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Comparison othello iago
Othello vs iago essay
Compare othello and iago
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While Iago’s hatred towards Othello is firm, the reason for so is not. A controversial topic that is often brought up, is the motive Iago had to have such hate towards Othello. Leaving the audience with little evidence towards a motive, viewers have theorized some motives that Iago may had. Some of the theories are: Jealousy, betray, and an attractiveness towards Othello. Starting with jealousy, Iago may be jealous of Cassio. Cassio received the role of lieutenancy by Othello. Being Othello’s right hand man, Iago may feel jealous and betrayed by Othello. Secondly, Iago may feel betrayed by Othello, as shown in the following statement by Iago, ”it is thought abroad that [Othello] twixt my sheets.” pg. 20 Supporting this theory, is how Iago gets
Iago' s jealousy rises mainly from a his boss, Othello, picking Cassio to be his right hand man. "One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, a fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife; that neverset a squadron in the field, nor the division of a battle knows more than a spinster;" (1.1.2.) Iago believes Cassio is way too under qualified. Therefore (not on purpose), Iago feel less like a man and giving Iago little power. He hates when people are in a higher position than him. Also when giving Cassio the lieutenant job, it gave Iago someone new to direct his attention and jealousy toward. Iago makes a plan to get revenge by making it look like Othello's wife and his newfound lieutenant are having an affair behind his back. And then Iago can get the job he believes he rightful deserved in the first place.
Iago first reveals his cunning and unscrupulous behavior in his encounter with Rodrigo. Iago easily controls Rodrigo and he is very aware of his power over him. He plans to use his influence over him for his own good. He shows this by saying "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". We learn that Iago has a secret hatred for both Othello and Cassio. Iago says he hates Othello because he has denied Iago a promotion and for Cassio because he now occupies Iago's desired position of lieutenant. His motive is to seek revenge upon both these characters. Rodrigo has a shared hatred for Othello for his own and when he suggests he would not serve him, Iago reveilles his scheming plan for Othello by saying to him "O, sir, content you. I will follow him to serve my turn upon him." By saying this Iago shows that he plans to cleverly trick Othello of being loyal to him and then eventually use him for his own ends. In his first attempt to bring down Othello, he and Rodrigo tell Brabantio that Othello has kidnapped his daughter Desdemona. This is a dishonorable act as this is definitely a lie and told to Desdemona's father only to anger him towards Othello. Brabantio is also a senator and has the power to dismiss Othello from hi...
For Iago, deception, manipulating, and killing are second nature. It doesn’t occur to him that he will be caught and he doesn’t have any conscience about what he has done. These characteristics show that Iago is self-absorbed and out for himself. He is also greedy and jealous and plots to make everyone around him unhappy, while seeking position and honor. High position and honor starts his hatred of Othello. Iago sees Othello as being beneath him because of his race, but having all the glory and honor that he covets. The final straw, Cassio being made lieutenant over him, makes him take action and plot his revenge.
What motives and reasons caused Iago to commit these dastardly deeds and lead him to destroy all those close to him as well as himself? After reading Othello, I feel the Marxist Criticism is the best perspective in providing evidence to explain why Iago does the horrible things throughout the play. Although Othello, Desdemona, Cassio and Roderigo are seen as members of the upper ruling class they are easily manipulated by Iago who is part of the lower working class.
Iago wants to ruin Othello because Othello chose Cassio for the promotion instead of him, Iago also heard rumors that Othello slept with his wife, Emilia.
One of the most interesting questions that crops up is the one concerning Iago’s motives. What are his reasons to kill every major Venetian in Cyprus? Shakespeare seemingly sets the stage for Iago’s actions, giving him two distinct reasons to avenge Othello. The first is the fact that Othello promotes Cassio, an "arithmetician" to the rank of lieutenant and passes over Iago who is but a sergeant. Secondly, Iago is suspicious of his wife, Emilia and thinks she is sleeping with every other man but him—including Othello. There are other reasons that Iago talks about in his soliloquies—the primary one being jealousy or "the green-eyed monster." Iago resents the love that Othello and Desdemona share and also takes offence at the fact that Othello is older, yet he has a young and beautiful wife, power, and respect, all that Iago desires. However, all these reasons seem to be false and made-up just for the sake of being excuses for his malice or perhaps they seem to sum up a sense of paranoia.
Iago is a jealous, devious, manipulative character in Othello. His drive is controversial but his essential traits are certain. Shakespeare chose to assign these qualities to Iago to display the devil within and that most people are not who they seem. The motifs present contribute to the dramatic irony of Iago's personality. Iago is a distressing character and who gains pleasure from other's destruction.
Shakespeare develops the character Iago into an instigator and evil man. Iago attempts and succeeds to convince Othello that his wife has had an affair with his friend Cassio. We see Iago beginning his plans at the very start of the play. “But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at, I am not what I am.”(Oth 1:1:64-65) He immediately tries to start trouble with Brabantio and Othello over the marriage to Desdemona. Iago want to get in Othello’s way because he was passed over for general and Cassio was chosen instead. We see from the start how he plots against Othello and he involves several characters in his plans. “And what’s he then that says I play the villain? When this advice is free. I give and honest, probal to thinking, and indeed the course to win the Moor again? For tis easy Th’ inclining Desdemona to subdue in any honest suit; she’s framed as fruitful…”(2:3:295-300).
Iago holds a reputation of loyalty and trust but is ultimately out for personal revenge. He manipulates several characters in seek of vengeance. The manipulation starts by his support in Roderigo’s grudge against Othello. He tries to play both sides by claiming to have defended Othello during this conversation when really he was encouraging it. Iago envies Othello because he believes he slept with his wife.
Right from the start of the play we can see that Iago does not like Othello and enjoys destroying him. “For my sport and profit. I hate the moor” his strong words of hate show his evil personality. Even the term “the moor” which Othello is often referred to by Iago shows how little he feels towards Othello. Iago begins cunningly planning to ruin Othello through deception and words of jealousy. Iago plants jealousy in Othello’s mind by telling him that his wife
Therefore, Iago ruins Cassio's reputation for his part in being chosen by Othello. Iago is also delusional believing that Othello has been unfaithful with Iago's wife and this is just another reason why Iago ensures everyone's downfall. He is determined to exact his revenge on anyone who has disappointed him or benefited when Iago feels he should have been the one to benefit. There is no foundation on which he bases his claim that Othello has been unfaithful with Iago's wife but this does not stop him making the
Othello’s foe, Iago, wanted to hurt Othello in the worst way possible, ruining his marriage. Iago claimed that he had many reasons for disliking Othello,
At the end of all Iago's evil intentions are the one that prevails over everything. However, with Iago's wishes coming on top; this meant that many people had to pay the ultimate price.Othello's jealousy got the best o f him and, he ended up killing the love of his life, Desdemona. Furthermore, after Othello killed Desdemona in their bedroom; Emilia, Desdemona's maid and Iago's wife, went to the Moor's bedroom and found Desdemona death. Moreover, Emilia asked Othello, the reason to why he did this; Othello gave her the reason why. However, Emilia told Othello that her husband, Iago, was a liar; that this whole time Iago played him. After knowing that Emilia told Othello the truth, Iago killed her next to Desdemona. Afterwords, Othello found
Othello was seen as a very well respected military leader but despite all that his race was the one big thing that affected him the most. With being seen as an outsider, many people including Iago, were out to destroy him. Othello was a very confident in himself at the beginning of the story and knew where he stood, but because of his love for Desdemona, Iago knew that was the biggest weak spot of his. Othello was so in love with Desdemona that he was so sure she’d never cheat on him. Iago had many devious plans to get Othello into thinking that Desdemona and Cassio had a little thing going on. Iago was successful enough to the point where Othello would second guess the love Desdemona had for him. Due to Iago being successful Othello becomes a jealous barbarian that just ends up planning to murder Cassio and Desdemona.
There are a few reasons for why Iago is such a villain! One he is a jealous man. One reason for this is because Iago and Cassio were Othello's lieutenants. The problem with this is Othello promoted Cassio and not Iago. This happening Iago wants to get rid of cassio some way or make his life very rough until he can rid of him. He would make his life rough by “attacking” his wife Desdemona. He wasn’t literally attacking her, he was just using her as much as she could. He would do this by constantly telling lies to Othello saying that his lovely Desdemona is not loyal and is basically cheating on him. Othello still didn’t believe anything Iago was saying therefore Iago had to up his game. He had a deceitful idea, and it had to do with a handkerchief. The significance of this handkerchief is, it was