Manipulation In Othello Essay

She is then disowned by Barbantio with no further words directed to her by him but is referenced as a liar and should be kept on watch for her conniving ways by him towards Othello. Which then begins Shakespeare’s in depth writing on Othello and Desdemona’s relationship where she is as “a child to chiding” (4.2.119-120). Not even a moment after her father leaves Othello commands Iago to tell his wife, Emilia, to tend to Desdemona as a babysitter. Irony occurs within (2.1.169-171) where Desdemona challenges Iago and stands as an independent woman for Emilia objecting to his conclusion, that women no matter how beautiful or intelligent play the same “foul pranks”. However, as Othello’s jealousy and rage arises throughout the play it seems as her character has to fight even harder to breathe under his control; symbolic for her death of suffocation. Desdemona is a gentle women living under her love’s control with no power to object even if she had opposed this type of controlling relationship. As a higher class woman she had more power and respect over other women characters such as Emilia or Bianca, but is this dominance enough to feel in control of oneself? It is believed that Shakespeare added the 2 other

Subsequently, a number of Desdemona’s speech foreshadows her later death. She said she would “rather die than give” Cassio’s “cause away” and it is a tragedy that she eventually does die for Cassio. The manipulative liar in Iago and his ability to adjust his way of thinking according to who he speaks to allows him undo Othello’s mentality and imagination with thoughts of Cassio and Desdemona interacting sexually, which brings about Desdemona’s untimely death. Her ignorance to how her innocent friendship with Cassio will turn against her is exactly how she’s a tragic victim.

Somehow Iago manages to manipulate Othello into thinking that Desdemona cheated on him. When he demands that she show him the handkerchief he had given her, and she does not, he is convinced that she is being unfaithful. This is when he decides that he must kill her. Later in the novel Othello suffocates Desdemona out of jealousy.

Her character is portrayed as angelic through the use of heaven and hell imagery, where she is referred to as an “angel”. Desdemona was a loyal wife from the beginning of the play to Othello when Iago revealed their marriage to Brabantio, she describes her ‘divided duty’ as a daughter and a wife, but as tradition dictates, her commitment shall pass to her husband. She is a loyal wife to Othello but he does not see this, because of Iago’s manipulation and her constantly being blamed for being unchaste and “cuckolding” Othello. Throughout they play, Desdemona remains pure and loyal to Othello and when he questions her infidelity she responds with, “Your wife, my lord. Your true and loyal wife.” (Iv, II, 33). When Othello is manipulated to think that Desdemona is cuckolding him it makes him mad and eventually causes him to lose his sense and murder Desdemona. This shows no loyalty to Desdemona he didn’t even trust her enough to listen to her and sort out the conflict. Desdemona is perhaps the most loyal character in the play as even on her death bed, Desdemona refused to acknowledge Othello as her murderer and condemns herself for her own death, “Nobody; I myself. Farewell; commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell!” (V, II, 138). It is in her last moments of life that she asserts her loyalty to Othello, “I never did offend you in my life; never loved Cassio but with such general

Shakespeare's “Othello” is a tragedy written about a black lieutenant and his terrific outcome. Being manipulated by the villain Iago, drives him to kill his own wife. Othello is responsible for Desdemona's death because he allowed Iago to manipulate him, he didn't trust Desdemona and strangled her while she slept.

In William Shakespeare’s play Othello, the Iago is the most important character. It is his dreams, hopes and desires that turn him evil, bringing out the worst possible characteristics in order to achieve all the things he wants. Iago’s manipulative traits, deceitful actions and love for Othello eventually cause the death Emilia, Desdemona and Othello himself.

In the given passage, Desdemona illustrates her view of her relationship and stance against doing any wrong by Othello;

She is very honest and sincere, and that makes her naïve and vulnerable. When she is first accused by Othello, she does not realize the extent of Othello's jealousy, and instead of explaining thoroughly to him what has happened, she expects Othello to get to the right track by himself. Instead of explaining to Othello that she has lost it, she just tries to change the topic, and later links Othello's behavior to "…something, sure of state,… …hath puddle his clear spirit…" .

Othello’s trust for Iago enables Iago to completely discredit Othello as the good guy of the play when Iago manipulates him into thinking Desdemona was unfaithful to him with Cassio. Even though Othello must know in his heart that Desdemona would not betray him, he is so caught up by Iago's efforts and has fallen for his manipulative lies, that all rational thoughts abandons Othello and he ultimately ends up murdering his wife since to Othello betrayal was immoral. At the end of play, even Othello can hardly believe what he has done because he thinks of himself as, "One not easily jealous, but, being wrought, perplexed in the extreme..." meaning that he has acted out of character and only in the interests of honor. Iago’s betrayal to those such as Othello and Desdemona, ultimately successfully destroyed everyone, himself included.

We see Desdemona as a young beautiful white female, madly in love with a powerful black man. She is strong inside but doesn't tend to show that side of her as much as she would want to. She tends to play the peace-maker in her marriage and is always trying to understand Othello. Throughout the play she struggles to prove her loyalty and respect to her husband, no matter what it takes she tries to be a

Othello is not hurt because of a failing love, but because of how it makes him look and hurts his pride. This is when things get ugly. Othello puts more trust in Iago than in his own wife. This is due, in part, to Iago's manipulative skills, but mostly to Othello's lack of communication skills, especially with his wife. But Desdemona does not do anything to mediate the situation and lets the condition escalate, and her self-blaming attitude only perpetuates Othello's misgiven notion that she has been falsely accused . After Othello strikes her in front of the whole dinner party, and orders her around like a peasant,

Tragedy is mostly seen in characters pure and innocent. The deaths of those whom are innocent have a blindness to see the deceitfulness in others. Characters die who do not deserve their unfortunate fates. Desdemona is the heart of Iago’s plan and her loyalty to Othello eventually leads to her death bed. Emilia’s husband is the villain she hates, but giving him the one item he needs dooms everyone. Othello falls into Iago’s plan as soon as his fatal flaw of jealousy comes into play. In the tragic play Othello, by William Shakespeare, the innocent characters Desdemona, Emilia, and Othello are lead to their demise because they are manipulated into trusting Iago.

Desdemona is shown as the most pure and proper of the women in Othello and is put into the center of all the drama. The men of the play manipulate her image of a naive lover to being a “ ...strumpet!” (V.ii.94). Desdemona is oblivious to what is going on around her and stays loyal to her morals but Iago’s rumours lure Othello to thinking otherwise. Desdemona’s true morals is her absolute devotion to her husband. She stayed loyal to her lover throughout the entire play and in the end it did her no good. “Nobody; I myself. Farewell! Commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell!” Desdemona on her deathbed, still defends her Lord’s actions. She does not fight back nor call for help, Desdemona begs for her life asking to “Kill me (Desdemona) tomorrow; let me live tonight!” (V.ii.97). She is not as strong-willed like the other ladies and is Shakespeare’s example of the archetype of the innocence and has the bases of a flat character. After the

Iago had most of the blame in the play because his ambition got the best of him. Desdemona and Cassio were just innocent people who were blamed for actions they didn’t do and had to pay the consequences. Desdemona and Cassio still have fault for trust someone so evil. Love, jealousy and lies can make you do crazy things, especially when you trust the wrong person related to this because Othello was jealous of Desdemona because of the lies of Iago. Iago let his jealousy for wanting to be lieutenant get the best of him.

These small, pernicious actions by Iago eventually lead to mass destruction and death. After killing Desdemona, Othello realizes that she was innocent and it was only Iago tricking him: "My wife, my wife! What wife? I have no wife. Oh insupportable!