World Civ. II/Hansen
Iago’s Bestiary
Due: Friday, Dec. 2nd.
Background: In the middle ages, animal stories were immensely popular. There was a spiritual and mystical lore associated with beast in many of the stories. A bestiary is an encyclopedia or catalogue of beast. Many of the descriptions of the beast were accompanied with a moral lesson.
Directions: Review Act 1 of Othello. Look for animals, birds, insects, and creatures that Iago mentions. List at least ten of them in the chart below and note the significant of the symbolism. This work is to be done individually. Do not share work with classmates. Do not use outside sources to assist in this assignment. Use your own wonderful brain and be thorough in your
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He is also giving the image of an animal taking a nobles daughter to marry. | 7 1.3.444-445 | “And will as tenderly be led by th’ nose as asses are” | An ass is a donkey. Donkeys are used to do work and are usually seen as dumb animals. Iago is saying that not only is Othello unintelligent and stupid, but he will be easily tricked and be misled through lies and deception. He is arguing that Othello is not fit to hold such a high position because he is too gullible and unintelligent. | 8 1.1.130 | “making the beast with two backs” | . | 9 1.1.50 | | | 10 | |
• 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
Nature seems to reflect upon humans and often times it can be through animals. In literature, animal comparisons are not only used to symbolize different characteristics, but to also make the plot more dramatic and interesting. It is often used by many authors because it gives the reader a vivid image as well as an understanding of the character. The use of this literary device is a clever way to expose underlying motifs and traits. In William Shakespeare’s play, Othello, animal imagery is used to portray the themes of good versus evil, jealousy, and racism which is influenced through the characters of Iago and Othello.
The first of many examples of Iago’s manipulation occurs in Scene 1, Act 1. Rodgerio and Iago have had a bit too much to drink and they go over to Brabantio’s house to inform him about his daughter’s romantic relationship with Othello. When Roderigo starts telling Brabantio about this, he shrugs it off, blaming his nonsense on Roderigo’s unrequited love for his daughter. But Iago begins explaining the situation, saying “...very now, an old black ram is topping your white ewe. Arise, arise, awake the snorting citizens with the bell, or else the devil will make a grandsire of you.” (I,I). Iago’s exact choice of words in this quote is very significant because not only are they racist and distasteful, they are dehumanizing Othello. By comparing Othello to an animal, and “old
Iago plants ideas in Othello’s head, uses the innocent actions of others as his proof; and Othello, who is not practiced in worldly matters, believes his the misnomer of the “honest Iago”, and eventually is consumed by the lie.
In Othello, Shakespeare forms the villainous character, Iago through his complex language. Iago shows his evil nature towards Roderigo through his use of demeaning animal imagery. Iago also uses an extended metaphor to try and trick the ignorant Roderigo and (unknowingly to Roderigo), insults him. Lastly, Iago uses repetition to beguile Roderigo to keep paying him. Iago’s slyness is clearly seen through his deceiving language towards the end of Act I.
The relationships in Shakespeare’s plays are never simple and even less so when one narrows the field to his tragedies. In the case of Iago and Othello this complicated relationship is made more so by the interwoven theme of appearance verses reality. The idea of Iago, the wolf in sheep’s clothing, fighting both for and against his master that permeates the play. Othello, however, a seasoned warrior being unable to see through the guise is a flaw his companion takes advantage of. Iago’s hatred is the biggest mystery of this play, making the reader wish Shakespeare had written a prequel.
Othello is the character with whom most of Iago's methods have success. His weakness as a jealous lover is apparent early on, but only after Iago’s has planted the seeds of doubt within his mind. Such is Othello’s trust for Iago that he uses the misnomer of describing Iago as ‘honest Iago’ and irony considering the action held within the play. The trust is obvious and implicit and thoroughly entrenched within the language. Othello surmises on the aforementioned doubts during the last act of the play when he says;
This is seen when Madame Morrible is having a poetry soiree and begins to tell poetry that is belittling Animals. “Alas! For impropriety, The guillotine of piety. To remedy society Indulge not to satiety In mirth and shameless gaiety. Choose sobering sobriety. Behave as if the deity Approaches in its mystery, And greet it with sonority. Let your especial history Be built upon sorority Whose Virtues do exemplify, And Social Good thus multiply. Animals should be seen and not heard.”(Maguire108-109) The Animals that attend the soiree found the poetry that was said to be degrading and insulting. In addition to this, the Animals are not only demeaned, but also beaten and brutalized. During Fiyero’s visit to a café he is sat next to window, it is at this window that Freyjo sees a family of Bears brutalized and murdered.” The Gale Forcer raised his voice. He had a truncheon in a thong loop at his waist. The cub hid behind the father, and the mother could be seen to growl. … Below, because the Bears had not stood to join the lineup, the soldier raised his cudgel and it came down on the skull of the cub.”(Maguire260) The family of Bears was murdered because the Gale Forcer had the power and authority to do so without consequences. Demeaning and humiliation can take many forms when it is against the Animals, some forms harming only their feelings and others their bodies he end results in the Animals losing their
Iago is the antagonist of the play, and one of the most evil Shakespearean villains. Iago is extremely clever in the way he uses unsuspecting power- especially psychological power. He gets into people’s heads in many dishonest ways- by spreading false rumours, telling lies and psychologically tricking people and secretly controlling certain situations. His power to manipulate is a key point in the play, as it results in major consequences and the deaths of some main characters. Iago’s schemes are multi-levelled- he conspires with roderigo, and makes him believe that Desdemona will take him back. On another level, he leads Othello to believe his wife is having an affair with Cassio. He uses his wife Emilia (unknown to her), to bring back the handkerchief he uses to deceive Othello. Iago is an extremely resourceful and talented man, but he uses these resources and talents in detrimental ways. Iago is constantly referred to by numerous characters as ‘honest’. He himself also refers to honesty. Numerous characters believe that they know and trust Iago and that he would not lie, nor deceive them. Iago’s soliloquies also provide invaluable insight into his wicked mind and evil schemes and plans.
A key figure, if not the most important in the play, is that of the malcontent Iago, who sows the seeds of jealousy in Othello’s mind, and presents him with ‘proof’ to back up his suspicions. Iago acts as a catalyst to Desdemona’s murder and it is his intricate
Iago is a powerful predator who exploits those around him by infecting their perceptions of truth with carefully chosen fallacy. His skill in finding the proverbial chinks in others' armor allows him to skillfully weave his machinations of destroying Othello into their minds and actions; by manipulating character's perceptions of Desdemona, Iago gains the leverage he needs to exploit each character. No one is impervious to Iago's seething purpose; even Othello falls prey to Iago's suggestions and insinuations about Desdemona. Iago's constant presence as the stager, as well as his ceaseless - but subtle - reinforcement of events through narration, allows him to be the pivotal force that directs
He gloats about the easy in which he can manipulate Roderigo (the fool) into giving him money. Directly after this, you hear of Iago’s feelings towards Othello (the Moor). You learn of Iago’s suspicion about his wife having an affair with Othello. This gains pity from the audience, because you feel that Iago is a man deeply distraught over the idea of his wife cheating on him. Iago then begins to contemplate how he would seek vengeance on Othello and gain his title. Iago plans to use Othello’s trust and opinion of him to his advantage. He speaks about how he will use Cassio as his pawn to lure Othello into believing his wife, Desdemona is being unloyal to him. Iago discloses that Othello’s character is naive and will be easy to manipulate. As his closing statement he states that, with a little help from the devil, his monstrous plan will be a success.
In the first scene, Iago was seen in the middle of a conversation with Roderigo. This opening scene sets forth the key elements to understanding Iago’s basic character and the play’s conflict. The scene revealed Iago’s deep resentment toward Othello and his outlook on himself as a soldier. “And I of whom his eyes had
355,] By playing on his hopes, Iago is able to conjure money and jewels from Roderigo, making himself a profit, while using Roderigo to further his other plans. He also thinks stealthy on his feet and is able to improvise whenever something unexpected occurs. When Cassio takes hold of Desdemona's hand before the arrival of the Moor Othello, Iago says, "With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio." [II, i, 163] This language demonstrates the evil inside Iagos goals of retrieving absolute power. He actually even says of himself, "I am an honest man...." [II, iii, 245] Iago slowly corrupts the characters thoughts, creating ideas in their minds without implicating himself. His "medicine works! Thus credulous fools are caught...." [II, i, 44] "And what's he then that says I play the villain, when this advice is free I give, and honest," [II, iii, 299] says Iago. In turn, people rarely stop to consider the fact that old Iago could be deceiving and manipulating them; yet they are convinced that he is "Honest Iago." From these quotes from Othello it is proven that the dialogue used between Iago and the others is manipulative causing an evil outcome.
William Blake used animals as basic building blocks for poems such as “The Lamb” and “The Tyger.” By using these carefully selected animals to depict good and evil, the reader truly understands Blake’s words. All readers can relate to animals such as an innocent lamb and a