Iago's Power Of Rhetoric

Iago’s Power of Rhetoric

In William Shakespeare's Othello, it is made painfully obvious the power that words can have over an individual's state of mind. The character Iago has a way with words that allows him to get into people’s heads, and throughout the play he uses his rhetorical prowess to manipulate various characters. It is his way with words that allows him to groom and manipulate Othello to a breaking point, taking him from being a highly respected leader, to a small and weak minded creature. Throughout the entire process Iago manages to maintain the illusion that he is Othello’s friend, with only his best interests at heart, which only goes to show just how exemplary his manipulative skills really are. To be able to slowly and methodically

pick apart a man's life is remarkably wicked, yet remarkable none the less. A large part of his power lay in his imagery skills and his ability to allude to certain situations. His exceptional use of metaphors allows him to hint at betrayals without accusing anyone outright. He has also mastered the art of reverse psychology, he has the uncanny ability to plant an idea in Othello’s head and nurture it in a way that makes him think he came up with it all on his own, allowing Iago to mold his decisions and judgments.
Using imagery, Iago is able to convince Othello that his wife, Desdemona, is being unfaithful. He paints a vivid picture by describing Cassio and Desdemona as being “as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys, / As salt as wolves in pride” (3.3.460-461). Eventually, the images put into Othello's head, by Iago, become too much for him, pushing him to the brink of sanity. Although he could have simply told Othello that Desdemona was cheating, Iago instead chose to hint at what could be, allowing Othello's imagination to drive him mad. Othello is so swayed by Iago that he unknowingly begins to take on his words: He goes so far as to shout “Goats and monkeys!” (4.1.295-296) on his way out after attacking Desdemona. Iago is so far into his psyche, that he is beginning to control his words as well as his thoughts.
Part of Iago’s ability to appear innocent lies in the pay he uses reverse psychology. The way he twists his words around, saying one thing while implying the opposite, makes him seem as though e is a good and honest friend, in reality he Is planting seed after seed of distrust and chaos. At one point, Othello asks Iago if he just saw Cassio speaking with Desdemona, to which Iago replies “Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it/ That he would steal away so guilty like, / Seeing your coming” (3.3.41-43). While he says that Cassio is a good man, and would never do such a thing, he is implying that Cassio may feel guilty about what he is doing. He is pretending to praise and respect Cassio, all the while planting subtle doubts in Othello’s mind. When he acts as though he doesn’t want to speak out of turn, he is actually enticing Othello, making him want to know more. And, whenever he does allude to betrayal, or adultery on Desdemona’s part, he makes a point of urging Othello not to pay any head to his suspicions, knowing that he will. By trying to calm Othello, telling him that he isn’t sure of what he saw, he makes Othello surer that what he is saying is true and thusly, fuels the anger growing inside, exactly as he planned.
Iago indirectly mentions seemingly small things, and asks questions intended to make Othello feel like any conclusions he comes up with, he came up with on his own. Iago could have come out right and accused Desdemona, but knew that it would be much more effective, and ultimately devastating, for Othello to come to terms with it on his own instead of it being thrown in his face outright. The first seed of suspicion is planted when Iago sees Cassio and Desdemona together and mumbles “Ha, I like not that” (3.3.37).
He proceeds to further arouse Othello’s suspicions by asking “Did Michael Cassio, / When you wooed my lady, know of your love?” (3.3.105-106), and by feigning surprise when he learns that Cassio was involved, he peaks Othello’s interest.

With one simple word, “Indeed?” (3.3.113), Iago manages to voice his qualms, while, as usual, not outright implicating or accusing anyone of anything. When, instead of answering Othello’s questions directly, he simply repeats them: “Honest, my lord?” and “Think, my lord?” (3.3.116-120): he is watering and feeding the seeds of doubt and suspicion he has already planted. With his faux surprise, and his seemingly unwillingness to speak out of turn, Iago manages to make Othello begin to doubt Cassio’s character. Iago knew that if he had outright accused Cassio of sleeping with Desdemona, Othello would have immediately dismissed his words, simply because of how much he trusted his wife. But, because of his tone of voice and his way of saying things without actually saying them, he is able to begin to weaken Othello’s belief in the people he thought he could trust. He suggests that there is a slight chance that his wife could be unfaithful, then feeds the doubts with twisted situations, concealed as evidence, until Othello can find no reason not to believe Desdemona has been

unfaithful.
Ironically, Othello says to Iago “It is not words that shakes me thus” (4.1.49-50), though it is clear to the reader that it is exactly Iago’s use of words that brought Othello to this point. An expert of manipulation, Iago has the ability to see, and take advantage of , peoples weaknesses, and is thusly able to make them believe the things their fear most, have come true. Iago’s words, his advice, his questions mostly have power because of the tone of his voice, the way he says, and doesn’t say, certain things. Because of the way Iago brings up certain things, and because of the fact that he is viewed as respectable, honest, and good. It is easy for people to believe, and be deceived by, him.