Allusions In Othello

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Shakespeare also uses allusions to let the readers know that Iago is not human. At the end of the play, when everybody finally seems to be understanding Iago’s part in all the destruction that happened, they all make different allusions about Iago. Roderigo’s final words before he is brutally murdered by Iago are, “O inhuman dog!” (V/i/64) Through this quote, Shakespeare shows how Roderigo figures out everything that has happened, but is too late, as he is then killed by Iago. Emilia figures out Iago’s master plan and how it all worked out against her, moments before she is killed by her own husband. Emilia says, “Let heaven and men and devils, let them all,/All, all, cry shame against me, yet I’ll speak.” (V/ii/220-221) Emilia calls Iago a devil here, and tells everyone that he is not human nor a man. Shakespeare chooses to have Emilia say this quote because it shows how even she admits her husband is not human. …show more content…

He says, “Where is that viper?” (V/ii/283) Shakespeare has Lodovico say this so that the readers know that Iago is so evil that even a man who does not know him is disgusted by what he did. Lodovico calls Iago a dog as well, as he sees the mess that Iago made of so many people’s lives. He says, “O Spartan dog…” (V/ii/360) Furthermore, Othello makes an allusion about Iago to a devil. This allusion fits in with the motif of hell and devils as mentioned before. Othello says, “Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil…” (V/ii/299) As Othello figures out how Iago has been deceiving him all along, his last words about Iago are calling him a half-devil. Shakespeare uses this phrase to help readers piece together the identity of Iago. Shakespeare decides to make multiple allusions about Iago at the end of the play, so that the readers are reminded that Iago is not

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