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Othello characters analysis
Othello characters analysis
Othello characters analysis
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More handpicked essays just for you.
Othello characters analysis
Othello characters analysis
Othello characters analysis
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Often Roderigo is overlooked, as his character cannot be emphasised as much with, and though he influences the plot substantially, he is seen as more of a side character. His extreme jealousy prevents him from the appalling realization that he is being manipulated by Iago, like a puppet being played by a puppeteer. Iago uses their shared hatred of Othello to manipulate Roderigo, "Thou art sure of me. Go make money. I have / told thee often, and I re-tell thee again and again, I / hate the Moor.
In the tragic story of Othello, William Shakespeare the author suggests that when illusions become entangled in the lives of individuals, they often vulnerably become influenced, which conclusively lead to the destruction of oneself and their relationships. Iago uses this to his advantage and now puts into action of
1. Introduction Shakespeare reached the peak of his dramatic art with his tragedies, especially with “Othello”. But “Othello” more than for anything else, became famous for his antagonist, Iago. Othello as the protagonist of the play is the embodiment of what we know as “the good” in people, whereas Iago is all the contrary. Iago therefore, is not only a character who tries to and destroys others because of his jealousy, but he represents the villainy, envy, and malice that exist in this world.
In this passage, there is an exchange between Iago and Roderigo, a man in love with Othello’s wife. In this passage, Iago uses a focused speech, clever techniques to convince Roderigo. Also in this passage, Iago is characterized as the antagonist of the play to the audience. Shakespeare structures Iago’s speech, in this passage, towards reassuring the unstable Roderigo.
In the play Othello, William Shakespeare creates an elaborate tragedy with various in depth characters, enhancing the story with powerful characterization. Iago, the main antagonist of Othello, exemplifies Shakespeare’s use of characterization to create in depth and complex characters. Using his manipulative nature, intellectual mind, egotistical attitude, and dishonesty, Iago controls the other characters in order to achieve his goal, leading Othello to succumb to an overwhelming jealousy causing his downfall. In order for Iago to gain control of the characters in the play, he manipulates Othello, Roderigo, Cassio, and more to believe false information and turn on one another.
In Othello, Shakespeare illustrates the predicament of balancing passion and reason. Roderigo, Othello, and Iago all fall victim to passion; leading them to death, torture, and misfortune. Roderigo, Othello, and Iago never feel fulfilled, which allows them to keep chasing their passions until finally their misfortunes are revealed. Roderigo is a very wealthy Venetian prince trying to woo Desdemona. She falls in love with Othello and Roderigo begins to lose hope and threatens to drown himself.
'Put the moor in a jealousy so strong judgement cannot cure ' speaks Iago in Shakespeare 's play Othello. Iago achieves this not by his action, but rather a few spiteful words whispered into his master 's, Othello 's ear, hence unleashing in Othello a jealousy that overpowered his ability for rational thinking. Through this, Shakespeare shows us the danger of Iago’s words compared to his actions. As Iago 's spiteful plotting demonstrates, all it takes is a few words to unravel a person, which we see through the demise of Othello and the jealous mess he transformed into.
Using the character of Roderigo, Iago manipulates him into doing everything he wants. At the beginning of the tragedy, Iago and Roderigo are talking poorly about Othello. Roderigo, who is in love with Desdemona, is upset due to hearing that Othello and Desdemona have recently married. Iago, who just found out Othello did not give him
Shakespeare begins the story with an evidence of trust in Iago from Roderigo as he reveals his dear love for Desdemona. Iago promises to cause a separation between Desdemona and Othello and receives a payment from Roderigo each time he acts in favor of his promise. Roderigo is the
Iago’s Mastery of Manipulation in Shakespeare’s Othello Most people will experience manipulation at some point in their life; it may not be noticeable at the instant as it is hidden very well. An individual who encounters manipulation will be forced to question their beliefs and feelings about things. These indirect tactics are harmful to the victims.
His extreme deceitful nature is made known within his many soliloquies; Shakespeare used these to evoke frustration within the reader; during these dramatic and extended asides, the true dramatic irony is revealed. Iago’s lies and underhanded nature however is never uncovered by the people he seeks to destroy. He confides in them, and is intelligent and deceptive enough to gain their
His sinister and cunning acts are a perpetration of his character and can be demonstrated thus; when confessing to Roderigo his plans to betray Othello he declares ‘I follow him to serve any term upon him... I am not what I am’ (Act 1, Scene 1, Lines 42-46). Furthermore, Iago elucidates his strategy to the audience which is typified through the quotes ‘After some time, to abuse Othello’s ear’, (Act 1, Scene 3, Line 389) and ‘The Moor is of a free and open nature, that thinks men honest that but seem to be so’ (Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 393-394). These lines are noticeably omitted form the film due to the time constraints, and their exclusion has been perceived as the catalyst for the contrasted themes of the play. Other notable attempts by Iago to manipulate his peers include; his advice to Cassio to put his case to Desdemona regarding his disposition as Lieutenant, which can be seen in the lines ‘...turn her virtue into pitch, and out of her own goodness make the net that shall enmesh them all’ (Act 2, Scene 3, Lines 350-353).
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
Playing a key role in Othello’s demise was one of his subordinates, Iago, whose talent for understanding and manipulating the desires of those around him made him both a powerful and a compelling figure. Stating, “I hate the Moor” (Act 1, Scene 3, 367-368), Iago shows that he is ripe with anger. Motivated by what he sees as Othello’s passing him over for a promotion, along with feelings of jealousy and lust, Iago formulates a plan to reap his revenge for what he believes are the wrongs Othello has committed against him; a decision that ends both of their lives. It is clear that Iago detests Othello simply because he has attained the life he could never have; something he is willing to do whatever it takes to destroy him for. Showing his true objective, Iago talks of how the simple fact there is a rumor Othello has slept with his wife is enough for him to seek to destroy him.
In Shakespeare’s Othello, the audience can only sit back and helplessly watch as Othello falls victim to not only Iago, but to Venetian society itself. Throughout the tragedy, many readers are left scratching their heads in confusion as they wonder how Iago can practically trick a whole city into believing his ruse. From one blunder to the next, our titular protagonist Othello finds himself trapped in Iago’s web of lies which ultimately leads to his greatest crime, the killing of his very own wife. Consequently, Iago’s masterful use of deceit and manipulation is made apparent during the work, which begs the question, how exactly was Iago able to dupe a whole society with such baseless lies?