The Growing Theme Of Manipulation In Shakespeare's Othello

780 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The role of Iago in Othello

William Shakespeare’s Othello chronicles the growing theme of manipulation through Iago’s deceit and his victim’s responses.

Beginning on a street in Venice,Italy, Roderigo and Iago converse with Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, to notify him of his daughter and Othello’s recent nuptials. Proceeding their conversation, Brabantio gathers men to confront Othello. Iago travels ahead of the group to warn Othello of the fateful encounter with Desdemona’s father. “ He prated and spoke such scurvy and provoking terms against your honor that, with the little godliness I have,I did full hard forbear him. But I pray you, sir, are you fast married? Be assured of this, that the magnifico is much beloved, and hath in his effect a voice potential as double …show more content…

However, Iago does not impede plans there; He begins to construed the mechanisms of “Desdemona and Cassio’s infidelity.” He convinces Cassio to plead for his career with Desdemona- “Our general’s wife is now the General.” (2.3:285) In attempt to help plead for Cassio’s lieutenancy, Desdemona is a persistent advocate for improving Othello and Cassio relation. However, after Iago plants a seed of doubt in Othello’s perception of Desdemona, her helpfulness becomes poisonous to her marriage; Othello begins to doubt her fidelity. “A liberal hand. The hearts of old gave hands, but our new heraldry is hands, not hearts.”Despite many significant remarks elucidating to Othello’s changing affections, Desdemona disregard of his growing cruelty highlights her youth; she believes he is not jealous. In conjunction, Desdemona presents controversial traits. While she is willing to elope in the dead of night, she is seemingly docile in her husband’s accusations of her infidelity. She does not confront him straightforward, but solely proposes the idea of the wedding sheets. Desdemona’s non-confrontational and trusting disposition contributes to the success of Iago’s disruption in her marriage. While he supports Othello’s growing jealousy, he encourage Desdemona’s trust in Othello.“ I pray you be content, ‘tis is but his humor. The business of state does him offense, and he does chide with you.” (4.2:165-167) Iago’s skillful manipulation of the couple’s weaknesses

Show More
Related

  • Manipulation and Love: An Analysis of Othello

    714 Words  | 2 Pages

    be easily manipulated and influenced by love can take a toll on the weakest and the strongest people living on earth. Manipulation fueled by love is something that is invariably unrecoverable from. Like the rest of society, Othello, a fictional and heart-struck character in the play Othello, let his heart and the people around him manipulate his mind and take advantage of his authority. Dependent on the thoughts of others, Othello is a gullible person with an emotionally unstable nature that would shatter his love for the innocent and graceful Desdemona.

    Read More

  • The Theme of Control in Shakespeare's Othello

    1006 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout history, powerful empires with boundless control have had a tendency to fall victim to corruption. It is common knowledge, among political scientists and historians, that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. William Shakespeare's "Othello, the Moor of Venice" (reprinted in Laurence Perrine and Thomas R. Arp, Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense, 6th ed. [Fort Worth: Harcourt, 1993] 1060-1147) contains several themes, but one theme in particular supports the truth of this knowledge. In "Othello, the Moor of Venice," the theme of control is one that causes corruption. Othello's control is stolen by Iago and, Iago's overbearing control of Othello's emotions causes chaos and absence of control until Lodovico arrives at the end of the story.

    Read More

  • Manipulation andf the Dramatic Irony of Othello by Shakespeare

    664 Words  | 2 Pages

    The play Othello was written in the 1600’s; there were many themes to pull out while reading it. One that stood out to me the most was manipulation. There are many tactics available to get what you want and make people your puppets. Playing with their emotions and mind, by being charming, and putting on an act pretending to be interested in what’s best for them. In Othello by Shakespeare, we see how easy it is to skillfully influence gullible people using similes and dramatic irony.

    Read More

  • Example Of Intelligence In Othello

    1252 Words  | 3 Pages

    Iago when talking to Othello, would exaggerate the many of the scenes in order to convince him of the affair between Desdemona. "In sleep I heard him say, Sweet Desdemona, let us be wary, let us hide our love; and then, sir, would he grip and wring my hand, cry, O sweet creature! then kiss me hard" (Act III, Scene III, Lines 419-422). He fuels up Othello 's emotional side which produces anger and jealousy through this disparaging details from Iago 's mouth. Iago is bright when eliminating the invisible hurdle before Othello 's willpower and is able to manipulate him easily through taping into his absurd reasoning. Othello 's reasoning is being played by Iago to make Othello believe that Cassio has something with Desdemona which in tales to further rouse emotions. Through Iago 's exaggeration he even gets Othello to believe him in a way that Othello is convinced and repeats back what he heard from Iago to Desdemona. Othello exaggerates Desdemona 's disloyalty out of all proportion as human possibility, comparing her sexual intercourse to the breeding of summer flies or foul toads. This gigantic scene seems to hand doubt on the platter, Othello seems to have stretched Desdemona’s transgression to make her the worst wife humanly possible. Perhaps any unfaithfulness is as painful to him, and his exaggerations only communicate the

    Read More

  • Othello, by William Shakespeare

    979 Words  | 2 Pages

    Iago is widely credited, in the words of Agatha Christie, as “the greatest villain of all time”. He is a manipulative character who “weaves a web of deceit” by exploiting even the tiniest faults in others. By maintaining a facade of comedy and boyishness he uses his honesty and twisted truth to play others “like a virtuoso” and “drive... them to madness”. In the play Othello, Act 2 Scene 1 is perhaps the most enlightening scene with regards to the truly manipulative character of Iago. Containing several soliloquies and interactions between all of the main characters, his manipulation is well encapsulated both in this scene in the play and in the 1965 Stuart Burge film adaptation.

    Read More

  • Iago’s Manipulation of Othello in Shakespeare’s Othello

    459 Words  | 1 Pages

    Once a seed of suspicion or doubt is planted in a person’s mind, the noxious effect of jealousy is soon to ensue. Jealousy and suspicion are Othello’s flaws hubris throughout the play and foreshadow to the audience his imminent downfall. He believes what Iago tells him so strongly that he compromises his close relationship with his best friend and his love for his wife. Iago manipulates Othello through the use of extortion, literary techniques, and his keen judge of character. His syntax and diction are so simple yet so powerful because he uses the correct rhetorical questions and addresses Othello with respectful terms such as “my lord.” He allows Othello do most of the talking and the thinking; then begins to twist his mind usi...

    Read More

  • How Does Iago Use Pathos In Othello

    1696 Words  | 4 Pages

    With Roderigo, someone he commands control over, Iago employs pathos, allowing his plan to appeal to Roderigo’s sensitive emotions about Othello. Roderigo and Iago discuss about how each of them despise Othello when Iago says, “If ever I did dream of such a matter, / Abhor me” using pathos to confirm his hatred towards the General (1.2. 5-6). The play commences with Iago employing direct rhetoric and partnering up with Roderigo to enhance a sense of comradery. Harsh language such as “Abhor me”, exemplifies the hateful emotions Iago feels toward Othello as well as enhances the emotions Iago wants to appeal to in Roderigo (1.2. 6). Affecting Roderigo more influentially, Iago uses deeper, more personal pathos, by highlighting the seemingly good qualities in Roderigo. Iago contrasts Roderigo to Othello pointing out, “Let not they discreet heart think it…manners and beauties: all which the/ Moor is defective in” (2.1. 215, 219-220). Firstly, Iago weighs Roderigo’s positive qualities against Othello’s negatives ones, convincing Roderigo to feel more confident with Iago and following along with his scheme. Secondly, Iago alters this rhetoric to include Roderigo’s love interest, Desdemona. By exemplifying a more personal and sensitive side when talking about “manners and beauties”, Iago can create a bigger impact in

    Read More

  • Identity In Othello

    1308 Words  | 3 Pages

    William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Othello, addresses how an individual's identity shapes his or her actions, and how an identity can be manipulated in order to fit one’s agenda. We see a great deal of identity manipulation with the character of Iago. Spurred by jealousy and revenge, Iago, a master manipulator and the villain of the story, juggles multiple identities in an effort to tear two lovers, Desdemona and Othello, apart. Iago lies to, and influences many characters in the play, however he manages to never be confronted about his manipulative actions. When Iago is first introduced, he forebodes that his actions will not blatantly reflect his intentions during the play. In order to establish that he is not what he appears

    Read More

  • Iago's Triumph In Othello Analysis

    877 Words  | 2 Pages

    He compares the relationship between Cassio and Desdemona “as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys, /As salt as wolves in pride. With his use of simile, he indirectly emphasises that there is no restraint in the “perfect” Desdemona and Cassio. With the animalistic tone, he indirectly alludes to the ‘relationship’, as “animals in heat”. He is also insinuating on the faithfulness of Desdemona and the character of Cassio. Effectively, later on Othello emphatically shouts “Goats and monkeys”, when he supposedly heard Cassio confess his love for Desdemona. Furthermore, Iago suggests that Desdemona is unfaithful as she prefers people of her “own clime, complexion and degree”, features Othello cannot possibly obtain. With the use of innuendo, he directly alludes that Desdemona is being unfaithful because of his skin colour which stirs his jealousy, eventually leading him to “smother” Desdemona. Furthermore, Iago calls Othello, a “Barbary horse and an “old black ram” to Brabantio, Desdemona’s father. Iago uses vulgar imagery to create an illusion that Othello is lustful, immoral and selfish and is about to dreadfully take the “chastity” of his daughter Desdemona. The imagery infuriates Brabantio to the point that he hunts down Othello and eventually causes “chaos”, which was Iago’s goal. Thus, proving because of Othello’s weaknesses, insecurities,

    Read More

  • The Role Of Manipulation In Othello And Challenger Deep By Shusterman

    332 Words  | 1 Pages

    Manipulators spend their time searching for people’s greatest vulnerabilities; most of the time, people’s vulnerabilities come in the form of people’s greatest fears. In both the play Othello by Shakespeare and the book Challenger Deep by Shusterman the manipulations that the protagonists face center aground their fears. In Othello, Iago, the antagonist, foments a plan involving all of the main characters in pursuance of manipulating Othello into killing Othello’s wife, Desdemona, and Othello’s second in command, Cassio. Iago uses Othello’s fear of Desdemona's dishonesty to convince him to “strangl[ing] [Desdemona] in her bed” and “let[ting] Iago be [Cassio’s] undertaker” (Shakespeare IV.i.226, 230). In other words, Othello, concerned about his wife's non-existent scandal, lets Iago act as his mind, consequently falling right into Iago’s trap, and kills

    Read More

  • Othello And Desdemona Relationship Analysis

    687 Words  | 2 Pages

    However, as the play progresses, the audience sees Othello beginning to not trust Desdemona. Iago, who it seems does not have a trust worthy bone in his body, starts a cruel rumor about Cassio and Desdemona. According to what Iago has been spreading around, Desdemona is not being chaste or pure and is cheating on Othello with Cassio. However, the audience knows this to be a lie because there was never any encounter between Cassio and Desdemona to suggest unfaithfulness. The reason that Iago spreads this rumor is because he is suspicious that his wife is cheating on him with Othello, and he wants to get back at him.

    Read More

  • The Pride of Othello

    921 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Shakespeare's Othello, Othello's pride prevents him from finding the truth, eventually leading to his demise. Initially, Othello and Desdemona are deeply in love, despite her father's disapproval of their marriage. However, when Othello promotes Cassio instead of Iago to Lieutenant, Iago has his revenge by convincing Othello that Desdemona cheats on him with Cassio, destroying the marriage between Othello and Desdemona. Othello grows to meet his downfall when his trusted friend Iago causes him to think that his wife Desdemona is unfaithful.

    Read More

  • Tragedy In Othello

    828 Words  | 2 Pages

    Desdemona is loyal and caring, which blinds her from Iago’s manipulation. Desdemona’s loyalty and care helps build Iago’s scheme. This loyalty is seen when Othello questions Desdemona about her faithfulness to him, in front of Emilia. Desdemona does not want to upset Othello anymore then he already is and stays loyal and quiet, trying to reassure that she is Othello’s true and loyal wife. Likewise, Desdemona tries to comfort Othello’s tears by saying, “If haply you my father do suspect /An instrument of this your calling back, /Lay not your blame /on me. If you have lost him, /Why, I have lost him too,” (OTH.IV.II.44-47). Desdemona stays loyal to Othello despite his earlier rant of calling Desdemona an unfaithful prostitute, and tells Othello that if he is upset that her father, Brabantio, calls him back to Venice, then she is also upset at him. Desdemona cannot question Othello’s accusations nor can she defend herself from Othello’s words because of her undying loyalty. Similarly, Desdemona’s caring nature also helps Iago’s plan unfold, because of Desdemona’s friendlin...

    Read More

  • Iago's Punishment In Othello

    898 Words  | 2 Pages

    In all through deception Iago creates the appearance for good, which ultimately fools the people around him into thinking he is loyal and honest. While simultaneously implanting images into the head of Othello, through suggestions to both Cassio and Roderigo, Iago causes the downfall of them all. As the audience we see the basis of Iago’s success as carefully built trust with individual characters. It is that trust form “honest” Iago that his so called friends dare to doubt.

    Read More

  • Iago In Othello's Jealousy

    1042 Words  | 3 Pages

    Romantic and kind, Othello is head over heals for his youthful wife, as any man would be, yet when jealousy is introduced, the general second guesses anything he previously thought was true. Iago slowly convinces Cassio to drink to satiety at the wedding party, and drunk and giddy, the new lieutenant scuffles with Roderigo, who had been planted just moments before. After a near deadly fight, Cassio is stripped of his position, and begs Desdemona to convince Othello that he is still a good man. He asks her to restore his reputation, screaming that he “[has] lost the immortal part of [himself], and what remains is bestial” (II, iii, 281-284). With Iago’s guidance, however, Othello misreads Cassio’s eagerness as one of lust and promiscuity. Instantly, he becomes wary of any fondness Desdemona shows as he is slowly convinced that she is partaking in an affair. Othello, in a conversation with the manipulative Iago, croons “think’st thou I’d make a life of jealousy? … No. To once be in doubt is to be resolved” (III, iii, 207-210). At this point in the play, this reassurance was no longer to Iago, but to himself. Iago even goes so far as to warn Othello, with “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy!” (III, iii, 195). Incessantly, Iago feeds into Othello’s tragic flaw, until the once beacon of strength cracks, collapsing into a seizure caused by pure rage. “Her name,

    Read More

More about The Growing Theme Of Manipulation In Shakespeare's Othello

Open Document