Iago’s Use of Rhetorical Strategies to Manipulate Othello in Shakespeare’s Othello

478 Words1 Page

Iago’s Use of Rhetorical Strategies to Manipulate Othello in Shakespeare’s Othello

Rhetorical strategies are continually used to get a point across or to manipulate another. Iago uses many devices to put false accusations into Othello’s head. In lines 330-447 in Act 3 scene 3, Iago uses rhetorical question, imagery, and sarcasm. He questions Othello and makes him think the worst between Cassio and Desdemona, and then his use of words adds color and a picture, so it has to be right. Last his sarcasm creates the assurances Othello needed to be duped.

To start, Iago uses rhetorical questions favorably to cause Othello to question Desdemona’s love for him. When Othello finishes with “…Than answer my waked wrath!” Iago comes back with “Is’t come to this my lord.” Later he goes into “Are...

Open Document