Devilish Imagery In Shakespeare's Othello

1376 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Character analysis of Iago in othello

Devilish/demonic
This interest in the end of the world is re-established by another type of imagery Shakespeare uses. This further example of imagery is the constant hellish, demonic and devilish imagery. Iago is in many ways a metaphor for the Christian concept of the devil. He does not commit crimes himself, he tempts others, abuses their moral weaknesses and persuades them indirectly to sully their souls. The representation of the Devil as a white man would have been especially poignant as before Iago, the Devil was largely presented as a black man and so the juxtaposition of the hero being a black man and the villain a white man would have been particularly notable for the Christian and inherently racist audience in Shakespeare’s time. …show more content…

One example of this in his language is when he swears “By Janus, I think no”. Janus is the Roman God of beginnings and endings often pictured with two faces, and ironically, the allusion is a quote from Iago who is a deceitful and two-faced character. When Othello steps away in this scene, Iago shows his "other" face of Janus and begins his evil scheming once again. He then switches back to his deceitful original face when Othello returns. Shakespeare also uses dramatic irony in his representation of Iago’s duplicity, when Othello asks Iago to explain what happened between Cassio and Montano and Iago replies, “I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth than it should do offence to Michael Cassio”. This is dramatic irony because only the audience know that he has orchestrated the entire fight and that he is in fact, very keen to “do offence to Michael Cassio”. A further example of Iago’s duplicity is when, in Act 1 Scene 1, he says “I follow him to serve my turn upon him”. Not only is this Iago admitting that he is only pretending to follow Othello, but the specific language choice is significant. If Iago had said he followed Othello “to line his pockets” it would have a whole new meaning; instead this phrasing implies a form of revenge and a lack of motivation to Iago’s

Show More
Related

  • Spinning a Treacherous Web in Shakespeare's Othello

    1210 Words  | 3 Pages

    To better understand Iago’s effect on these different characters, it is important to look in to his own character. Iago’s motives are not clear, however, it is true that he despises Othello, and that he is jealous of the fact that Michael Cassio had taken over the role of lieutenant; a role that Iago wanted very badly. It is in the beginning of the play that Iago confesses to follow Othello but not be loyal to him,

    Read More

  • Who Is Iago A Villain

    1293 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ince he has been captured) to frustrate the other characters by keeping his mouth shut. Iago achieves in ruining Othello’s life in the most prominent way possible resulting in not only the death of Othello but also Desdemona however, I don’t believe that was Iago’s initial plan but he lost control and his scheme blew out of proportion. The story began with Iago portraying Hannibal Lecture (without the cannibal part) being seen as a malicious villain and it concludes with Iago becoming even closer to Hannibal Lecture but instead of actually murdering people Iago indirectly murdered Othello, Desdemona and directly killed Emilia.

    Read More

  • Iago as a Satan Figure in Shakespeare's Othello

    1433 Words  | 3 Pages

    Iago, like Satan, has proved himself to be a master at deception. He lies to everyone taking great care to disguise his own thoughts. For example, in Act 1, scene 2, when he is speaking to Othello about his feelings toward Cassio, he uses very strong language of a manly soldier, while at the same time, he lies throughout the whole speech faking loyalty to a fellow soldier and all the while implying that he is reluctantly holding back the full truth: "I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth/ Than it should do offense to Michael Cassio" (I.ii.21-22). This deception impresses and convinces Othello that his ensign is a good and loyal soldier. Iago also succeeds in deceiving Cassio. After Cassio's drunken fight, Iago counsels him to speak to Desdimona about trying to convince Othello to reinstate him as lieutenant, all th...

    Read More

  • The Nature Of Evil In Othello

    910 Words  | 2 Pages

    He is capable of twisting and turning the truth around in a many of ways to make others fall into his traps. Although it is easy for the audience to see that Iago is a masked villain, the cast is clueless. This is an example of dramatic irony. Iago is a compelling person, which is why it is so easy for the other characters in the play such as Othello, to get caught up in him. Iago wants Othello's position as the American general in the Venetian Army. He is extremely jealous that this title is not in front of him and the fact that the title belongs to a black man does nothing but anger Iago even more. Iago hankers for this position so badly that he develops a pseudo personality and tells a plethora of lies while in the presence of Iago in order to get what he wants, and this, in turn, ends in

    Read More

  • Color Imagery In Othello

    1649 Words  | 4 Pages

    The utilization of color imagery enhances the play, causing the audience to look past the words and search for a more profound understanding behind the scenes, besides race. In the realms of the play, the color black has always been used to create the mood for evil and deviousness, as we will see, since Iago is portrayed as satan and a trickster. Iago constructs most of his hellish plans in the dark of night to eventually influence the bestiality of Othello to protrude out and cause his demise. In the case of the devil, the color black is used to illustrate the vice and villainous nature of Satan. In act two, Iago assures Cassio that the best way he can get his job back, is to attract Desdemona, then Cassio is sent away. While Iago is alone on the stage, Iago asks the audience why he is evil, since his advice to Cassio is “honest” and free. Iago answers his question and then states, "When devils will the blackest sins put on, / They do suggest [tempt] at first with heavenly shows, / As I do now" (2.3.351-353). Iago knows that he is a hellish hypocrite, but he seems to be getting a laugh out of it since he is represented as

    Read More

  • A Comparison of Iago and Lucifer

    2324 Words  | 5 Pages

    In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago is the antagonist and villain who causes all the trouble and disorder. Othello is the protagonist, and is the main person Iago’s destruction and revenge is aimed towards. Othello is naïve and gives everybody his trust even though he may not know them or they haven’t earned his trust yet. He often refers to Iago has “Honest” Iago, which is a direct showing of irony because Iago is not honest at all (Shakespeare, I, iii. 289). Iago is so angry that Othello didn’t give him the promotion that was given to Cassio that he plans to seek revenge against Othello. He seeks his revenge against Othello by manipulating and lying to all of the people around him including his closest friend Roderigo, Cassio, Othello’s wife Desdemona and even his own wife Emilia. In the end, Iago’s lies and manipulation led to the deaths of Roderigo, Emilia, Othello and Desdemona. This isn’t the first time many of these individual characteristics have shown up in one of Shakespeare’s plays.

    Read More

  • Shakespeare's Othello - The Motivations of Iago in Othello

    799 Words  | 2 Pages

    As early as the first scene of the play Iago shows us strong motives for his actions. In this first scene we see Othello, a general of Venice, has made Cassio his new lieutant. Iago feels he truly deserves his promotion as he says "I know my price, I am worth more no worse a place."(l.i.12) Iago over here is confused why Othello has made such a stupid decision. Iago is a man with a tremendous ego who knows, sometimes overestimates, his worth. Roderigo, a Venetian gentleman, understands Iago when Iago said that he is "affined to love the Moor."(l.i.41-42) What Iago really means is "I follow him to serve my term upon him."(l.i.45) Iago wants to use Othello for his personal goals. We also must put ourselves into Iago's shoes. He is a man whose self-esteem and professional carrier have just been torn apart. Iago makes his actions of revenge toward Othello almost immediately by informing Brabantio, a Venetian senator and father of Desdemona, that "an old black ram (Othello) is tupping (his) white ewe (Desdemona)."(l.i.97)

    Read More

  • Iago: One Of The Most Complex Character In William Shakespeare's Othello

    1042 Words  | 3 Pages

    Iago is one of the most complex characters in William Shakespeare’s Othello. To most of the characters, he is “Honest Iago” (Shakespeare, 5.2.73). however, the audience knows that Iago is the furthest thing from honest. Iago is a devil bent on destroying the lives of everyone around him. At the beginning of the play, the audience learns that Iago is determined to ruin Othello’s marriage to Desdemona. He has appointed a new lieutenant, Michael Cassio. This angers Iago because he feels that he has much more military experience and should be the lieutenant. Iago has also heard rumours that both Othello and Cassio have slept with his wife Emilia. He concocts a malicious plan to ruin the lives of all who have wronged him, and consequently establishing

    Read More

  • Iago Through The Marxist Lens

    452 Words  | 1 Pages

    and it's gotten under his skin. Iago is seeking revenge; Iago is not a noble person, nor does he have wealth. Iago uses his manipulative ways and wit to manipulate all those around him. He is trying to disrupt the existing power structure.

    Read More

  • Othello and Iago's Relationship

    587 Words  | 2 Pages

    However, there is more to this irony, in terms of dramatic irony, seen. throughout the whole extract. Where Othello, in an effort to find the start of the conflict between the two men, Iago says. This is a monstrous. Iago, who began, so the audience is now left with a. huge knowledge over Othello, about the real motives of Iago, and the very fact that they can't share it with Othello, and the way he first turns to Iago for his version, is the torment known as the dramatic.

    Read More

  • The Role Of Iago To Blame For The Downfall Of Othello

    1115 Words  | 3 Pages

    Iago has been excellent at saying the what is needed to get to people, he misleads them to get a reaction he wants out of them. He is clever with his words to avoid confrontation that can easily happen. “Othello 's confusion is the human experience of language. In other words, language itself, not the outside world, determines meaning” (Christofides 2). Iago uses his words against Othello to get him to do Iago’s doings. Iago has an eloquence with

    Read More

  • Iago's Manipulation

    1125 Words  | 3 Pages

    In William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello, Iago demonstrates a mastery of manipulation over people who had previously trusted and confided in him. His sudden turn from Othello’s loyal ensign to rage-filled villain seems indicative of a man who can no longer accept his position in life. Iago’s plotting of Othello’s demise starts as idle talk of a disgruntled 28 year-old career military man passed over for promotion. Iago believes that such a promotion may never come after Othello rejects his candidacy and makes it clear that he did not believe him suitable. He sees Othello is only concerned with personal and political gain with his choice of Cassio as lieutenant. When Iago teams with love-scorned and desperate Roderigo, he begins to construct Othello’s downfall. Iago is declaring an all-out covert war on Othello, Cassio, and anyone else who gets in his way. In Iago’s first speech in Act I Scene II, he proclaims hatred for Othello and lays out his plan for seeking vengeance. “After some time, to abuse Othello’s ears that he is too familiar with his wife (Shakespeare 1473).”

    Read More

  • Imagery In Othello

    1740 Words  | 4 Pages

    The satanic character of Iago is depicted well though different types or imagery. His sadist intend is depicted through suffocating imagery “I’ll pour pestilence into his(Othello’s) ear” (II iii 356) says Iago in a soliloquy in as he is outlining his malicious intent and nature. This continues throughout the play with lines such as “The Moor already changes with my poison” (III iii 322) and “Not poppy nor mandragora, | Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world shall medicine thee to that sweet sleep | Which thou did owdest yesterday” (III iii 327-30). His malicious character is likened to a snake through this imagery of poisons like a snake has and then Lodovico calls him a “Viper” (V ii 281) which indicates how Iago’s character is that of a snake, and in those times a snake was considered a creature of pure evil. The Machiavellian persona of Iago can also be seen through his use of reputation imagery to Cassio and Othello. To Cassio he says “Reputation is an idle and most false imposition” (II iii 267-8) and as a paradox, to Othello, he says reputation is everything to a man and he is nothing with out it. Iago is also likened very much, though imagery, to the Devil.

    Read More

  • The Hate of Iago in Othello by William Shakespeare

    605 Words  | 2 Pages

    Before anything, we must address that Iago was disappointed that he was passed over for the position of lieutenant. This argument was presented within the first few lines of Iago very bluntly. From the play, we find that Iago was obviously more capable than a drunken Vinetian, Cassio, for the position. Yet, in spite of everything, the promotion was given to him and Iago took it as a personal insult from Othello. His hate erupted quickly and a plan erupted to take proper revenge. As we see since the first lines of the play from Iago, he hates Othello.

    Read More

  • Iago Character Analysis Essay

    1674 Words  | 4 Pages

    Iago’s first plot is to somehow get this position no matter what so he can get closer to Othello. He stated how far he will go by saying, "I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at; I am not what I am."(I.i.64-65) Iago feels that since he fought with Othello in battles before that he should have received the title. Throughout the play Iago gets the job he dreamed of by stealing and killing. Iago begins to express his opinion to Roderigo by stating, “In personal suit to make me his lieutenant, off-capp’d to him: and, by the faith of man, I know my price, I am worth no worse a place.”(I.i.8-10)

    Read More

More about Devilish Imagery In Shakespeare's Othello

Open Document