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Manipulation And Deceit In Shakespeare's Othello

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In the play Othello, the theme of manipulation and deceit plays a major role in the storyline. Iago sets out to manipulate and deceit the characters by revealing and exploiting their fatal flaws to bring about their downfall. Iago, who may be literature's most impressive master of deception as quoted by A.C Bradley, plots with flawless sophistication, carefully manipulating Othello without any real proof into believing that Desdemona has been unfaithful. His understanding of the human psyche is phenomenal, as is his ability to orchestrate a complicated interweaving of pre-planned scenarios. This is seen throughout the play when Iago shares his soliloquys with the audience when no other characters are present, slowly carving and developing his …show more content…

Iago uses Othello's jealousy of Cassio to make Othello believe that he is having an affair with Desdemona. Iago then uses Desdemona's trust and love for Othello to bring about her downfall. But, he also exploits Desdemona’s virtuous nature of helping people, making her talk on behalf of Cassio persistently in order to enrage Othello and develop his suspicion. Iago even uses his wife's trust to make her not notice his schemes. He makes her steal Desdemona’s handkerchief, yet, her trust of her husband fails to make her understand Iago’s plot against Desdemona and Othello. Iago also uses Cassio's fatal flaw, his admiration for Desdemona and his trust and friendship in order to exploit him. He also exploits Roderigo’s love for Desdemona. But, Iago has his own weakness too, greed. He is greedy for power and is jealous of Cassio for being promoted above him, and will do anything to stop Othello and …show more content…

Bradley believes that Othello’s downfall lies with the fact that he is not observant and his nature tends outwards. Bradley also believes that Othello is easily susceptible to jealousy and infatuation. That, if he is convinced, he will act with the authority of a judge Furthermore, Bradley states that although, Iago had proved his faithfulness to Othello, Othello’s confidence was misplaced, but it was no sign of stupidity for his opinion of Iago was the same as almost everyone that knew him. Thus, Bradley believes that it would be unusual for Othello not to be moved by the warnings of a friend. Likewise, Bradley also believes that Othello changes throughout the play and that, Iago’s poison changes him for the worse. He mentions, “In the first place, Othello's mind, for all its poetry, is very simple. He is not observant. His nature tends outward. He is quite free from introspection, and is not given to reflection. Emotion excites his imagination, but it confuses and dulls his intellect.” We can tell from this that A.C Bradley believes that Othello’s downfall lies with the fact that he is not observant and his nature tends outwards. Likewise, A.C Bradley believes that it is the internal imperfection in Othello that brings him down. He believes that his tendency to not verify and cross check Iago’s claims and statements, and the fact that he does not

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