Iago's Soliloquy In Act 1

In Act 1 scene 3, Iago uses Roderigo’s love for Desdemona as a weapon to manipulate him. Roderigo will do anything to have Desdemona and Iago sees this as a path to get his revenge. Iago states how stupid Roderigo is as soon as he leaves and how he hates Othello, “Thus do I ever make my fool my purse. For I mine own gained knowledge should profane if I would time expend with such a snipe but for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor” (1.3.---). It is obvious to see the two faces of Iago throughout the whole paly. Iago hates Othello which is Iago’s reality; however, he appears loyal and trustworthy in front of Othello. Iago is beginning his chess match. His strategy is much like that of a chess master to position his pawns to protect his reputation, while bringing down the beloved

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).

Iago claims to “hate the Moor” (Act 1, sc 3, line 368) so he wants to

Even Othello, whom Iago had built such a deep trust with, started to put two and two together. It was hard for Othello to actually believe Emilia (who was telling the truth), especially after he came so far as to kill his wife from believing what Iago told him. Shakespeare uncovers a significant lesson at the end of his play of never underestimating someone, no matter who they are. In this case, Iago underestimated a woman, and at the end, she came forth and stabbed him in the back. Shakespeare made the distinct and obvious choice of having a woman be the person to break apart Iago’s plans, to show that underestimation is extremely dangerous. Iago’s manipulations of other characters should signify to Othello’s readers that you should never trust someone else to tell you how you feel. Each individual has their own unique emotions, and to trust someone so much as to let them control your actions can be dangerous; intentions can be just as impure as Iago’s! Shakespeare teaches his audience that you know yourself better than anyone else

Iago has many characteristics that work in his favor making him all the more dangerous. He is charming, intelligent, deceitful, and a clever wordsmith. He uses his language and he self-awareness to create a false perception of himself, one he wishes others to believe. He gladly uses these characteristics to his advantage by playing on people’s insecurities. Frequently, playing on Othello’s non-Venetian status. Iago tells Othello about untruths about Venetian women since Othello isn’t familiar. Saying that she married him for his status and background not necessarily for love, but this is not her fault, this is just how Venetian women are raised. In addition, that she held back her natural feelings to be with Othello. “ Foh! One may smell in such a will most rank, foul disproportions, thoughts unnatural but pardon me – I do not in position distinctly speak of her; though I fear her will recoiling to her better judgment, may fall to match you with her country forms,

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.

Iago’s soliloquy on page 572 bring forth information about Iago’s inner thoughts and foreshadows other events in the play. Between lines 370-373 is a conversation between Iago and Roderigo, and in the conversation Iago seems to be an honest and trustworthy friend. That quickly changes when William Shakespeare gives the audience an understanding of Iago’s deceit and anger. When Iago says, “gained knowledge should profane…with such a snipe but for my sport and profit (lines 374-376)” he confesses that Roderigo is a fool that can easily be taken advantage of by him. Then he goes on to explain how he “hates the Moor (line 376)”, because of rumors he heard about Othello being with his wife. Not only does he have distrust for Othello, but also Cassio. Iago pauses at least three times to emphasize his thought process. Iago says, “after some

By the 5th century C.E. the western roman empire crumbled. There have been many historians with serval different theories such as military failures, almost unbearable taxation, natural disasters and religious change. The roman empire did not completely collapse as the eastern side known as the Byzantine empire lasted a fair amount of time after the fall of western Rome. One of the most popular theories and possibility the most straight forward is a mass amount of military failures. Invasions by barbarian tribes like the goths, Visigoth king Alaric raided the city of Rome and this may have made Rome look weak as it is believed to be raided several more times.

“A liar begins with making falsehood appear like truth and ends with making truth itself appear like falsehood,” said William Shenstone. This I believe to be so, in the story Othello, Iago was conceived as the most dishonest individual in the plot. Iago played mind games on everyone without them even knowing. Iago is like a snake, he first deceives Othello by turning him against his wife Desdemona. Iago then proves his theories with Desdemona sleeping with her longtime friend Cassio to be true. Next Iago proves his love with his wife Emilia to be false. Emilia is the complete opposite of Iago. She is even blind to her husband’s actions. Emilia is all about what is right. This couple is not your everyday fairytale couple, of course relationships go through obstacles, but I would consider theirs to be a maze.

His "med'cine works! Thus credulous fools are caught...." [pg. 1284, Line 44] Iago poisons people's thoughts, creating ideas in their heads without implicating himself. "And what's he then that says I play the villain, when this advice is free I give, and honest," [Act II, Scene III, Line 299] says Iago, the true master of deception. People rarely stop to consider the possibility that Honest Iago could be deceiving them or manipulating them.

The best villains have really thought out plans with end goals that justify their sometimes outrageous plans. Iago is one of those villains. Iago’s goal is clouded because his reasoning is twisted. Iago starts to let his goal be known when Othello and Desdemona are cuddling up. Iago hopes “set down the pegs that make this music,/As honest as I am” (2,1,198-199). From this point on it is believed that Iago wants to bring Othello down to his level. Iago wants to bring Othello’s happiness down to his level of happiness which seems to be none before he started his plan. Another interpretation is Iago could also mean that he wants to brings Othello’s relationship with Desdemona down to the same place as Iago’s relationship with Emilia. Iago does not trust Emilia because he thinks other men have been in his bed and then he tries to convince Othello of the same. This becomes a very apparent when he names three goals: to be “even'd with him, wife for wife”, to “ put the Moor/At least into a jealousy so strong/That judgment cannot cure” and to “Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward me” (2,1,295-304). It seems that Iago is making up reasons for himself to get back at Othello and justify his goal. Based Othello’s character he does not seem like the man to have relations with a married woman especially not one of his soldiers. It is also ironic that Iago wants puts a jealousy in about Cassio when it is jealousy

A quote that I feel shows a case of Iago being very manipulative is found in the end of Act 1 Scene 3. I think this scene is a great depiction of Iago using his intelligence of word use to manipulate one of the characters. Iago manipulates Roderigo into trusting him, thus, showing Iago he can take advantage by pretending to help “I could never better stead thee than now (P.546).” This shows Roderigo that Iago cares about his well being and doesn’t want him committing suicide or “drowning”. Instead, Iago is using his manipulative traits to convince Roderigo to do some of his dirty work for him.

Othello had much respect towards Iago and put much trust into him. Iago was very good a hiding his true intentions to take down Othello’s relationship.

While Iago appears to be a good tactician, he is willing to do everything in his power in order to upgrade his position, regardless of the effects that his actions might have on other individuals. His fury is amplified by the fact that he believes that Othello slept with his wife, Emilia. This information points toward the idea that Iago would have second thoughts about working against Othello if the circumstances would not force him to do so.

In the opening scene, Iago becomes very jealous of Othello because of his position in the Venetian Army. Iago frequently refers to Othello as the “Moor” and the “Black Ram”, with these statements Iago is implying that Othello is worse than white people and because of his race he should not hold the position he does in the army (1.1.130). With this in mind Iago plants a falsehood into himself that Othello has slept with his wife Emila, “leapt into his seat” (2.1.318). He uses this lie as part of his fuel for his actions to Othello. He upholds this falsehood so truthfully that it seems he truly believes Othello