Why does Iago sabotage everyone else? The simple answer is that he believes that he’s better than everyone else. The play “Othello” by William Shakesphere is essentially centered around one of the main characters, Iago, who grows resentment towards the characters Cassio and Othello due to Othello giving Cassio the promotion over him. Due to Iago's excessive jealousy, he plots and plans to turn everyone against each other in fits of jealousy so he can come out on top. All of Iago's actions can be best analyzed under the Marxist critical lens, and the concept of social class. In Act 2, Scene 3, Iago sets the scene up with his plan to sabotage Cassio since he received the promotion over him. “Am I to put our Cassio in some action that may offend the isle? But here they come, too. If consequence do but approve my dream, My boat sails freely both with wind and stream” (Shakespeare, lines 63-66). In this scene, Iago is essentially bragging to himself about his plan to sabotage Cassio, he's so proud and confident in himself that he gets in his head that he's …show more content…
In this part of the scene when Othello enters, breaking up the fight and demanding answers, we see a flip in Iago in which he’s playing the innocent card, but for what reason? “More of this matter cannot be reported. But men are men; the best sometimes forget. Though Cassio did some little wrong to him, “As men in rage strike those that wish them best” (Shakespeare, lines 225-228). The more obvious reason for this is that Iago wants to do his best for Othello to show that he’s the best option to receive the promotion, but it’s also because he realized when Othello entered that he has yet to reach the top. Othello is much higher up on the social class and power rank compared to Iago and it heavily shows throughout the play whenever Iago steps down to
Everybody knows that the most enthralling stories have a good villain. A “good” villain refers to a character who is ruthless, cunning, and an all-around mastermind who keeps the audience guessing. One of the most interesting villains is Iago from William Shakespeare’s Othello. Iago is a villain who has been analyzed for 500 years and still has no clear motivations for his evil acts. Fast forward a few centuries from the time Iago was created and take one of the most interesting characters from the CW’s television series The Vampire Diaries who happens to be the elusive vampire, Katherine Pierce. Both of these villains are similar in their manipulative nature, their motivations, and their impacts on the characters and stories.
Iago explains his motivation for hating Othello, trying to convince Roderigo to get Othello in trouble: “Three great ones of the city / (In personal suit to make me his lieutenant) … ‘I have already chosen my officer…One Michael Cassio’ [says Othello]” (I.i.9-10, 18, 20). Othello has, instead of choosing Iago who has a plethora of military experience (and who believe himself to be the most worthy person for the position), but an arithmetician with no experience in battle. This causes Iago much more than chagrin. Iago lacks esteem needs here, not getting the status he wants. He takes this to a personal level because Othello refused the requests of high ups for someone else. Nonetheless, some people may say ego defence mechanisms play a more important role in Iago's life because he justifies all the wrongs he plans to do with a defence mechanism called rationalization. Rationalization is the concurring of wrongs by giving self-serving reasons. Nevertheless, Iago feels a lack of security of his job and cares for nothing else at that moment but getting what he believes should be back. This is just like being sick: one does not care about anything but getting well. Contributing to the theme of revenge, Iago’s needs overpower any sense of right and wrong, considering only what he wants,
This shows us that Iago views Cassio as being inexperienced for the job as lieutenant. Iago presents himself as the experienced, reliable solider who has been passed over for promotion. We can see this when he describes his "worth". This shows us that Iago views himself to be ambitious and feels that Othello has undervalued him. This could be another reason for Iago's actions.
In Othello, Iago uses his fine reputation as an “honest man” and Othello’s insecurities to manipulate him and carry out his master plan of destroying Cassio, Othello, and Desdemona. Iago’s insight towards the other characters’ weaknesses enables him to let them know exactly what they want to hear, which helps him gain their trust. He plays upon the insecurities of others to maneuver them into carrying out the actions he needs done in order to fulfill his own desires. In looking at Othello, we will consider the Othello’s blind acceptance of “the truth” as it is presented to him and find that when we blindly take another’s “truth” and accept it as our own, we merely become tools utilized by the person who gave us that supposed truth and give up the power of being ourselves—we fail to assert a self. Iago is angry because Othello chose Cassio to hold a position which he thinks he deserves, so he seeks revenge by playing upon Othello’s main flaw—his lack of trust—and putting Cassio in a position that would turn Othello against him.
His military position is equal to or, in his eyes, better than Cassio. Iago has all the qualities of a powerful leader and brainwasher. Blooms claims that “Iago is a genius in his trickery; however, he is a skeptic of his own ability and cleverness,” which intends that Iago feels a sense of guilt in what he is doing but has the utmost power to manipulate over and over again until he gets what he wants. There was no doubt that there was uncertainty within Iago in what he was doing; after all, he was basically commanding death without formally saying it. Iago’s power falls in the fact that he is a wonderful actor and can persuade somebody quicker than most could. Othello fell for that completely and with Iago reigning the bigger person, Othello was being belittled and he did not even know it. The phrase “Honest Iago” was used many times throughout the book. It was used not only by Othello, but also Iago himself. Othello uses it in great confidence, inferring that the times he’s used it in regards to Iago have been of that nature (Abernathy). “Honest Iago” is the big element of irony in the classic tragedy. It is completely false- Iago’s whole setup is lies. However, in some ways this has truth in that Iago is honest in what he wants and how he wants to obtain it. The whole reason Othello stared to trust Iago was because he sided with him in the new assumptions and they both, together turned on Cassio together
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.
Iago, in the play Othello, is a very intriguing villain. Even though he is often referred to as "Honest" Iago, he lies, cheats, steals, bullies, and even kills just to get what he wants (Iago as 1). Iago starts off being evil when he finds out that Othello gave Cassio the position of lieutenant that he felt he deserved. To take this position from Cassio he must not let his conscience get in his way. This is not a problem with Iago because he has no conscience. Iago is able to manipulate anyone who gets in the way of his goals. He does this over and over during the course of the play. He uses all the characters to destroy Othello. He used the tension that was already existent to bring him down. And he also uses his intense sense of intuition.
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)
Shakespearian tales always leave us with a plethora to ponder about the Elizabethan age and Shakespeare himself. “Othello” is no break in this mold, leaving us to ponder the roll of Iago within the harsh tale of love and murder. Iago is the one to tell Othello of his wife’s betrayal with Cassio, hence making up a story that will work to his favor yet betray those around him. Iago betrays his wife, Emilia, but not only her as he drags Othello, Desdemona, and Cassio into the mix of lies and the hatred he is spreading to improve his rank with Othello. But were Iago’s acts unjust and done for the sake of it? Is he a heartless man who’s only happiness is to bring sorrow upon others? No, Iago has a just reason for what he does, even though he causes the deaths of Cassio, Emilia, and Desdemona in his search for revenge; Iago is not a heartless fiend, just a man wronged.
The ironic part is that he is known as "honest Iago". Every act contains an evil plot set up by Iago. They all play into his grand scheme. In the very beginning of Act I, Iago displays his hatred for Othello. He is angry with him for making Cassio the lieutenant.
Iago has been to blame for the downfall of Othello because he is the one that created the jealousy within Othello. Iago started this because he was jealous of Othello because he was not made lieutenant, and Cassio was. Iago has been selfish and takes it upon himself to get revenge against Othello.
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).”
Shakespeare develops the character Iago into an instigator and evil man. Iago attempts and succeeds to convince Othello that his wife has had an affair with his friend Cassio. We see Iago beginning his plans at the very start of the play. “But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at, I am not what I am.”(Oth 1:1:64-65) He immediately tries to start trouble with Brabantio and Othello over the marriage to Desdemona. Iago want to get in Othello’s way because he was passed over for general and Cassio was chosen instead. We see from the start how he plots against Othello and he involves several characters in his plans. “And what’s he then that says I play the villain? When this advice is free. I give and honest, probal to thinking, and indeed the course to win the Moor again? For tis easy Th’ inclining Desdemona to subdue in any honest suit; she’s framed as fruitful…”(2:3:295-300).
So crafted is Iago, to which he may take from so many a part of their lives and twist them into a knot, until he is the only person left untangled. He is present from the beginning of the play to the end. The question we ask is why does he hate everyone so much? What can make a man hate someone so much as to slaughter his comrades and trick them into such madness? The answer falls first in his failure at receiving a promotion to lieutenant. Beyond this, we can find a deeper thought into Iago's mind of a possible suspicion that Emilia, his wife, was having an affair with Othello. Lastly, we all can see that Iago, though serious, enjoys the anger he exhibits. Iago is a troubled man with one mission, to destroy everyone, and he uses his immense hate from the wrongs against him to establish this.
In our present society, people cannot deny that the changes in this world have been tied to the advancement of the technology. It has evolved with this society so deeply where such conveniences are no longer luxuries but rather necessities. Unfortunately, the most affected group of people from the developed technology is the younger age people (Subrahmanyam, 2000). In the past, children were more lively and active: playing outdoors, running around, climbing trees and remaining active rather than watching television and playing video game and computer. It is true that the use of the technology has its own virtue. It provides value, convenience and entertainment, but it should not take the place of movement and realistic play from the children. Obviously, modern technology such as television, digital game, cell phone, and computer should be considered as a major fact, which contributing to negative health problems in children.