he can use him. Even though Iago doesn’t care for Roderigo, Roderigo listens and looks up to Iago.Roderigo always listens to Iago’s advice, however if Roderigo listened to himself instead of Iago he wouldn’t have been