The well-known tragedy Othello by William Shakespeare uses many different rhetorical devices and figures of speech that reveal Iago’s jealousy and character traits. In Act I, Scene III, the highlighting of specific phrases emphasizes the nature of Iago and the overall potential of the threat he poses. In the play, Othello, Shakespeare shows how power- hungry Iago is and how he will deceive people to achieve his goals through rhetorical and literary devices such as metaphor and rhetorical questions. In Act I Scene III, Iago says in his soliloquy that “I will ever make my fool my purse” (Shakespeare 1.3.375). He says he wouldn’t spend time with such a fool except “for my sport and profit” (1.3.378). In these quotes, he is referring to Roderigo …show more content…
This emphasizes that he is going to use Roderigo for his money, and this expresses his greed and manipulation, and he is doing this to achieve his goal of gaining power. He says he wouldn’t hang out with someone like Roderigo unless he is getting something, or just to entertain himself. This shows the manipulative nature of Iago yet again, and how he is doing something he wouldn’t normally do for his own power. Further in the soliloquy, Iago says “it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets’ / ‘Has done my office” (1.3.379-380). This quote shows that everyone thinks that Othello is having an affair with Iago’s wife. This is an example of euphemism, as Iago is talking about something blunt and disgusting, but instead of just saying it, he says ‘twixt my sheets’ instead. He also says “I know not if ‘t be true” (1.3.380) but he “Will do as if for surety” (1.3.382). This means that Iago doesn’t know if Othello is having an affair, but he is going to act as if it is true to raise suspicion about …show more content…
This shows that Iago is willing to cross the line when it comes to relationships. He is willing to ruin relationships permanently just for power gain. In the ending sections of the soliloquy, Iago talks about Othello again, saying he trusts people easily, unless they give him a reason not to, which shows that he trusts Iago because Iago hasn’t given him a reason not to trust him. Iago says that Othello will “be led by th’ nose / As asses are.” (1.3.393-394). This is a simile comparing Othello to a donkey, because Othello will be led by whatever he is being told, which is important because Iago is going to tell him things to lead him in the direction Iago wants him to go. This reveals that Iago doesn’t think highly of Othello, rather he thinks he acts as a donkey, and is only led by other people. In conclusion, Iago is power hungry and willing to cross any line to get what he wants. In the final section of this soliloquy, Iago says “Hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light.” (1.3.395-396). This is a couplet emphasizing the devious nature of what he is
Shakespeare’s use of rhetoric by his characters is clearly used effectively in Othello through Iago’s and Roderigo’s conversation with Barbantio. The two make use of double meanings, animal imagery, Devil and God comparisons, the use of sexual references, and descriptive insults to confuse Barbantio and make him angry towards Othello. Through Iago’s initial torment, continued by Roderigo, they are able to force Barbantio to do exactly as they wish.
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 questioning, imagery, and sarcasm.
Picture this- William Harold Shakespeare, the most coveted playwriter in the history of the world, sitting at his desk, perspicaciously pondering over what shall become his most prominant and delicated tragedy of yet. Of course, given what little is known about Shakespeere displays, such deepseated imagery cannot simply be accomplished without first the propriety of haste and vinction.And yet, his very own rhetorical vibe displays allows such a vague pictoration to be concieved. Throughout the whole of Othello, the great Shakespeare remarks through an astounding displays show of pronouns, allitteration, and cacophonous diction his own resentment of both the King of Italy and the poor conditions of the said novelist.
Act iii, scene iii, lines 108-131 of William Shakespeare’s “Othello” unquestionably shows Iago’s trickery and deceptiveness which is masked through his reputation for honesty, reliability and direct speaking. This section not only shows Iago’s slow but powerful act of deception, but also shows the jealousy and insecurities slowly depriving Othello’s inner peace and balance.
In Othello, Iago is Shakespeare’s most malicious character and serves as a vehicle to these two themes. Iago despises Othello; he has a strong will to destroy Othello’s life, yet the motive behind his plan goes unexplained. Iago is a great manipulator of the tongue and lies to everyone in order to advance his plan; however, every character in the play considers Iago an honest character, and Othello even associates Iago with light and eyesight. Othello continuously asks Iago to explain or make something clearer. Until the very end, Iago appears to be honest and helpful to the other characters, but underneath this seemingly harmless façade, Iago is a demon with the strongest will; he will stop at nothing until he ruins Othello’s life. Iago uses a positive appearance to enact his
	The first scene of Act I illustrates Iago's use of manipulation. Iago knows that Roderigo is upset about losing Desdemona to Othello. Iago himself is angry at Othello for being passed over for promotion to lieutenant for Michael Cassio. Realizing that by playing on Roderigo's jealousy he can gain an ally to work against Othello. Iago does this in a subtle manner. He explains to Roderigo that he was passed up for promotion by Othello. While doing this he makes Othello look inferior by reinforcing the fact that he is a Moor. By pointing out that Othello is a Moor Iago causes Roderigo to become even more jealous, because of the fact that he lost Desdemona to someone who he feels is of a lesser race. It even seems that Iago is toying with Roderigo when he reveals that he is a fraud when he says, "I am not what I am." (I.i.62) By using these tactics, Iago has almost gained total control of Roderigo.
In the light of the various descriptions of an unstable person, Iago is a psychopath with his manipulative choice of words. He tells people things that they want to hear and he says it in a manner that makes him appear exceptional. “ I humbly do beseech you of your pardon, For too much loving you.” (3.3.106) In act three, Iago pretends to be Othello’s confidant, and he wants Othello to suspect his wife is having an affair. Iago has a pseudo relationship with Othello the entire duration of the play.
Language and imagination are among the most dangerous weapons Iago has at his disposal in Othello. Jealous and angered by Othello’s - his commanding officer - passing over him for a promotion, Iago develops a fierce, antagonistic perspective the aforementioned character; this sentiment quickly corrupts his volition, and he subsequently concocts a plot bent on destroying Othello. He renders this revenge scheme credible by concealing his true feelings behind a facade of loyalty and trustworthiness, and fabricating a fictitious story concerning the infidelity of Desdemona, Othello’s wife. Until the play concludes, Iago utilizes purposeful rhetoric to drive his agenda, and also a mastery of deception to mislead the minds of his targets.
“I asked her to wear something revealing, so she showed up in a prophet's toga.”(CITE) Jarod Kintz’s words are an example of miscommunication, or failure to comprehend meaning. In this case, it is implied that one person misunderstood the message of another, but incomprehension also applies to problems other than falsely interpreted requests. Incomprehension can occur when people misinterpret another’s words or intentions, or when a person misreads situations or events. The outcome described in Kintz’s quote is unexpected and unintended, but there are instances of incomprehension that have consequences of greater severity. Perhaps a classic tragedy with a high body count falls under these parameters.
Facts: The plaintiff and her husband were part of a religious sect that had origins in Syria, but decided to return to the United States by boat. The defendant, who was the leader of the religious sect, made an agreement with the plaintiff to take her and her husband back to the U.S. on a yacht. The plaintiff alleged that the defendant did not allow her to leave the yacht when it had reached the port in the U.S. by denying her a boat to reach the shore.
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
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).”
Everyone involved with Iago separately thinks that he is doing them favors, when actually he is a backstabbing, conniving person who is the essence of evil and is often referred to as half-man, half-devil. 'I am not what I am.' This is a quote that should not be taken for granted. In this quote, Iago describes himself as a demonic Satan-like person contradicting God's quote 'I am that I am.' Indeed, Iago represents the very essence of the play's theme: appearance versus reality. In reality he is the cunning, untrustworthy, selfish, and plotting evil that the audience gets to know through his soliloquies, but in his appearance he is that same old, trustworthy, run of the mill Iago that they think they know so well. In fact, Othello, after he murders his own wife, accredits Iago as, 'An honest man he is, and hates the slime/ That sticks on filthy deeds.' Inopportunely for Othello, who seems to trust Iago so, Iago is the exact opposite of what Othello takes him to be. Iag...
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)
Iago, the villainous character of the play Othello uses his soliloquies to reveal what he has in store for the other characters. From the view of the other characters Iago is an honest and trustworthy person who they all seem to confide in and take advice from. Yet by the end of act 1 scene 3, the audience is informed that he appears to be quite the opposite. He is a two faced character who appears evil on the inside and wants to trap the other characters in his destructive web of lies and hatred. While reading the soliloquy it becomes evident as to how evil Iago is;