Iago's Manipulation Essay

It is a common misconception to say that Roderigo is an inferior character in Othell, and that he plays no major role due to his simple superobjective which he does not achieve—which is to be with Desdemona by whatever means necessary. However, Shakespeare’s purpose for Roderigo, which makes him important to the play, is quite different from what Roderigo desires. Roderigo’s superobjective is introduced in the first act as we see Roderigo and Iago confront Brabantio about the whereabouts of Desdemona. In the first act we also see how badly Roderigo longs to be with Desdemona when he says that “I will incontinently drown myself” (I.iii.305). We begin to see the power Iago has over Roderigo and because of this Roderigo begins to appear weak

Roderigo believes that Iago will help him win Desdemona's love, so she will abandon Othello. In the play, Iago states “I say put money in thy purse. It cannot be that Desdemona should continue her love to the moor-put money in thy purse-nor he his to her” (1.1.385). Iago persuades Roderigo to pay him for his service, which would only be the beginning of his manipulations. Roderigo has a deep love and respect for his companion Iago, whom he trusts, as witnessed by his willingness to give him money. The adoration Roderigo has

The theme of jealousy is portrayed through various characters within the play. Iago increases Roderigo’s jealousy of Othello. By reflecting on the jealousy he bears within himself, Iago brings out the jealousy in others. Roderigo sees Othello as an opponent, which he has to compete against in order to win Desdemona’s heart. He expresses his emotions towards Othello when he states, “What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe,/ If he can carry it thus!”(1.1.67-68). Roderigo says that Othello only got Desdemona out of luck and he will not be able to carry it off. It is because of this jealousy that Roderigo continues to seek Iago’s assistance. Iago tends

Iago decides to use Roderigo’s desperation to his advantage, “ It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission/ of the will. Come, be a man!... I say, put money in thy purse. It cannot be that Desdemona should 〈long〉continue/ her love to the Moor-put money in thy purse”(I, iii, 377-378, 384-386) Iago is deceiving Roderigo in this quote by taking advantage of his desperation for advice to make money for himself.

“Othello” begins with a quarrel of sorts between Iago and Roderigo, and, as such, it serves several functions. Its tone easily catches our interest, and it reveals Iago’s true nature: he must make amends to Roderigo for failing to arouse Desdemona’s interest in him. After all, Iago intends to keep a hand in the wealthy nobleman’s pocket, which, Roderigo says belongs to Iago “as if the strings were thine.” Iago apologizes profusely for failing Roderigo and claims that he never dreamed that such an elopement might occur: “If I ever did dream of such a matter,” he says “Abhor me.” Exactly how long Iago has been capitalising upon the gullibility of Roderigo,

Roderigo also plays as a pawn in Iago's plan when he is lied to by Iago about getting married to Desdemona. For example when Iago says to Roderigo, "Plague him with flies"(I,i,71). Iago uses this metaphor to manipulate Roderigo into going to Desdemona's father and telling him that his daughter is married to the Moor, Othello. Iago wants Brabantio, Desdemona's father, to dislike the Moor because Othello did not make Iago his lieutenant. Roderigo is told by Iago that if he tells Brabantio that Othello and Desdemona are married than Brabantio might get them divorced or break them up. This way Roderigo will have a chance with Desdemona and express his love to her. Another metaphor that helps Iago with his plan is "Thus do I ever make my fool my purse"(I, iii, 375). Iago had been convincing Roderigo that money can buy him anything, even Desdemona's love. Roderigo believes him, blinded by his love for Desdemona, and sells his land to get money for gifts. Iago had been using Roderigo for his money and none of the gifts and jewels Roderigo gave Iago to give to Desdemona actually reached her. Roderigo who is crazy about Desdemona gets so carried away with himself that he is too late to realize that he had been tricked and used for his money. Roderigo is deceived by Iago whom he trusted so dearly

He achieves his goals by gaining his victims’ trust and appearing as though he is a good person whose only interest is to help other people, however, each time someone begins to feel as though they are forming a bond with him, in reality Iago is only obtaining information and using the person to his advantage. His primary target is Roderigo, who is blinded by his love for Desdemona, but she already married to Othello. Because of this, he seeked to get advice from Iago who made a promise that he could help Roderigo to win Desdemona over and to take her away from Othello. Iago begins his treachery at this point in the play by giving Roderigo a false sense of hope, that at some point he would be able to have Desdemona for himself. After giving him this information, Iago makes Roderigo give him something in return, and then reaffirms Roderigo's hopes of having Desdemona, as is done in the quote, "The food that to him now is as luscious as locusts, shall be to him shortly as acerb as the coloquintida. She must change for youth; when she is sated with his body, she will find the error of her choice. She must have change, she must; therefore put money in thy purse."

Iago is aware that Roderigo would do anything for him and is foolish enough to consistently believe his lies. To get revenge on Othello, Iago intelligently uses Roderigo’s love of Othello’s wife, Desdemona, to drive his evil plan into action. Blinded by his infatuation of Desdemona, Roderigo clearly does not understand that Iago is manipulating him. In Act 1, Iago says to Roderigo, “Thou art sure of me. Go, make money.

Roderigo uses his wealth to try and control Iago and to buy Desdemona’s love in order to hide his own insecurities. This is shown when Roderigo confronts Iago about the money he has been giving him to try and pay for Desdemona’s love but it fails. Iago intends to keep extorting Roderigo for his money, even though Roderigo says it belongs to Iago, "as if the strings were thine". Iago apologizes for failing Roderigo, and Roderigo repents on his accusations towards him. "If ever I did dream of such a matter, Abhor me" (1.1 5-6). Here Roderigo is

Roderigo has obsession to Desdemona and he is willing to sacrifice everything to have her even by means of selling his properties just to assure that he has his eyes on her when he join the Venetian forces. Roderigo’s ego pushes him even more when his rival Othello reminded him that they have different colour that makes him feels more superior than his rival for Othello is just a Moor. Roderigo’s pursuits of having Desdemona made him follow Iago and he became his puppet. Roderigo’s struggles made him unaware and blinded him by hate and greed that he lost his own

Iago also knows that Roderigo will do anything for Desdemona’s love. Iago says, “Thus I do ever make a fool my purse” (1.3.355). Iago tells this to Roderigo which means that he is willing to manipulate anyone as long as he gives him jewels and money. This quote makes him look brilliant because he knows that Roderigo has a lot of money and will do anything to be with Desdemona. I agree when D. Madison says, “In Othello, he knows just what to say to sound innocent. Iago is the ultimate master of manipulation”. Iago uses his knowledge wisely and uses it to manipulate others for his own satisfaction, and knows how to manipulate them because he has analyzed them before, and that is what makes him so good at being evil. Iago is fully aware what he is doing and has no sympathy for anyone like he says himself; “And what’s he then that says play the villain, When this advice is free I give, and honest” (2.3.299).

Hasn’t one ever heard the saying, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer?” In Othello by Shakespeare, the use of manipulation to get what Iago wants represents the main purpose. When not offered the lieutenant position by General Othello, Iago decides to plot his revenge. Shakespeare uses much irony, symbolism, and imagery in order to inform his readers of Iago’s tasks. The physiological manipulation in which Iago uses is a specific type aimed to change behavior and perception of others, without them knowing it is occurring. This abusive tactic is successful, therefore destroying Othello in the end. Iago acts as his friend, but in reality is his enemy. In order for him to achieve his revenge Iago must accomplish four specific steps of Othello’s

Iago makes a complete fool out of Roderigo. In fact, as play starts Iago is taking advantage of Roderigo. Roderigo remarks, "That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse as if the strings were thine." [Act I, Scene I, Line 2]. Throughout the play, Iago leads Roderigo by the collar professing that he "hate(s) the Moor" [Act I, Scene III, Line 344] and telling Roderigo to "make money" [Act I, Scene III, Line 339] to give Desdemona gifts to win her over. During the Iago keeps the gifts that Roderigo purchases for Desdemona for himself. Roderigo eventually begins to question Honest Iago, saying "I think it is scurvy, and begin to find myself fopped in it." [Act IV, Scene II, Line 189]. When faced with this accusation, Iago simply offers that killing Cassio will

Iago manages to convince Roderigo into not killing himself by saying that if Roderigo should save money and become rich, Desdemona will surely leave Othello for him. Roderigo’s jealously makes several appearances in the play during his attempts at trying to win Desdemona over. Roderigo’s jealously is a crucial part of the story, because Iago takes advantage of it to manipulate Roderigo, using him as a pawn in his masterplan to take down Othello. When Roderigo chases after Desdemona, Iago makes it look like Desdemona is the one pursuing Roderigo. This makes Othello jealous

Serving as a second antagonist to the play, with Iago being the main antagonist, Roderigo begins his part in the play in a jealous induced wretched over his love Desdemona, where he says, “it is silliness to live when to live is torment, and then have we a prescription to die when death is our physician” (Shakespeare, Othello, 1.3.52-53) But this anecdote is just the beginning of a series of jealousy provoked anecdotes that stir dilemma throughout the story. The reason for such jealousy is his love Desdemona is now newly married to the Venetian military commander Othello, and cannot bear to see Desdemona with another man. Although Roderigo may sound rather wicked in his doings, he is actually anything but, he is kind at heart but also very unintelligent, which leads him to be deceived by Iago time and time again. Iago is Roderigo’s wingman that he himself is jealous but for reasons related to power and not a woman, Iago sees Roderigo’s weakness as an opportunity to manipulate him by giving him false hope, such as telling Roderigo to overwhelm Desdemona with gifts and