Iago's Emotions In Othello

Have you ever thought someone could use your own emotions against you? In The Tragedy Of Othello: The Moor Of Venice, by William Shakespeare, the emotions the characters feel are used against them. This happens to both Othello and Cassio. Othello is the moor of Venice. He is also the general of the Venetian Army. Cassio is the Lieutenant of the Venetian Army. Iago utilizes Cassio’s hatred of drinking against him to make him act impulsively. He also uses Othello’s strong belief of Desdemona’s loyalty against him to persuade him to act impulsively. Iago transforms characters from being composed to impulsive by utilizing their emotions against them, making them do something they normally would not do.

Iago influences Casio from being composed

to impulsive by making him do something he normally would not do. At first Iago tries to get Cassio to have a drink when he is supposed to be on guard. When asked, Cassio replies, “Not tonight, good Iago. I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking” (Shakespeare 2.3.31-32). Cassio tries to decline his offer, showing that he is responsible and composed since he did not want to drink while on guard. After prodding him, Iago is able to pursue Cassio into drinking, claiming that everyone else were already drinking. Giving into peer pressure, Cassio agreed, but he only wanted one drink. Iago took advantage of Cassio’s decision and kept giving Cassio drinks, making him become drunk. With his plan continuing through, he sends Roderigo to irritate Cassio. When he did so, Cassio says, “A knave teach me my duty? I’ll beat the knave into a twiggen bottle” (2.3.144-145). Since he is so drunk, he tries to beat up Roderigo and is acting spontaneously. This causes him to lose his position as lieutenant. When Cassio realizes his impetuous behavior, he says, “To be now a sensible man, by and by a fool, and presently a beast!” (2.3.303-306). Cassio admits that he behaved as a fool. He said he was once composed, but is now acting foolish and a beast, meaning he is impulsive. Iago convinced him to drink and eventually he became drunk, which he normally would not do. Then, Iago manipulates Cassio’s emotion against drinking to get Cassio to act impulsively. With the intention of doing so he sends Roderigo to annoy him. This causes him to lose his position. Therefore this is the effect of Cassio acting impulsively instead of composed.
Another example is Iago changing Othello from being composed to making impetuous decisions.

At first Othello is confident about his belief that Desdemona would never lie or cheat. This allows him to appear composed when the topic is even brought up. When Brabantio says, “Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see. She has deceived her father, and may thee” (1.3.288-289), he says, “My life upon her faith” (1.3.290). Othello believes that Desdemona would never lie to him, even though she had lied to her father. Also, he did not act or appear mad when Brabantio says this. As a result, Iago is able to use this confidence of Desdemona not cheating on him against him. At first Iago just gets the idea in his head. He then tries to “Fetch me the handkerchief—my mind misgives” (3.4.80). Othello admits that he is doubting her loyalty. Iago told Othello that she had given the handkerchief to Cassio. At first Othello did not believe him until he realizes she truly does not have it. Once he believed this Iago was able to continue with his lie. He told Othello she has slept with him numerous times. He also tells him that he should kill her due to everything she has done. To this Othello replies, “Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned tonight; for she shall not live. No, my heart is turned to stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand” (Shakespeare 4.1.183-185). Othello admits that he believes she should be killed. Iago then induced him that he should be the one to kill her. Othello

agrees and carries through with the plan. Othello is being impulsive since he is acting out of his hatred and belief that she actually cheated. Once he realizes that Iago has lied to him, he says, “I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this, killing myself, to die upon a kiss” (5.2.354-355). Othello decides to kill himself when he killed Desdemona for a false accusation. Iago had convinced Othello that not only that she has been unfaithful, but that he should also kill her. He is capable of using Othello’s strong belief that she is loyal against him. This allowed him to persuade Othello to believe she had cheated. He is also able to take Othello’s composure about the situation and compel him act impulsively. Such as convincing him to kill Desdemona and deciding to kill himself.
Both Othello and Cassio were changed by Iago’s plan for the worse. Iago is able to use both Cassio’s and Othello’s emotions against them to force them to do something they normally would not do. Cassio’s emotions against drinking and his drive to be lieutenant were able to be manipulated by Iago. This caused them to change from being composed to impulsive.