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Character development of iago in othello
Character analysis of Iago of William Shakespeare's Othello
Character analysis of Iago of William Shakespeare's Othello
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The Egoism and The Devil Side of Personality:
An Analysis of Iago in Othello written by William Shakespeare
In the story of Othello, Iago murders almost every important characters directly or indirectly. However, what makes him have the motive and lets him become jesuitical people in audience’s mind? He is not “bad”, but he is an egoistic person, who only care about himself. Shakespeare reveals the dark side of the personality on Iago in Othello. Iago plans a huge conspiracy all for his jealousy, the desire to power and his own profit.
Through the whole novel, Iago has two sides of personality, the "honest" side in front of other people and the jealous side at the back of the people. From the Act 1 Scene 1, Iago tells Roderigo that he is jealous about the thing that Michael Cassio is chosen to be Othello's lieutenant over himself (I, i, 8-27). In his opinion, he thinks he has more ability than Cassio because Cassio is the man who never "set a squadron in
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Iago is a perfect example of the egoism. He can do everything for himself no matter the thing is bad or not. He reveals himself as "the honest Iago" before everybody. There's no one who does not trust him. However, Iago says that "I am not what I am" to show his real personality (I, i, 66). He seems good and compliant to Othello, is not for royal or the responsibility, but for his own benefit, which is to let him have more chance to gain more power. In his world, everyone is his tool. In Act 2 Scene 2, in Iago's soliloquy, he says "Abuse him to the Moor in the rank grab-/For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too-/Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me," (II, ii, 295-296). Even though Iago may know that Cassio has no sexual connection with his wife, he still wants to use his wife as a part of his conspiracy and lets himself to believe it is the truth to deduce his guilt. That's all for his own
One of the criteria for psychopathology is a grandiose sense of self, which Iago certainly does have. A first glimpse of Iago’s grandiose self-perception is first seenwhen the play begins in Act 1, Scene 1. In this Act and Scene, Iago discusses his jealousy and spite for Michael Cassio with Roderigo. Cassio has been chosen over him for a promotion to lieutenant by Othello. According to Iago, Cassio is a “great arithmetician” (I.I.19), and a “bookish theoric” (I.I.25), who has “never set a squadron in the field” (I.I...
Iago would most commonly be referred to as dishonest, however beyond that he is also downright amoral and uses other’s weaknesses to manipulate them into doing what he pleases. From the very beginning we see how Iago manipulates Roderigo by pretending he is looking out for his best interests in the matter of Othello’s elopement with Desdemona. He makes Barbantio angry with Othello and Desdemona by telling him about their elopement then lying about the consummation of their relationship. He then leaves Roderigo to take responsibility for his (Iago’s) actions. In the meantime he goes off to inform Othello that Roderigo is accountable for telling Barbantio about the relationship and saying horrible things about Othello. Iago later brings Roderigo back into his quest for revenge when he tries to get Cassio fired from the position that Iago originally wished to obtain. Although Cassio knows it is against his better judgement to drink, Iago manipulates him into getting drunk then stages a fight between Roderigo and Cassio. He even goes as far as to try to make Cassio look bad by telling Montano that he gets drunk regularly. Upon Iago’s explanation of the situation Othello promptly fires Cassio from his position and Iago becomes more respected in Othello’s eyes. Roderigo is a prime example of how Iago uses people to fulfil his desires. Iago convinces Roderigo that he could win Desdemona’s love away from Othello and the only man that stands in the way is Cassio. In this way when he plans to humiliate Cassio it seems as if he is doing it to help out Roderigo when, in actuality, he is seeking revenge on Cassio for taking his position.
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.
“One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, A fellow almost damned in a fair wife, that never set a squadron in the field, nor the division of a battle knows, more than a spinster—unless the bookish theoric, where in the togèd consuls can propose as masterly as he: mere prattle, without practice Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had the election; and I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof At Rhodes, at Cyprus and on other grounds Christian and heathen, must be beleed and calmed by debitor and creditor. This counter-caster, he, in good time, must his lieutenant be” Iago, (1.1.21-34). Clearly jealous of the choice of Othello giving Cassio the military job Iago felt most suited for. Throughout the play, Iago’s amorality is seen and shown through his own actions. These actions, though, resemble the characteristics of a psychopath. Managing to fit in with major psychopathic traits, including lack of empathy, pathological lying, conning and manipulative, glib and superficial
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.
Throughout the play he repeatedly manipulates the rest of the cast to fit his plan. He convinces Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful, and he does so not by outright accusing her, but by stringing together seemingly hesitant stories that allow Othello to come to the conclusion on his own. This is perhaps why he is so hellbent in her slaughter: he believes that he was the one who came to this conclusion. Iago is incredibly subtle in his accusations in only a way that a psychopath could be. Even as Othello attempts to refute the claims against Desdemona, Iago finds a way to interject, claiming that she hasn’t always been honest; “She did deceive her father, marrying [Othello],” (3.3.206). Iago is insanely skilled in his methods of manipulation, and the fact that he claims that “what [he has] spoken / Comes from [his] love,” convincing Othello that his goal is pure. This eventually leads to Othello executing his wife; however, his feelings towards the murder are not as you would expect. Iago has twisted and corrupted Othello so much so that he is justifying the slaughter of his wife as a sort of honor killing, imposing his own narrative upon the atrocious act. Iago’s competency at the arts of manipulation is a telltale sign of psychopathy; however, this is not his only psychopathic trait. There are still many more that further exemplify his psychopathic
What motives and reasons caused Iago to commit these dastardly deeds and lead him to destroy all those close to him as well as himself? After reading Othello, I feel the Marxist Criticism is the best perspective in providing evidence to explain why Iago does the horrible things throughout the play. Although Othello, Desdemona, Cassio and Roderigo are seen as members of the upper ruling class they are easily manipulated by Iago who is part of the lower working class.
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)
Everyone in the world has the same characteristics. Anyone can feel happiness, sadness, anger, or fear. However, the way a person allows certain traits to overpower others is how personality forms. In William Shakespeare’s play, Othello, a wide range of characters are present with different personalities. The protagonist, Othello, spirals into a pit of jealousy and paranoia over the course of the tragedy. The question that follows these actions is whether these uncontrollable emotions are signs of a mental disorder. Othello displays many aspects of a personality disorder, such as being suspicious and untrustworthy of his wife and associates and misinterpreting congenial behavior. Although he does not exhibit all of the criteria, it can be concluded
Everything done by Iago is due to his jealous state of well-being. As readers we can see his true jealous state from the beginning. One of the main things Iago is jealous about is the character of Othello. Iago shows a disliking to Othello, putting an act on while around him to hide it. Iago is jealous that Othello has everything- a high rank in the army, a wife and possession of Emilia. Iago believes that the Moor has stolen Emilia from him. Iago expresses his hatred towards the Moor quite blatantly, “I hate the Moor, And it is though abroad, that ‘twixt my sheets. ‘Has done my office.” Iago quite openly states his hatred and his belief that Othello has had Emilia in between the sheets. However, also in his jealous state he too acknowledges, “I know not if’t be true, But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, will do as if for surety,” that even if what he has heard is a rumour he will still believe it is true unless he sees otherwise. Iago carries the trait of jealousy quite heavily. You can see that even though he is aware that it may not be true, that it may just be a rumour, he is still going to do something about it. Iago is in a constant jealous fit that he’ll never act with patience and thought. Everything he does is to do with what will benefit him better and what will benefit hi in the long run. When he believed that Othello and Emilia had an affair, he immediately began scheming in ways to
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
He is greedy for power and jealous of Cassio for being promoted above. him, and will do anything to stop Othello and Cassio. In Act 1 Scene 1, Iago starts to manipulate Othello straight away. Iago speaks to Roderigo about how he despises Othello and wants revenge. I will be a sailor.
In this imperfect world, there are wide varieties of people. There are many who are great at biology while some are great at art, but everyone is unique in themselves. Also, there are some who suffer from personality disorders, and these people seem to be unpredictable. The disorders may vary from a patient-to-patient; some might have very bad tempers while others could be super sadistic.
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).
In Shakespeare’s play Othello, Iago is the character that causes most of the problems in the play, and can be classified as the villain of the story. Iago is a character that is very jealous of Cassio and Othello because they hold positions that he believes he should have. He also believes that his wife has cheated on him with Othello. “Iago represents evil and cruelty for its own sake. He is deeply unpleasant and this is revealed to the audience in no uncertain terms in his numerous asides.” (Jameson) Iago is a character who acts different depending on what people he is around, obviously he is not going to say some of the same things when Othello or Cassio are around as he does when they are not there. “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram Is tupping your white ewe.”(1.1.91-92) Iago was very manipulative throughout the course of the play, and often got what he wanted by being this way. “Iago is consumed with envy and plots to steal the position he feels he most justly deserves. Iago deceives, steals, and kills to gain that position.” (Jarret) Iago is a classical type of villain that is the root of all probl...