As the main co-character in Othello Shakespeare play, Iago has a deep hatred for Othello for two reasons. One, he believes Othello may have had relations with his wife and Two, Cassio was promoted to Lieutenant before him. Iago makes a plan to destroy Othello by lying and deceiving him into thinking he is the only one he can trust. His plan is to make Othello believe his wife is cheating on him with her longtime friend and lieutenant of Othello's army. Iago Believes this is the action that must be taken to get his revenge. Iago shows no remorse and will do whatever it takes to bring Othello down while still making Othello believe he is still a friend. “Virtue? A fig! ’Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus (The Necessary Shakespeare, page 619, line 322). This soliloquy that Iago states means there is no such thing as destiny. Iago believes that we make our own path in life and you can choose to lead your life as you wish. This was not a popular opinion in these times. The belief was that everyone had a predetermined life path and can not sway from this path. Because Iago did not follow this belief, he showed no remorse when it came to deceiving his friends and co-workers. “Thus do I ever make my fool my purse; For I mine own gained knowledge should profane If I would time expend with such a snipe But for my sport and profit. I hate …show more content…
Iago believes he knows just how this will all play out. When Iago states “I know his trumpet.” it infers he knows exactly how Othello will react to the lies he has put into motion and is counting on Othello's rage and jealousy to make him see something that is not there and believes something he has no proof of. Iagos knows the friendship that Cassio and Desdemona have will not be taken as friendship but as a love affair between the two. Iago goes on later in the passage to gloat about how Othello believes him and this plan of his are
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.
Othello is such a gullible character with so much trust in the wrong people. He trusts Iago before he trusts his own wife, Desdemona; he let Iago get into his mind. Iago arises any doubt Othello has for anyone he ever trusted making them all seem untrustworthy. More then anything Iago uses pathos to appeal to emotion. “ But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve For daws to peck at. I am not what I am” (Othello, Shakespeare, Act I Scene I Line 65-66). Iago talks about being open and honest; although this is not true it makes the other characters feel secure. Othello is a strong character, but Iago is his downfall. Blinded by jealousy and questions Othello will no longer trust Desdemona nor Cassio, because of this he will meet his
Characters in the play fail to comprehend Iago’s true nature until it is too late. Those interacting with Iago fall into the belief that Iago is loyal to his superiors, when Iago is actually focused on bringing them (Cassio and Othello) down. Iago constructs a false impression of his loyalty to Othello through ...
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 is a very strategic and clever person, and he despises Othello because Othello appointed Cassio as a lieutenant over Iago. He plans to ruin Othello’s life by ruining his relationship with Desdemona. He starts off by telling Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, of Othello and Desdemona’s secret marriage. Iago goes to
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 in Iago's shoes. He is a man whose self-esteem and professional career have just been torn apart.
Othello has had Iago as his ensign for many years. They have gone to battle many times over. In war, every little thing can affect the outcome, everything is vital information. During this time, Othello, when he was upset or unsure of what to do, has learned to trust and listen to Iago’s insights about strategy and war. Othello shows that his trust in Iago extends beyond the battlefield when he asks Iago to take care of his wife during the voyage to Cyprus. It’s this trust that backfires on him. When Othello hears Iago’s off hand remark about Cassio, he trusts that Iago would not have said anything if it wasn’t something to worry about. Then, Iago, knowing how Othello thinks of his character, makes Othello think there is more to his thoughts than he is willing to speak of. Iago knows just what to say and how to articulate it to make Othello think the worst. He even manages to look like a friend who wants to keep...
Iago knows very well that trust and deceit must go hand in hand in order for him to achieve his vengeance on Othello and Cassio. Hence, as he plans the downfalls of them, he is continually trying to obtain their undoubting trust. He slowly poisons people’s thoughts, creating ideas in their heads without implicating himself. Iago even says himself that the advice he gives is free and honest and thus, people rarely stop to consider the possibility that Iago is fooling them.
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
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
of being an honest man. Iago knew that an important man like Othello couldn’t ignore. the possibility that his wife was cheating on him. Nobody suspects that Iago is a deceitful man and would plot and plan to destroy Othello, Cassio and Desdemona in such a way. cunning way to go.
Iago’s vast knowledge and understanding of humanistic behavior is the greatest contributor to his most prominent characteristic; which is definitely his ability to easily manipulate others. This is first seen in many areas of his first soliloquy. This soliloquy comes about during a conversation between him and Roderigo.
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.
Iago is very determined and emotionless. He brings negative outcomes to every character he comes in contact with. Although Iago characterizes himself as noble, the reader can see him for the villain he is. Throughout the play Iago’s every decision is on how
One of the most brilliantly crafted villains in history, Iago is an incredibly intelligent and creative man who shows throughout the play how apt he is at twisting the truth and turning the facts upside down, using strategies and tactic any politician would envy. Right through the play he demonstrates his ability to harm and destroy people’s lives, all through his brilliant and persuasive word use, which ultimately, is his weapon. He plants ideas in the characters’ heads, causing their minds to fester and warp their thoughts. Iago, who believes he deserves Cassio’s place as Othello’s lieutenant, spends his time plotting, manipulating and scheming. He hates Cassio, and Othello, for choosing Cassio as his Lieutenant. Iago uses a mixture of hints and hesitations to convince Othello that his wife Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. The protagonist, Othello, is Iago’s foremost victim; he believes that Iago is a man of “of exceeding honesty, knows all qualities, with a learned spirit" [Act III, Scene III].