Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
What is the role of iago in the book othello
Symbolism and dramatic device in othello
What are the significance found in the play othello
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: What is the role of iago in the book othello
The Tragedy of Othello the Moor of Venice was written by William Shakespeare, and it is only one of countless notable plays he wrote. A reoccurring theme in Othello is jealousy brought on usually by deception; throughout the play people often hide their true intentions and are not always what they appear to be like W.H Auden said “There 's always another story. There 's more than meets the eye.” The relationships Iago built on manipulation, lies, and false promises were a crucial part of the play; Iago was able to deceive other characters by twisting the situation so that characters like Roderigo, Cassio, and Othello misinterpreted what they saw. However, he was not the only one to put up a front in Othello; Emilia also put up a façade when …show more content…
Angry over being passed up for a promotion Iago decided to take matters into his own hands. In order to become lieutenant Iago devised a plan that included breaking up Othello’s marriage and eliminating Cassio as competition. Iago enticed Roderigo to be his partner in crime with the promise of attaining Desdemona’s love. Desdemona had many suitors since she was an attractive young woman, yet she “shunned [t]he wealthy,” (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 66-67), which included Roderigo, who owned multiple plots of land. Roderigo, who was naïve for thinking Iago actually had his best interest in mind, was easily persuaded since he was obsessed with Desdemona. The truth of the matter was that …show more content…
At first glance it appears that Emilia chose to be loyal to her lady, Desdemona, over her husband except, Emilia was the one that gave Iago the ammunition which convinced Othello that Desdemona was unfaithful. While Desdemona was being verbally abused by Othello for not knowing where the handkerchief was “[Emilia] [failed] to explain its whereabouts when [the] opportunity [presented] itself; and she thereby is a powerful agent in turning Othello’s doubt into a conviction of guilt and in hastening her innocent mistress’ death” (Bowman). Thomas Bowman, author of In Defense of Emilia, states that Emilia had no choice, that Iago forced her to handover the handkerchief, however Emilia could have hid the handkerchief, or she could have returned it back to Desdemona, but instead she told her husband about the handkerchief without ever receiving an explanation as to why he needed it. Iago would have never known she was in position of the handkerchief had she refrained from informing him. Emilia’s actions could have been forgiven had she spoken up about giving the handkerchief to her husband “had she revealed the whereabouts of the keepsake, the very heart would have been removed from the body of Iago’s damning evidence” (Bowman). She had the opportunity to redeem herself, yet she chose to remain silent about the whole ordeal “surely it
In Othello, Iago is a manipulative person in Act 1. He manages to convince Roderigo into selling all his land instead of committing suicide. In Scene 3 of Act 1, Roderigo is very upset because Othello and Desdemona are still together. There was hope when Montano found out about their marriage; nonetheless, the two remained married. (IC; CA, IC) Roderigo loves Desdemona and seeing her with Othello makes him want to die. Iago pulls Roderigo’s puppet strings and gets him to save money instead. He convinces Roderigo that Desdemona is the type of a girl that would marry a man for money; thus, he should save all the money he can. (IC; CA, IC) Then she will lov...
At the beginning of the action, the two ladies relationship furthers the plot by creating a circumstance in which Desdemona’s handkerchief goes missing. Desdemona’s most valued token of Othello’s love is a supposedly magic handkerchief that belonged to his mother and Desdemona keeps it with her at all times. When she drops it Emilia swipes it to try to please her husband, Iago. By stealing the handkerchief Emilia unwittingly sets in motion Iago’s scheme that will eventually lead to the death of herself, Othello, and her beloved Desdemona. Without this handkerchief Iago’s scheme would never work because it is the only piece of substantial proof of Desdemona's infidelity can use to convince Othello. Therefore, without Desdemona and Emilia's close friendship there would be no plot. Toward the end of the play, Emilia and Desdemona’s relationship becomes crucial to the plot again. After Othello kills Desdemona Emilia is the one who puts together the facts and unearths Iago’s scheme, risking her own life to do so. After witnessing Desdemona’s death Emilia says, “O thou dull Moor, that handkerchief thou speak’st of I found by fortune, and did give my husband- for often, with a solemn earnestness he begged of me to steal ‘t”(5.2.267-272). At the threat of her own death she revealed Iago’s treachery and concluded the plot by explaining how Iago’s scheming led to the death of four different people. Without Emilia’s proximity to Desdemona she would never have been able to take the handkerchief and her knowledge of Iago and Desdemona’s natures made her the only character able to uncover Iago’s scheme. Certainly, Desdemona’s close relationship and differing characters were essential to the plot of the
After hearing Iago speak, Brabantio has had his eyes open to a new perspective of the situation. Iago then begins to uses a new manipulative strategy, he starts using bestiality to describe Othello.
Emilia is not just in the play to be a simply friend. She is there to tell everyone the horrible acts that have happened. Once, Emilia realizes her mistress has died she starts asking questions which helps her put two and two together. Emilia finds out that Othello thinks Desdemona cheated on her something that Desdemona would never do. Emilia then asks Othello, why? The main reason is the handkerchief. Othello gave Desdemona handkerchief that represents their love and its precious. Because Othello finds out Cassio had it he thinks an affair was going on. Then is when, Emilia reveals that she gave the handkerchief to Iago because she found it. Quickly after that it’s revealed that Iago (her husband) is doing evil acts. Emilia “...That handkerchief thou speak’st of I found by fortune and did give my husband. For often, with a solemn earnestness—More than indeed belonged to such a trifle—He begged of me to steal it.” With that said, Emilia was much more than a
Because Emilia remains loyal to Iago throughout the play, Iago relies totally on the belief that Emilia will remain obedient to him. Emilia proves her loyalty to Iago by stealing the handkerchief that Othello gave Desdemona:
Iago, in need of money to carry out his plans, manipulates Roderigo into not only attempting to kill Cassio and giving Iago all of his money, but dies for Iago’s plan. After Desdemona and Othello announce their marriage, Rodrigo discloses to Iago that he wants to “incontinently drown [himself]” (Shakespeare I.iii.347), consequently Iago takes advantage of Rodrigo, including using him as a pawn and “bobbing … Rodrigo’s gold and jewels” (Shakespeare V.i.17). Iago utilizes Rodrigo’s life dependent angst over losing Desdemona to some other suitor to keep Rodrigo under Iago’s control; unfortunately, Iago’s control ends with the loss of all of Roderigo's money and
The play “Othello” by William Shakespeare was written in 1604 during the Elizabeth era. Othello is one of the most extraordinary characters in all of Shakespeare’s dramas. He enjoyed unheralded success in the combat zone, which gave him the reputation as one of Venice’s most competent generals. Even though he has great success in the battlefield, he has a dramatic flaw that causes a downfall in his life. The dramatic flaw that causes his downfall is jealousy. This was brought on by a simple persuasion of Iago, the evil character in the play. Even though Iago used extreme manipulation to get Othello to be jealous, Iago did not really have to try very hard to get Othello in a jealous state of mind. Othello was blinded by his jealousy which led him down a path of constant questioning of his wife and his friend Cassio. Throughout the play we see his dramatic flaw sink him deeper and deeper into a cloud of doubt which eventually leads him to kill not only his love of his life but also himself.
Roderigo is consumed by jealousy. Roderigo is jealous of the marriage of Othello and Desdemona. Roderigo loves Desdemona. With romance in Roderigo is able to be controlled by Iago thinking the down fall 0f Othello and Cassio would get Roderigo Desdemona. Roderigo is the biggest pawn Iago possesses. And probably the saddest character in the whole drama.
Roderigo is an emotional and fool-minded Venetian man that is in love with Desdemona. Roderigo’s life is tortured by his unceasing and unreciprocated love for Desdemona. After Iago tells Roderigo of Desdemona’s secret marriage to Othello, Roderigo feels there is no longer a will to live and says, “It is silliness to live when to live is torment.” (Othello. Act 1 Scene 3: 350.). Iago takes advantage of Roderigo’s sadness and assures Roderigo that if he does as Iago tells him, he will get Desdemona’s love. Iago does not in any way help Roderigo attain the love that consu...
As much as Iago was using Roderigo, Roderigo was using Iago to try and separate Othello from Desdemona. Roderigo’s extreme feelings make him easily manipulated and unable...
After witnessing Desdemona proclaim her love to Othello and Brabantio, her father, acknowledging their marriage, Roderigo, suitor of Desdemona, tells Iago that he is going to drown himself. However, Iago intervenes, saying “Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our / wills are gardeners.”(1.3.363-364,) persuading Roderigo not to commit suicide but, to take care of himself. Then Iago upholds his words with more persuasions, to further uplift Roderigo. Roderigo then drops his idea of killing himself and when asked by Iago to leave with him to Cyprus and commanded to “Put money in thy purse.”(1.3.182), he does so willingly. Iago’s power of language shines here in that not only does he saves Roderigo from killing himself, but he gains his trust to use let him be used by Iago however he
Although Emilia does redeem herself in the end, during the tragedy she betrays many. In the movie she intentionally betrays Desdemona by stealing her handkerchief. But in the original play she is oblivious to Iago's plan and stumbles upon it. To prove, "What handkerchief?
His plan is to continue giving Roderigo unfulfilled promises. Iago continues to manipulate Roderigo. He convinces him that Desdemona will soon grow tired of Othello and begin to search for a younger, handsome man to fulfill her desires. Continuing to build on Roderigo’s rationality, Iago tells him that Desdemona will fall for Cassio, and the only way to win Desdemona is by taking Cassio out of the picture.... ...
When Othello first gives Desdemona the handkerchief as a gift it symbolizes his love for her. Emilia explains that the handkerchief was Desdemona’s, “first remembrance from the Moor” and that she always keeps it with her. The symbol changed drastically when Iago takes the handkerchief from his wife Emilia, who was Desdemona’s close friend and maid. When Iago gets the handkerchief he leaves it with Cassio so that Othello will find it. Iago knows that once Othello see Bianca, Cassio’s love interest, with the handkerchief he will believe that Desdemona gave it to Cassio and that they committed adultery. The handkerchief then becomes a symbol of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness to her husband. Othello becomes furious and says, “let her rot, and perish, and be damned tonight; for she shall not live,” which shows the change in the symbol of the handkerchief as well as Othello’s feelings for Desdemona (pg 1516, line 166). The handkerchief is significant because without it, Iago would not have been able to provide proof of Desdemona and Cassio’s
Iago’s cunning strength lies in his ability to undermine every single character through their weaknesses. Specifically, Othello and Roderigo are the main victims of his lies and deceit. The trait Iago abuses in Roderigo is his naive nature. From the very start of the play, Iago cheats Roderigo of his money and later tricks him into attempting to kill Cassio: “I have no great devotion to the deed, / And yet he hath given me satisfying reasons. / ‘Tis but a man gone. Forth my sword! He dies!” (5.1. 8-10). Evidently, this gullible character is manipulated through the words of Iago as he attempts to kill Cassio for a chance at Desdemona. After his failure in doing so, Iago stabs Roderigo, as he is of no use anymore. In giving his trust to the misleading antagonist, Roderigo leaves himself completely vulnerable. This demonstrates how ruthlessly Iago uses this foolish character, as his longing for Desdemona is the cause of his death. The other victim, Othello, is the main target and falls furthest into this manipulative villain’s layers of lies. Iago is very strategic in his attacks and notices that Othello has a great deal of trust in him which can be easily torn apart. Iago uses this trait to get Othello to believe everything he says and begins by planting the seed of suspicion that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio because of his understanding of