ipl-logo

Shakespeare Shows The Predicament Of Passion And Reason In Othello

136 Words1 Pages
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. Iago steps into Roderigo’s life with his own plans in mind. He convinces Roderigo to sell everything he owns to impress Desdemona. Of course, this does not work and Roderigo loses everything. His love for Desdemona and trust in Iago eventually leads to
Show More
Related
1167 Words | 5 Pages

First of all, he manipulates Roderigo and uses his gullibility and obsession with Desdemona to take control of his fortune. Iago doesn't care about Roderigo and he states “ Thus do I ever make my fool my purse”(Shakespeare 1.3.374). Iago knows that Roderigo is hopelessly in love with Desdemona but it doesn't affect him at all as he continues to give him false assurances that his money will be used to help him achieve a relationship with Desdemona. Iago is heartless, he ignores Roderigo’s love for Desdemona and just uses his naivete for his own purposes. Iago traps Roderigo in an inescapable relationship in which Roderigo is just a puppet controlled by Iago.

Read More
501 Words | 3 Pages

William Shakespeare, author of the dramatic play Othello, reveals Iago’s devious plan to sabotage everyone’s life through the use of simile and deception, to display Iago’s ability to manipulate people to get his way. Roderigo feels that his hopes of winning Desdemona have been ruined, but Iago insists that all will be well. Iago mocks Roderigo for threatening to drown himself, and Roderigo protests that he can’t help being tormented by love. Iago contradicts him, asserting that people can choose at will what they want to be. Iago promises to work everything out from there.

Read More
992 Words | 4 Pages

Othello was fed lies that his wife and Lieutenant were having an affair, leading up to the death of himself along with his wife. Roderigo was blinded by the love he had for Desdemona so badly that he helped Iago

Read More
914 Words | 4 Pages

In his tragedy Othello, William Shakespeare shows the importance of balance in both the material and spiritual worlds through the failure to find such balance, leading to each character's ultimate downfall. After being asked what she wishes by Othello regarding travels, Desdemona replies, “That I did love the Moor to live with him, my downright violence and storm of fortunes may trumpet to the world” (Othello I.iii.285). Shakespeare demonstrates Desdemona’s fatal flaw, love in the extreme, by showing how willing she is to throw away everything for love. Iago then goes on to convince Othello to kill Desdemona, who, once told she is going to die, states, “Then heaven have mercy on me… If you say, I hope you will not kill me” (Othello V.ii.40, 42).

Read More
979 Words | 4 Pages

Although the audience is well aware of his hatred for Othello at this point, this soliloquy begins to delve into the mind of Iago. For example, Iago states “Thus do I ever make my fool my purse;/ For I mine own gained knowledge should profane/ If I would time expend with such a snipe/ But for my sport and profit” (1.3.375-8). Because Roderigo is in love with Othello’s wife Desdemona, Iago is just using him in order to achieve his goal.

Read More
1097 Words | 5 Pages

In the first act of the play, after Roderigo finds out that Othello married Desdemona, he carries out a dialogue with Iago about Iago’s discontentment with Othello, Roderigo comments, “What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe,/ If he can carry it thus!” With this, Roderigo shows his feelings of jealousy for Othello, basically stating that luck was on Othello’s side in getting Desdemona, but it will probably not last very long. In addition to this, Roderigo gives Brabantio large sums of money to Iago in order to try to get Desdemona from Othello. In addition to Roderigo’s jealousy, Iago’s jealousy of Cassio cascades to the point where he begins to manipulate Othello to want to kill Cassio, which ends up leading to the death of Desdemona. In the beginning, Iago details how he was passed up for a promotion by Othello.

Read More
1477 Words | 6 Pages

Roderigo, is a young and rich man. He becomes furious when he finds out that Othello marries Desdemona. Once again we see how emotions take over the characters and commit foolish decisions. Roderigo is so in love with Desdemona that he gives all of his money to Iago because Iago promised him that he would help him win Desdemona’s love. Iago once again betrays another one of his victim.

Read More
901 Words | 4 Pages

Many characters fall into Iago 's web of deception throughout the book. First of all, the first person Iago manipulates is Roderigo, his so-called “best friend”. Roderigo pays Iago to be his wingman and try to get Desdemona to be with Roderigo instead

Read More
700 Words | 3 Pages

“Othello” written by William Shakespeare revolves around this protagonist who is depicted as strong and powerful. To everyone he is known as Othello or the Moor. Throughout the play, Shakespeare portrays numerous counts of jealousy and manipulation around many of the characters. It is mainly illustrated through Iago, the antagonist of the play, who manipulates other to their downfall. Iago who is known for always being true and honest towards others has easily earned the trust of everyone around him, thus giving himself an advantage on his schemes.

Read More
834 Words | 4 Pages

Roderigo also feels that same very fear Othello does, as he is talking with Iago after the Duke and senators leave the room, he states, “It is silliness to live when to live is torment” (Othello I,iii, 303). Roderigo is heart broken at having witness to Brabantio- Desdemona’s father- giving his blessing to Othello and Desdemona’s marriage, for he was so in love with Desdemona, it simply makes him want to die to not have her, in fear that he has lost her forever to the Moor general. Roderigo is so in love with the Venetian woman, that he would do whatever he could- even die to have her, no cost whether money or his own life- could get in his way. These two- envy and fear- power jealous up

Read More
750 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More
766 Words | 4 Pages

Iago uses Roderigo to inform Brabantio about the relationship his precious daughter Desdemona has with a moor Othello. Iago’s initial intention is the downfall of Othello and get the position, as a lieutenant, he wants. Throughout the play, Iago continuously manipulates Othello by showing him false proofs and telling him rumors about Desdemona and Cassio. “I know not that, but such a handkerchief - I am sure it was your wife’s -

Read More
1804 Words | 8 Pages

For sure, the stubborned determination is precious when seeking for true love, but Roderigo is too stubborned that unthoughtful actions have been made, this strong love could be a dangerous sharp weapon to destroy himself and others. A heart full of kindness and mercy, is the most treasurable qualities for humankind, a heart to forgive and understand is a heart of goodness and selflessness. However, Desdemona as the loyal wife of Othello was too kind and selfless when facing the ruthless accuse and the heartless treatments from her husband, which blinded both of their eyes and blocked them from seeing the truth. Yet, that kind heart of Desdemona ended her life and destroyed her husband’s. Trust, is the most valuable things to gain from others, so a bridge of trust is extremely strong, but, it needs to be built with the support of both sides.

Read More
517 Words | 3 Pages

If Roderigo exposed Iago when he said he would, a lot of misfortune would not have occurred. Therefore, Roderigo demonstrates the dark side of human nature by being jealous and unintelligent. To conclude, the dark side of human nature is demonstrated by Iago who is selfish, Brabantio who is doubtful, and Roderigo who lacks cleverness. William Shakespeare’s Othello shows how easy it is to let emotions take over one’s mind.

Read More
944 Words | 4 Pages

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

Read More

More about Shakespeare Shows The Predicament Of Passion And Reason In Othello

Related Topics

Open Document