In the beginning, Othello was evidently a well honored Moor of his time. He earned his position as general because of his strong reputation and character. This authority signified the great respect he most graciously and humbly received. Only Iago, due to underlying circumstances, lacked a sense respect for his commanding officer. Iago slickly undermined his general’s reputation.
The tragedy begins with Iago’s soliloquy, here Iago’s envy towards Cassio is immediately conspicuous. He states that Cassio has “Never set a squadron in the field, Nor the division of a battle knows, More than a spinster”. Consequently Iago’s envy is mistaken for jealousy, which is why he comes across as the villain in the play. However, he also tries to disguise his villainous actions by “justifying” them. “Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty” “I am not what I am.”
He is troubled and jealous that Cassio was elected lieutenant for him, even though he, Iago, had more experience in the military service. This causes Iago to have a great hatred towards Othello. However, his refusal of the lieutenant is not the real reason for the uproar of Iago 's manipulation. It is about Iago wanting everyone to
In the story Iago is jealous of Cassio; who got appointed lieutenant by Othello instead of Iago. In his jealousy, he decides to frame Cassio and ruin or destroy both Othello and Cassio. He convinces Othello that Cassio is having an affair with his wife. This makes Othello jealous of his wife; this causes Othello to kill his wife and sends Iago to kill Cassio. When Iago’s scheme to frame Cassio is discovered Othello attacks Iago and kills himself in his sadness.
In conclusion, there might be many reasons why Othello behave in the story like an honorable men to a despicable human being, but we can take into account that the grudge Iago had against Othello, the loss of one of his trusted man Cassion and finally the fact that he “prove” that Desdemona was a whore it what makes Othello’s character is so malleable and easy to influence by a negative force that is what brought end to
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
Iago’s jealousy and rage of not being chosen for lieutenant is leading him to create a plan for revenge on Othello and the others. Iago is immediately portrayed as an antagonist because when he finds out that Roderigo is upset about Desdemona marrying Othello he uses that vulnerability. He then uses Roderigo to play a role in Othello’s downfall. Omer explains that “In his pain Roderigo cannot but take in avidly Iago’s loving reassurances. Anguish makes one ready to believe” (Omer,99).
Iago feels this way because Cassio got the job position he wanted and he's jealous that Othello has such a great life. Iago acts on this jealousy by making Othello's life as horrible as possible and getting Cassio fired. This theme is still relevant today. For example, ABC news reported a story of a 16 year old girl names Kolb getting very jealous of
These two events lead to Iago setting the stage for his revenge. Later in the play, when Cassio gets fired as lieutenant, it is Iago who suggests that he try talking to Desdemona to see if she can talk Othello into giving him the job back. His plan, then, is to put a bug in Othello’s ear that Desdemona and Cassio spend a lot of time together talking and does he think maybe something might be going on between them. His goal is to make Othello jealous and to trust him, in hopes that he will get the promotion he thinks he
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.
Throughout the soliloquy Iago has created numerous negative thoughts towards Othello. Shakespeare develops many central ideas of racism and relationship. Shakespeare creates conflict based on racism which demolishes relationship, friendship, romance, and family. Iago’s shade to Othello reveals racism in order to justify how he destroys different relationships for each character. However Iago’s bigot towards black men which him to influence the thought that they were way more sexually dominated towards other women.
Iago is the mastermind behind all of the mayhem in this play, and it all starts in act one when Othello made Michael Cassio the lieutenant over him. This left Iago flabbergasted saying Cassio "never set a squadron in the field" (I.i.22) and he sarcastically says " And I-God bless the mark! His Moorship 's ancient" (I.i.33). Iago was more qualified than Cassio, in experience and also, as Iago thinks, ability.
Othello, the main character, is a general in the Venetian Army who makes the decision to give the position to a man by the name of Cassio. After learning of this news, Iago becomes quite jealous and angered that he wasn’t the one chose. Trying to get back at Othello, Iago and Roderigo make a visit to see Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, about Othello and Desdemona’s relationship. In the end however, nothing came out of Iago’s quest to affect Othello as the Duke decided that no trickery was
Iago is a unique and complicated character. He is intelligent in that he is able to manipulate people and events in his favour, which he thrives on throughout the play, classifying him as the antagonist of the play. Driven by jealousy and hatred, Iago plots against Othello to destroy his character and reputation. Knowing that if he foolishly attacked such a respected man directly, he would be sentenced to death. As a result, he devises to use other people to obtain what he desires by influencing the characters in the play to suit his plan.
In William Shakespeare’s Othello the two main characters are Iago and Othello. The entire story centers around Iago 's plan to achieve revenge on Othello for not promoting him to lieutenant. Throughout the story Iago tries to convince Othello that his wife Desdemona has cheated on him with his lieutenant Cassio. Iago’s plan is successfully and easily executed. Othello is tricked into believing that desdemona has been unfaithful and in the end he kills her.
