Iago Character Analysis

Othello’s love for Desdemona was so deep he could not bear the thought of another being with her; “If she be false, O! Then heaven mocks itself. I’ll not believe’t.” Iago uses the characters of Cassio and the obsessive Roderigo as his weapons in his cunning plan. Iago drives the idea into Othello’s mind that Desdemona has been unfaithful, inciting him into a state of jealousy. “Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul, but I do love thee; and when I love thee not, chaos is come again.” Othello growing insecurities about his wife’s faithfulness only adds to his psychological suffering which in turn acts as a catalyst towards the suffering of other characters involved in the play.Iago tells these lies with the intention of driving Othello insane as well as establish his dominance and influence the situations of those characters close to Othello. Evidence of this comes in one of Iago’s soliloquies from act two, scene one; “That Cassio loves her, I do well Believe’t: That she loves him, ‘tis apt and of great credit.” This section shows that he is trying to convince himself that his own manipulative lies are true and is trying to reassure his motives by justifying his own actions. By convincing Othello

All three texts present Deception as a destructive force, however the way in which it is portrayed differs. Streetcar and Chesil Beach display a form of deception that is more justifiable through Blanche and Florence, whilst Othello demonstrates a more severe deception through Iago, a mastermind in manipulation. The severity of Blanche and Florence’s deception is less than Iago’s due to their good intent; both are using deception not for their own personal gain but only for the benefit of others. Iago is the main protagonist of Deception in Othello. The structure of Othello’s plot is largely based on his self-centred plan to seek revenge. The opening scene of the play immediately submerges the audience in deception through Iago’s speech. In conversation with Roderigo, Iago vows that he follows his lord Othello, not out of service, but to seek revenge. He declares ‘I follow him to serve my turn upon him’. Stated quite openly at the start of the play it sets the stage for the unfolding of deception and deceit. Further in the play, Iago openly admits he is a sinner and goes as far as comparing his actions to those of ‘The devil’: ‘Divinity of hell! When devils will the blackest sins put

The one word that is most crucial to Othello is deception because Iago deceives Cassio, Emilia, and Roderigo. An example of intentional deception occurs in Act I Scene III Roderigo confesses to Iago that he is attracted to Desdemona. “What should I do? I confess it is my shame/ to be so fond, but it is not in my virtue to amend it.” (I, iii, 359-360) Iago sees Roderigo’s sadness and desperation for advice as the perfect opportunity to make money.

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.

The tragic plot of Othello hinges on the potential of the villain, Iago, to deceive other characters, above all Roderigo and Othello, through encouraging them to misinterpret what they see. Othello is prone to Iago 's ploys seeing that he himself is so sincere and

In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago appears to be trustworthy but in truth, he is manipulative and dubious. Iago is a villainous character and he tries to achieve his desires of becoming a lieutenant by disguising himself as a honest person. Iago uses trust as a weapon to defeat his enemies and he only serves Othello to eventually, “serve [his] turn upon him” (1.1.42). Moreover, Iago’s capability to hide true feelings allows him to betray his commander, Othello for his own benefits. Soon, Iago decides to take the first step of his revenge by breaking Othello’s marriage with Desdemona. For this purpose, he manipulates Desdemona’s father named, Brabantio by suggesting that “an old black ram is tupping [his] white ewe” (1.1.90) . The disgusting sexual

After reading and viewing the mob mentality pieces, I conclude in which mob mentality can create a cruel mindset that effect people negatively. One reason I believe that mob mentality is cruel is because Edmonds states that mobs, “lose their individual values and principals and adopt the group’s principles, which, during a riot, are usually to cause destruction and avoid detection.” The above states that people lose their ethical thinking, and decide to go along with the group and make horrendous decisions. Even though the mobs can be powerful and exciting, the individuals in a mob make bad decisions and feel at the time they will not be affected by the situation(s). In the photograph, the illustration shows how cruel a human being can be.

In the play, Iago skillfully manipulates Othello saying that Desdemona is unfaithful to him through telling false stories, tormenting him with thoughts, and persuading him to kill Desdemona and Cassio. These perceptions of truth from “Honest Iago” lead to Othello’s downfall; the truth in is often manipulated to Iago’s personal benefit, “Or to be naked with her friend in bed, an hour or more, not meaning any harm?” (IV, i, 1, 5-6) Iago is able to do this because of his honest reputation and is verbally skilled. He’s easily able to manipulate the real truth because of his name “Honest Iago.” From Plato’s The Republic and his Allegory of the Cave, the sunlight causes the shadows that the prisoners see inside the cave, “[...] they only

Iago's supposed honesty is ironically, also a result of his own lying, by making statements that help him sustain his reputation.  When he explains Roderigo and Cassio's fight to Othello, he claims to do it with a heavy heart, because he does not want to cause problems for Cassio.  However, he feels he must tell the truth; " I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth than it should do offense to Michael Cassio.  Yet I persuade myself to speak the truth." [Act II, scene iii].  By saying this, others are led to believe that the guilt of not speaking the truth is

The video and song itself is about a teenage girl played by the singer, Madonna, getting a boyfriend and getting pregnant without her overprotective father’s consent. Madonna’s father has always been close, loving and protective of his daughter, “teaching her right from wrong”. The boyfriend insists he will marry Madonna and help raise the baby, while her friends discourage her from keeping the baby. This led her to talk to her beloved father about it knowing he’d be upset. In the song it also says how Madonna was always “her daddy’s little girl”, just not a baby anymore. She says she knows what she’s doing and making a sacrifice by keeping the baby.

     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.

The relationship of the characters in Othello are shaped by the theme of truth and lies. Othello has trouble believing in his relationship with Desdemona because he considers too many outside opinions. Iago is the center of creating manipulations to alter the truth of the actual information. Therefore, Othello questions his fidelity with Desdemona because Iago plants different information to manipulate Othello’s mind and ultimately disrupt his relationship. According to Samuel Taylor Coleridge, “Othello wishes to excuse himself—to excuse himself by accusing” (151). Othello has others easily influence his decisions, in which he is incapable of trusting himself. Needless to say, Othello finds it easier to accuse Desdemona of her wrongdoings and for being unfaithful; he does not question Iago’s creditability. In addition, the theme of truth and lies arise from Othello’s inability to understand himself, so Othello initially has Iago dictate. For that reason, Iago is able to tell Othello anything, knowing that Othello does not question him. However, Othello does not see that Iago manipulates him, and Iago’s lies are perceived as the truth, as it contradicts what Desdemona says.

William Shakespeare’s Othello uses different and unique techniques in his language to express the nature of evil throughout the play. Verbal twists and the characters most importantly stress the act of evil. Iago, most of all is portrayed as the “villain” or “protagonist in the play. Shakespeare uses this character to set the basis of evil. Each plot point is spiraled further into tragedy due to the nature of Iago and his manipulative language towards the other main characters.

Themes of Deception in William Shakespeare's Othello Deception is one of the main themes running through Othello, along with love, pride and society. Indeed, it is deception that provides the fuel for the plot and deception that is leads to the classic downfall of the 'hero' as is common in Shakespeare tragedies. We see Macbeth and Hamlet both succumb to downfall. perhaps the most obvious deception is Iago's deception. The principal method that Iago uses to convince Othello of Desdemona´s infidelity is by using one of Othello´s most treasured possessions and telling Othello that his wife, Desdemona, has given it away to her lover, Cassio.

While filling Othello’s ears with lies and hatred, Iago says that “I know not that: but such a handkerchief I am sure it was your wife’s- did I today see Cassio wipe his beard with” (Shakespeare, 67). Iago is poisoning Othello’s ears by telling him about the ocular proof that Othello was asking for all along. Furthermore, Iago uses another excellent technique to manipulate Othello by making remember the past events. Iago says to Othello that, “she did deceive her father, marrying you, and when she seemed to shake, and fear your looks, she loved them most” (Shakespeare, 59). Iago is explaining to Othello that if Desdemona can deceive her father by marrying Othello, she can deceive him too. Iago also tells Othello that Desdemona fell for his looks because he is an outsider. Iago is excellent at manipulating the situation and filling others’ ears with lies, which makes his plan successful without anyone suspecting him.