A Malevolent Villain Essay

That if she lied to her father then why wouldn’t she lie to him? Iago uses this quote to tell Othello that she will deceive him and doesn’t love him like she used to. Soon after in this same scene Iago says this, “Men should be what they seem; Or those that be not would they might seem none!” (Shakespeare iii, III, 130). This is ironic since Iago isn’t at all what he seems and he doesn’t look like the evil that he is. Here Iago uses irony to use reverse phycology on Othello. He says this to make Othello question the man Desdemona is “having an affair with”. This line also influences Othello into thinking that Iago is his friend manipulating him into thinking Iago is saying things in Othello’s best

• Using grotesque animal imagery, Iago voices an explicitly stereotypical view of Othello, as a “Barbary horse,” depicting him as an animalistic outsider. Through the image of conflict in black and white, Iago emphasises on the racial demarcation between Othello and Desdemona, that “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe,” associating Othello with uncontrolled animalistic sexuality. Iago’s overt and vicious racism becomes representative of the reigning stereotype of the African on the

It the only thing that makes him estranged from all the other characters. In the opening scene of the play, Shakespeare “exoticizes Othello with [his] references to him not by name but as, "the Moor," and as an "extravagant and wheeling stranger" (1.1.58 and 1.1.37)”(Aubrey 1). During that time black people were slaves which is why the racism in Othello was definitely racism and one of Iago’s forms of control. Othello earned his status despite his physical appearance, so its lowering to use that description of Othello when he is more than that. Furthermore, not only is Othello being outcasted in the play but also to the audience. It is set by Iago that the idea of a black man and a white woman together is inhuman. He constantly uses derogatory terms to describe to Brabantio To corrupt Othello and Desdemona’s relations. Iago claims that Brabantio will “have [his] daughter covered with a Barbary horse. [He’ll] have [his] nephews neigh to [him]. [He'll] have coursers for cousins and jennets for germans” (Act 1 scene 1 line 125-127 )if he does not do anything to stop them. Iago says this to describe to Brabantio what his mixed would look like. Moreover the animals he uses are not pure breeds which is what he want to emphasize to Brabantio that the act itself of Othello and Desdemona being together is bestial nut having his grandkids being mixed is something that Brabantio cannot stand to think about. Iago

Even Brabantio, Othello’s own father-in-law, displays disdain toward Othello for marrying his daughter, in his calling him a “lascivious moor.”  Also there is a particularly strong conversation between Iago and Barbarantio, in which Iago states “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise; Awake the snorting citizens with the bell, Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you.” This statement shows a great deal of hatred toward the marriage of Othello and Desdemona. Iago is saying that if Desdemona were to have sex with Othello, “an old black ram”, it would defile Desdemona’s pure nature, “white ewe” (ewe being a lamb). This is not so much the act of the two people sleeping with each other as it is the fact that Othello is of African descent. Why else would Iago refer Desdemona as the “white ewe” and not just and ewe. The white part seems to display purity in Iago’s eyes. Also there is the part about the devil making a grandsire out of you. This is talking of how Desdemona and Othello’s children would be of a mixed race, of which Barbarantio would be the grandfather. Another racist comment Iago makes to Barbarantio of the interracial marriage of Desdemona and Othello is, “…You’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse. You’ll have your nephews neigh to you. You’ll have coursers for cousins and gennets for germans.” This refers to Othello as a Barbarian, or African, horse who will climb

In the beginning, Iago provokes disturbing, animalistic imagery in Brabantio’s mind that suggest Othello is inhumanely raping Desdemona, by stating,"Even now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe" (Act 1: Scene 1.88-89). Iago condemns Othello, by connecting his skin color to one of a meaningless, black ram. In contrast to Othello’s dark complexion, Desdemona’s fair complexion emphasizes her delicate and beautiful nature as it directly connects to one of a white ewe. The bestial imagery accentuates the differences of Othello and Desdemona by comparing each to a stereotypical extreme.

Othello is very prejudice. In the first scene, Iago and Rodrigo belittle Othello by calling him different racial terms, calling him, “Barbary horse” and “thick lips” In every case, the prejudiced characters use terms that describe Othello as an animal or beast. They use racial slang to describe Othello and also as an outsider to the white community. Comparing him to an animal and dehumanizing him they show a lack of respect. The same theme of disrespect is shown throughout the entire play with the betrayal of his closest friends. Another example of Othello being compared to an animal is when Iago says “Even now, now, very now, an old black ram

Othello or The Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare is a tragedy of race. Shakespeare creates a hero who does not fall under a racist stereotype, Othello is a nobleman, a decorated soldier, very well respected by his men (with the exception of Iago). One of the few characteristics that harms, rather than helps him, is that he is dark-skinned in a society utterly dominated by men prejudiced against those with dark skin. At the start of the play, he appears confident that, "My parts, my title, and my perfect soul / Shall manifest me rightly." (Shakespeare, 1, 2, 36-37) But Iago makes sure to use Othello's race against him as much as possible. As a brave soldier from Africa and recently instated supreme commander of the Venetian army, Shakespeare still allows Othello to succumb to the subtle racism that surrounds him. Most of it comes forward through the dialog, and is directed toward Othello. Shakespeare makes no effort to hide this colorful language, nearly every character uses a racial slur to insult Othello at some point in the play. Even Emilia, who doesn’t trust her own husband, sinks to the level of insulting Othello based on the color of his skin. Though the main character to make racist remarks in Othello is Iago, making him a representation of white supremacy. The effect of racism on Othello is quite evident and is one of the main causes of his insecurity about his marriage. These black stereotypes show up in the play and lead to the problem with trying to produce

Another term frequently used to describe Othello,“Moor,” (or “the Moor,” “his Moorship,” etc.) derived from the race of the general, is a label that clearly sets Othello apart from the white Venetians he keeps company with. Although some use it and mean no harm, when said by the likes of Iago and Brabantio, “the Moor,” turns into a racist slur, deliberately used to undermine and ostracize Othello from society. Likewise, depictions such a

Othello is presented initially as a dangerous beast by Iago, before he reveals himself to be of noble, human, status, only to degenerate later to the condition of a bloodthirsty and irrational animal. He is the hero of the play and this is achieved by his last speech(V. ii. 340-356) where he rights himself at the end of the play. "I kissed thee ere I killed thee: no way but this, Killing myself, to die upon a kiss" (V. ii. 359). By showing us these contrasting images of the moor, Shakespeare is revealing the two different attitudes to race. The one of acceptance, as shown through characters such as

This quote by Iago puts into Othello's mind that Desdemona may be cheating on him with Cassio. Othello then begins to question whether he was right to marry or not and although without proof, he believes in Iago's words. This is shown in his statement, “why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds”(Shakespeare 1324), indicates that he quickly turns to doubting his love Desdemona and takes Iago as being credible and true. It also causes him to become jealous and angered with only a simple touch of trickery by Iago. This marks his first sign to a down hill plunge in moral.

     Iago, the villain in Shakespeare’s Othello, is a round character of great depth and many dimensions. Iago works towards an aim that is constantly changing and becomes progressively more tragic. Yet, at times, "honest" Iago does actually seem honest. This essay will explore the complex character of "honest Iago.

Shakespeare uses animal imagery to make the audience especially Brabantio, have a vivid image of what the ‘dangerous’ Othello could possibly be doing to the alluring Desdemona. Iago warns Brabantio in a way that is difficult to hear and hard to take in. Just as soon as Iago is about to give up, he adds, “I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs” (1.1.13). Shakespeare implies animal imagery to completely change the reputation of Othello, with a negative one. With no sympathy towards Desdemona and Othello, Iago completely disrespects

One of the major issues in Shakespeare's Othello is the impact of the race of the main character, Othello. His skin color is non-white, usually portrayed as African although some productions portray him as an Arabian. Othello is referred to by his name only seventeen times in the play. He is referred to as "The Moor" fifty-eight times. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) states that a Moor is "Any individual of the swarthy races of Africa or Asia which have adopted the Mohammedan religion. In Spanish history the terms Moo, Saracens, and Arabs are synonymous." This indicates that Othello is constantly being degraded and set up as an evil person throughout the play. What this really means is that

In Shakespeare’s play Othello a reoccurring theme is racism. Othello being a solider was well known; he became the supreme commander of the army. Othello is a black man who many call a moor by many in this play. A moor refers to dark skinned male usually from the Muslim culture that descends from Africa. In this play Othello falls in love with Desdemona and then get elopes with her without her fathers permission.

It then hit me that through Iago’s judgments Othello is “the Moor” and should therefore exemplify the common idea of a moor, which is not admiration, self-worth, and fortune; it is one of disconnectedness and dependency. When he says that “nothing can or shall content his soul/ Till he is evened with the Moor, wife for wife” (Act 2: Scene), he means that he is satisfied until Othello’s life is made equal with his involving feelings of inadequacy and jealousy, which are all qualities fitting to a “moor”. Throughout the play Iago repetitively uses derogatory remarks when speaking of Othello so to encourage certain people in the play to endure racism and confirm that it was the norm. Even so, some of Iago’s semantics reveal his own prejudices. For example, Iago only refers to Othello as a “Moor” with the exception of when he refers to Othello as the “black Othello” (Act 2: Scene 3). Iago hates Othello because he is “the Moor” yet does not symbolize the expected role of what is thought of to be a black man in these times. There is neither reason nor logic behind his hatred, but discrimination against one seldom has reason, for it is characteristically irrational thinking. Iago is a clear illustration of what racism is and will justify his irrational thoughts with anything, just as Iago contributes to Brabantio and Rodrigo’s reasoning behind their actions and Othello’s reasons for acting out on