Othello begins to perceive himself as an outsider in his own country, a malignant and turbaned turk 5. Once othellos bliss has been decimated, iago concentrates on weakening othellos perception of himself. Caroline bennet may 19, 2014 8th grade theatre othello was written by william shakespeare and was first printed in 1662 othello tells the tragic story of othello, a prestigious general in venice. However, iago himself admits that he doesnt know whether these rumors are true or not, explaining that i know not ift be true but i, for mere suspicion in that kind will do as if for surety 1. While quick critical decision making is an attribute that can be admired, although not in iago, the trait that makes iago a true rapscallion is his untrustworthiness to those who think they have befriended him. Revenge to othello iago quotes study guides and book. Roderigo has been paying iago to help him in his suit. The main reason iago gives for plotting to destroy othello is a suspicion that othello may have had an affair with emilia. Act 1, scene 1, line 123 iago describes animal images from using word in his racist point against othello that is rooted in the idea of elizabethan that black men and women are inhuman.
What two kinds of followers are there, according to iago. In the play othello by william shakespeare iago plays the master manipulator and manages to deceive many of the other characters especially othello and cassio. In his opening argument with roderigo, iago says that his anger stems from the fact that othello unfairly passed him over for promotion and made michael cassio his. Heres what iago says to get brabantio riled up against othello. He gave cassio a promotion when iago feels he was the more deserving man.
Although everyone, including othello, believes that iago is a loyal and devoted friend, iago understands the strategic advantage that false friendship gives him. Mar 22, 2012 in the opening of othello, iago convinces roderigo to join him in plotting against othello by using roderigos love for desdemona to provoke ill feelings towards othello. They go to brabantios window, a senator and desdemonas father and wake him up. The relationship which it foreshadows is othello and iago as well as iago and roderigo. Cassio agrees, but insists that he have only a little, for he has no brains for drinking. I do suspect the lusty moor hath leapd into my seat. In act 2, scene 1 of othello, iago formulates his plan to drive othello mad. Iago is the plays main antagonist, and othellos standardbearer. The villain iago from othello is a central character, and understanding him is key to understanding shakespeares entire play. From hamlet, an ideal prince, and other essays in shakesperean interpretation. Over time, iago feels othello will tire of desdemona and she will again become available.
I know thou didst not, she says to iago in the final. Iago says that cassio is undeserving as he has no experience and only has book knowledge 4. Iago does not encourage cassio to make one, and he even prevents roderigo from getting anywhere near her. Roderigo wants to sleep with a desdemona, whom othello has just married. Iago has the qualities of the devil in medieval and renaissance morality plays in this story. Iago realizes that by causing othello to destroy both desdemona and cassio othello will at the same time destroy himself and his reputation. On a venice street at night, iago tells roderigo that. Shakespeares othello othellos relationship with iago and. This is the ignition of iagos scheme against the other characters. Get answers to your othello questions like by what strategy does iago enlist roderigo in his plot against othello. By the end of the play when iago is captured lodovico says to cassio, to you, lord governor, remains the censure of this hellish villain. Iago wants to use this hand hold to trap cassio and become lieutenant.
Iago also says that i will gyve thee in thine own courtship 2. Throughout the beginning of the story, iago and othello develop distinct characteristics that show differences between them. Iago is a man with an obsession for control and power over others who has let this obsession take over his whole life. Othello is a successful moorish general in the venetian army, and a caring husband to his new wife, desdemona. Iago says,i am not what i am act 1, scene 1, line 71. Iago wants revenge against othello, a moor who is his superior. Apr 25, 20 othello choses to believe iago over his wife for the reason that she has only her word to back up her story while iago has hard evidence. Thus, one of iagos motives for his plot is that he wants to promote to lieutenant.
Iago very carefully and very tactfully chooses words and metaphors that subconsciously pit othello against the venetians. Othello is so certain about what iago has been telling him that he wants to poison her but iago says t strangle her and othello agrees. He is jealous of cassio for obtaining the position of lieutenant over him, jealous of othello believing that he has bedded his wifeand jealous of othello s position. Iago is extremely scheming towards othello and other characters. Iago s concoction of desdemonas and cassios affair is created through othello, utilising his insecurities against him. Othello knows that iago is keeping something terrible from him. Jul 29, 2019 shortly thereafter, othello tells cassio to demand iago to explain why he plotted against him, and iago answers. Even though he says i will wear my heart upon my sleeve, giving the impression that he shows all his emotions willingly, he is then shown to be quite secretive and deceitful, plotting against othello, casio and rodriguo, emphasising his ambitious nature. The first act opens with iago plotting against othello by discussing with a friend his strategy for unearthing hidden plans. Iago plots to manipulate othello into demoting cassio, and thereafter to bring about the downfall of othello. Analysis of the character iago in othello by william shakespeare. Othello actbyact plot synopsis shakespeare learning zone. Shakespeares othello othellos relationship with iago.
Iago looks on as othello and desdemona greet each other. Iago quotes 16 quotes meet your next favorite book. Iago reflects on his hatred for othello, and plots a way of destroying him. Iago convinces roderigo to make money by selling his lands and fighting in wars. Through the allusion it appears as though othello is the construct of these lies removing the blame from iago. I would not put a thief in my mouth to steal my brains. He has the ability to charm and convince people of his loyalty and honestyhonest iago, according to othellobut the audience is immediately introduced to his vitriol and desire for revenge, despite his lack of proved reason. Othello and desdemona leave and iago comes in to join cassio. It can be said that his motives are based solely on his insecurities due to the fact his goal in the play was to ruin othello s life.
In the great hall of the castle othello, desdemona, and cassio speak briefly about iago. However, he reveals his own motivation, i follow him to serve my turn upon him as a result of othellos decision of promoting cassio over iago. Iago is always trying to hinder the moor, while othello continues his expression of honest virtues. Shakespeares othello remains relevant for a modern audience. Iago encourages roderigo to believe that by participating in iagos plot, he might. As iago works his magic scurvy and provoking terms against your honour, the seeds of jealousy has been growing, all it takes for othello to tip over the edge is ideas, trickling over the course of the play, growing his jealously, and when the seeds have blossomed into a green monstrous mess of abstract thoughts, othello will arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell. Iago hates othello and devises a plan to destroy him by making him believe that his wife is having an affair with his lieutenant, michael cassio. Iagos scheming in shakespeares othello essay 839 words. He plans to make othello jealous of cassio to ruin his marriage. Once emilia hands over the handkerchief to iago, the plot against othello accelerates. He also begins to plot his revenge against othello for choosing cassio.
Iago s capacity for cruelty seems limitless, and no motivation he gives for his actions seems enough to explain the incredible destruction he wreaks on. He is willing to take revenge on anyoneothello, desdemona, cassio, roderigo, even emiliaat the slightest provocation and enjoys the pain and damage he. Iago plants fake evidence in the form of a handkerchief owned by desdemona to lead othello into believing his wife is having an affair with another man. Iago s first plot is to reveal to desdemonas father the secret elopement of his daughter to othello. Iago is getting othello emotionally prepared for what he is planning to inform him. It is only in the beginning of the play that iago appears to be seeking revenge for a reason the loss of his promotion after his loyalty in battle to othello. Iago says this line to roderigo at the start of the play as he explains that he secretly hates othello and is plotting against him. Othello claims that he knows iago so well but never stops to ask him why he is telling him all of this gossip and where he is getting the information from. How does iago manipulate othello free essay example.
Iago spends all of his time plotting against othello and desdemona, eventually convincing othello that his wife has been cheating, despite the fact that desdemona has been completely faithful. Iago, for his own part, reveals to the audience that he is only using roderigo for his money. In the final speech of act i, what does iago plan to do to further his plot against othello. Literature texts othello by william shakespeare character.
The loyal who will follow their leader to death and the ones who will act like that but are really plotting against him 5. Detailed look at what happens in each scene of othello, to help you look at the structure of the play and interrogate it, including bullet points of what we learn at. They tell him his daughter has run off, and when he goes to check iago leaves. At one point iago states that, in order to revenge himself on othello, he will not rest till he is even with him, wife for wife, but, in the play, no attempt at desdemonas seduction is made.
Character analysis of emilia in othello english summary. Iago is furious about being overlooked for promotion and plots to take revenge against his general. He is the husband of emilia, who is in turn the attendant of othello s wife desdemona. Othello act 1 and find homework help for other othello questions at enotes. But his closest ally, the cunning villain iago, is secretly plotting against othello and is determined to ruin his newfound happiness. Being under pressure of iago who controls him exploiting his weaknesses othello ruins himself and people around him. Jun 06, 2017 alexandra melville provides a close reading of the villainous character of iago in act 2, scene 1 of othello. Shakespeare shifts the action from venice to cyprus. By what strategy does iago enlist roderigo in his plot. Iago spends all of his time plotting against othello and desdemona. Othello modern english shakespeare in plain and simple. Othello begins on a street in venice, in the midst of an argument between roderigo, a rich man, and iago. He complains that iago had not forewarned him in order that their marriage might.
Sep 30, 2015 iago is able to get a sense of everyone around him and use their weaknesses against them for his own good. Iago immediately arouses suspicion of cassio in othello. To her husband othello, as her mother did for brabantio over her own father. Throughout the play, iagos soliloquies disclose to the audience what he does not reveal to the other characters as his plans take shape. He likes to have others unwittingly working to serve his purposes. What motives inspired iago to plot revenge against othello. And it is thought abroad, that twixt my sheets he has done my office. Iagos capacity for cruelty seems limitless, and no motivation he gives for his actions seems enough to explain the incredible destruction he wreaks on. First impressions of iago and othello, sample of essays.
From the start of shakespeares othello, iago makes it very clear that he holds no love for the title character. Cassio, othellos lieutenant, arrives in cyprus, followed by iago and desdemona, and. Iago expresses his plan and purpose in a soliloquy at the end of act 1, scene 3. Iago knows that he has the trust of othello and turns into someone really jealous, and doubtful of his own wife.
Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is topping your white ewe. The changing relationship between iago and othello english. In the character analysis i am going to focus on these topics. At the end of act ii, scene 1, he reiterates the real motivation behind his plots against othello. Character analysis of iago in othello english literature essay. This means that iago is not the person that everyone perceives him to be. Nov 17, 2016 as iagos plotting turns people against othello, the latters color, and a fear of miscegenation fueled by iago and his allies, causes othello to take on racist attributes, including irrational behavior and uncontrollable rage. Roderigo and iago will become partners because they are always plotting against everyone else. Until the last scene, emilia does not associate her better half with plotting against othello. Othello makes the faulty choice of trusting iago and often refers to him as honest iago, which is ironic because iago is the one plotting against him the entire time. May 28, 2018 iago begins plotting against othello, the eponymous hero, and turns him against his wife, desdemona, daughter of the senator of venice, brabantio, by telling him of her supposed infidelity with his lieutenant, cassio.
Sep 01, 2014 in result of this quote being in the first act, it foreshadows the relationship further along in the play. Now iago is plotting against othello and desdemona, seeking revenge. The man iago uses as the center of his plan against othello becomes the one who chooses iago s punishment. William shakespeare, iago quotes, act 4, scene 1, line 207. Iago manifests the fact that he despises the moor although othello has not committed anything against him knowingly and perseveringly pursues othello to bring about his collapse. Iago is a fictional character in shakespeares othello c. Iago is the plays main antagonist, and othello s standardbearer. When iago tattles on othello and desdemona for eloping, he capitalizes on brabantios xenophobic attitude toward mixed race marriages.
Every book on your english syllabus summed up in a quote from the office. Othello says that iago is plotting against him by not telling him his thoughts, but iago is telling othello his thoughts whilst at the same time plotting against him. He plans to get cassios position as othello s lieutenant by making othello jealous of the handsome, flirtatious. Iago is careful not to let on that he dislikes either othello or cassio, or that he is plotting.
Othello and iago both compare in their dedication towards others but not for alike reasons. Iago is his best friend, however, when othello promotes someone else to be personal lieutenant, iago becomes jealous and begins plotting against othello and his newly eloped wife. Iago was giving hints at how he will get back at othello and become lieutenant. Othello essay fate or chance appears to side with iago in his. What is iagos plan and purpose in act 1, scene 3 of othello. Iago plots to poison othellos marriage with jealousy. Iago says to himself with as little a web as this will i ensnare as great a fly as cassio 2. A storm has dispersed the venetian fleet so that cassio arrives first. Throughout the beginning of the story, iago and othello develop distinct. The first scene of othello presents a conversation between roderigo, the disappointed suitor of desdemona, and iago, concerning incidents of which othello is the chief agent.
But for all this, as his plot against othello starts moving and gathering momentum, he loses control of it and must take real risks to prevent it from crashing. Iago cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test. He is the husband of emilia, who is in turn the attendant of othellos wife desdemona. Jan 09, 2015 othello has just recently married the love of his life, desdemona. Influential villain or powerless character of fiction. Iago is revengeful, for a number of reasons, the most prominent is the fact he is angry at othello and michael cassio the man who othello promoted, jealous of othello and desdemona othellos wife for their happy relationship and racist against othello as he is a black man in a white mans world. Iago knows that because othello is a foreigner he has no one else to trust but him, he knows that cassio is kind and treats women nicely, and he knows that desdemona will do anything for othello. Cinthios tale may have been based on an actual incident occurring in venice about 1508.
Iago is a manipulative villain who serves as an antagonist, or an enemy to the protagonist, and develops a plan to destroy the lives of cassio, othello and desdemona. Although everyone, including othello, believes that iago is a loyal and devoted. Throughout the play, iago s soliloquies disclose to the audience what he does not reveal to the other characters as his plans take shape. Once othello s bliss has been decimated, iago concentrates on weakening othello s perception of himself.
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