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The Irony Of Honest Iago In Shakespeare's Othello

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Though given the nickname “Honest Iago”, his acts throughout William Shakespeare's, Othello, is not so honest. Iago is an intelligent, convincing, and manipulative man. He enjoys feeding off of people's misery especially when something is in it for him. His intelligence allows him to convince people using the sway of his words so fluently and make them blind to the truth by eluting them with false appearances and telling half truths. This allows him to numerous characters throughout Othello by using their personal beliefs, jealous tendencies, and misleading them into false assumptions by twisting the truth around in his own words in a way that will be beneficial to himself. Throughout the story, Othello, we learn of the anger and hate …show more content…

In the one scene, Iago quickly shows his hatred for Othello while talking to Roderigo alone, “I hate the Moor, and it is thought abroad, that 'twixt my sheets has done my office. I know not if't be true, but I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will do as if for surety.” (1.3.329-433). Iago began to hear rumors that his wife Emilia and Othello had been sleeping together. Iago reasons that even though he has no proof of the incident to weather it happened or not, he doesn’t care for the mere rumor of it is enough for him to seek revenge. In the same incident, after Iago finishes ranting about his hatred for Othello to Roderigo, himself and Roderigo arrive at the house of Brabantio, Desdemona’s father. There Iago enacts his revenge by getting Brabantio’s attention, getting him to come to his balcony, and telling him, explicitly, how Othello and Desdemona were together. “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise; Awake the snorting citizens with the bell, or else the devil will make a grandsire of you: Arise, I say.” (1.1.97-101) This is the first time that …show more content…

His hatred for Cassio comes from Othello picking him over Iago to be his lieutenant although Iago strongly believes he is best suited for the job since he has more experience. “says he, ‘I have already chose my officer.’...one Michael Cassio, a Florentine...never set a squadron in the field, nor the division of a battle knows more than a spinster...as he: mere prattle, without practice, is all his soldiership...And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof at Rhodes, at Cyprus and on other grounds...” (1.1.17-30). Iago is angry that Othello has promoted Cassio to be his lieutenant rather than himself for he explains that he has more experience as a soldier while Cassio is a soldier who boasts about experiences he never had. This is why Iago believes in taking down Cassio as well by breaking up his bond with Othello as displayed in act 3 scene 3 as Iago questions Othello about seeing Cassio leave Desdemona’s room, “Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it that he would steal away so guilty like, seeing your coming” (3.3.41-43). Iago appears to be as shocked as Othello after witnessing Cassio scurry away from Desdemona’s room, but in truth, it was he who presented to Cassio that he should talk to Desdemona about getting Othello to forgive him as taken place in act 2 scene 3, “Confess yourself freely to her.

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Deception plays a major role throughout the play. Iago full of wit and anger is able to create multiple strands in which he is able to break Othello down. His first action of deception begins as he convinces Brabantio that Othello has tricked or even used witchcraft to court Desdemona. He uses vulgar language stating “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe” (1.1). This is the beginning of Iago’s revenge, as he also begins to convince Roderigo that he wants to help him.

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Othello’s confidence for a loyal man to maintain honesty and morals are contradicted through Iago’s actions: “in a man that’s just / They are close dilations, working from the heart, / That passion cannot rule” (3.3.123). Iago, due to the understatement to his name, is not perceivable as hateful. Othello’s willingness to sense Iago’s distress, and to believe his accusations, is because of the lack of awareness Othello has for his vengeance. Iago is of such little power and relevance within societal ranking that if he were to have intentions to sabotage anyone, which he does, are not considered, thus making him easily trustworthy to those of greater dominance. Society’s view of an individual determines how others consider and surmise their persona, though these conclusions may be false.

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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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To Othello, Iago is more reputable now causing Iago is, at this point, reputable, meaning Othello will to believe anything that Iago says even if it is a lie. Iago’s psychopathic manipulations of Cassio then ultimately cause his downfall once Othello discovers that Iago has been dishonest, his punishment of torture and imprisonment at the end of the play is his downfall. Iago’s Throughout the play, since Iago is trustworthy to Othello, Iago plants seeds of jealousy in Othello’s mind. In Act Five, scene two, Othello shows the audience how he believes that Iago is “most honest” (Shakespeare 1302).

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In William Shakespeare's tragedy, Othello, Shakespeare uses the adjective “honest” several times throughout the tragedy to create a sense of irony using the antagonist, Iago, who is constantly dishonest and deceitful to everyone despite claiming he is of honest reputation. Iago is perceived as a very honest man whom Othello, the protagonist, trusts. However, it can be repeatedly seen by the audience that Iago is not honest or trustworthy at all. He lies to create issues for Othello out of jealousy and revenge, yet continues to conceal his true nature through boasting that he is honest and playing victim.

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Because Cassio is distraught from the sequences that occurred earlier, he confides to Iago for advice. After recommending him to talk to Desdemona and Cassio leaving, he finally figures out his plan to destroy Othello. He first starts off with realizing his irony of helping Cassio while trying to be evil at the same time. It has been so easy for Iago to mold the other characters into his plan that it is hilarious to him. At this point, it is questioning to the audience of the continuation of his plot.

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He expresses his jealousy for Cassio when he says that Othello “already chose [his] officer” who he calls “One Michael Cassio, a Florentine” who “never set a squadron in the field.” Iago believes he should have gotten the promotion because he had more military experience and training. After he gets Cassio drunk and dismissed from service, he devises a plan to manipulate Othello into believing he is cheating with Desdemona in order that Cassio never gets his position again or even killed. Iago also hears a rumor that Othello slept with his

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Secondly, Iago manipulates Cassio the most throughout the book. He uses Cassio’s social status and his trust with Othello to ruin his reputation. Iago is jealous of Cassio because he is higher status and has a strong relationship with Othello. For Iago’s plan to work he needs to get closer to Othello, but first he needs to break Othello and Cassio’s trust first. So one night Cassio is supposed to be keeping a party under control Othello tells him “good Michael, look you to the guard tonight.

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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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When he does not get the position he wants and also heard that Othello has been sleeping with his wife Emilia, Iago’s manipulation increases. Iago plans his scheme based on, “[Othello] has done my office, I know not if’t be true/ But I, for mere suspicion in that kind/ Will do as if for surety” (I. III. 431-433). This use of manipulation is all based on an assumption that Othello has slept with Iago’s wife, and this assumption leads to even more horrible events.

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While talking with someone, Iago reveals his ambitions, “ In personal suit to make me his lieutenant,/ Off-capped to him; and by the faith of man,/ I know my price, I am worth no worse a place.” (1.1. 10-12) Iago is furious that he didn’t get the position he wanted so he devotes himself to demolishing Othello as a route to what he covets. To get revenge Iago plans to go through Cassio “the better shall my purpose work on him” (1.3. 392) he states, ”for my sport and profit.

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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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