Prejudice In Othello

Othello by William Shakespeare begins in Venice, Italy with an argument between Roderigo a rich man who’s secretly in love with Desdemona and Iago a self-centered man who craves power. This play has main themes such as love, deception/reality jealousy and prejudice. Iago is the antagonist in this play and wants do destroy Othello based on pure Jealousy, Prejudice, and Deception. The main problem that caused Iago to go on a mission to destroy the Moor is that he didn’t get the job he wanted. He became so jealous Cassio that he didn’t care about who he hurt and ended up sacrificing his own wife. He deceived everyone in order to get what he wants and finally he was very prejudice. He makes up lies and makes other people believe that there 100%

I thought the snake symbolized the lies that he told to everyone, although from time to time they called him “honest Iago”. ”Iago is most honest” (Act 2 Scene 3). It’s through those carefully thought-out words Iago manipulates others to do things in which benefits him. This greatly proved how people trusted Iago and every judgment he had. From the beginning, we learned that Iago was cruel, manipulative, and self-centered. He craved for power so bad that he would destroy anything and anyone that came in his path. He had it out to get revenge on Othello for not promoting him to be his lieutenant as Cassio was the chosen one. He immediately started to tear Othello apart by telling Brabantio, Desdemona’s father that the Othello has just married his daughter. Iago knew that Brabantio wouldn’t accept Desdemona to marry Othello because of his age, religion, and skin color. In this story, Iago had many assumptions which he claimed to be true. With all the lies, he tells people he begins to be wrapped up in his lies and starts to believe that they’re true, like Othello sleeping with his wife, Emilia. This caused him to hate Othello even more. “I hate the Moor and it is thought that ‘twit my sheets ‘has done my office. I know not it be true, but I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will do as if for surety.” (Page 55, Act. Sc.3: 429-433). Iago continues to

For the theme jealousy, I choose to do green eyed monsters because Iago was envious towards everyone. He claims he hates Othello because Othello didn’t promote him to be his lieutenant as Cassio was given the job. This caused Iago to be aggravated and try to destroy the Moor. Iago claimed that Cassio wasn’t qualified for the job and he lacks experience so he was more deserving of the job. This clearly proves that Iago is jealous. He then plots his revenge to bring Othello down by making him believe that his one and only Desdemona was cheating on him. “Trifles light as air / Are to the jealous confirmations strong / As proofs of holy writ” (Act III, Scene 4). He knew that Othello was naïve and foolish when it came to loving Desdemona and he took full advantage of it. Iago is prepared and well organized in every moment, he’s mischievous and won’t stop. He makes promises which he clearly intends to not follow through. He begins to manipulate Othello because he pretends to warn Othello not to be a jealous man and pointing out that jealousy ends up destroying the heart of the man who falls prey to it. “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on (Act.3 Scene.3: 195-197). Iago was so obsessed to get revenge on Othello that he doesn’t care what happens to everyone else as long as he’s happy. Iago’s jealousy caused so many problems for many people. He manages to