The play Othello was written in the 1600’s; there were many themes to pull out while reading it. One that stood out to me the most was manipulation. There are many tactics available to get what you want and make people your puppets. Playing with their emotions and mind, by being charming, and putting on an act pretending to be interested in what’s best for them. In Othello by Shakespeare, we see how easy it is to skillfully influence gullible people using similes and dramatic irony. This play started out with the beautiful Desdemona and the Moor Othello. Marrying behind closed doors, their decision caused a lot of commotion. Jealous men of the love and power they shared planned to shed blood. Devious Iago made a plan to get Othello out of …show more content…
This ties into the theme because Iago did snag him in his game. He got Cassio to sell everything he had and give it him in return for many intriguing lies. Another literary device Shakespeare used to get the theme manipulation across was dramatic irony. I like the way he used this in the play because it gives the people reading insight on things the characters will eventually find out but currently aren’t aware of. One quote that I thought was particularly important was “…. It is my natures plague to spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy shapes faults that are not… It were not for your quiet nor your good not for my manhood, honest, and wisdom to let you know my thoughts” (Act 3, Scene 3, line 152-158) because Iago was starting to say things about Cassio looking suspicious when leaving Desdemona just before this came out his mouth. Then telling Othello he didn’t want to tell him about his thoughts because it would destroy his peace of mind only gave Othello more skepticism about his wife’s infidelity, going right along with Iago’s plan. Another example of dramatic irony was when Desdemona had dropped the handkerchief her husband gave to her and Emilia picked it up to give to Iago. “(picks up the handkerchief) I am glad I have found this napkin, this was her first remembrance from the Moor. My wayward husband hath a hundred times
Shakespeare is prominent in his use of recurring themes throughout his works, particularly those of love, death, and betrayal. All these themes are present in Othello. Most dominant, however, are manipulation and jealousy. Jealousy runs the characters’ lives in Othello from the beginning of the play, when Roderigo is jealous of Othello because he wishes to be with Desdemona, and to the end of the play, when Othello is furious with jealousy because he believes Cassio and Desdemona have been engaging in an affair, but manipulation the prominent action that fuels the jealousy within Othello. Some characters’ jealousy is fashioned by other characters. Iago is involved in much of this, creating lies and implementing confusing situations.
“Othello” begins in middle of an argument between Roderigo and Iago. Desdemona and Othello’s wedding is the main topic of their argument. Desdemona is a Venetian beauty who is treated as a possession of her father, Brabantio, but by marrying an outsider Othello, she goes against the tradition of venetian custom which she is expected to marry a rich man to maintain her family’s honour. Iago reports Brabantio that his daughter is being stolen by Othello. “Awake! What ho, Brabantio! Thieves, thieves!” (1.1. 76). This quote depicts how unmarried women were treated back in 16’s century. However, while everyone in the play thinks that Othello has stolen Desdemona to marry him, Desdemona speaks herself to prove that she truly loves Othello. “That I love the Moor to love with him” (1.3. 246). Also, she even asks for her permission to go to Cyprus with Othello because she can’t stand the thought of remaining at home, which doesn’t have any adventure. There is a comparison between her social class and her
Iago is very notorious for his villainous acts throughout the play “Othello”, by William Shakespeare. Iago’s motives drive him to manipulate and deceive other characters so his “monstrous” (I, iii, 395) plot would succeed. Iago manages to con Roderigo to take his money. Iago also tries to ruin Othello and Desdemona’s relationship by using Cassio as a bait. In this passage, Iago explains how he will manipulate Rodrigo, Cassio and, most importantly, Othello to achieve his goals.
The passage makes clear the lack of communication between husband and wife. Othello is made to appear stubborn and ignorant, and Desdemona is made to appear naive. It seems as if their marriage will not survive, and Iago will succeed.
Manipulation is a very puissant term. It is usually viewed in a negative sense by its definition of skillfully handling or controlling someone or something. Manipulation is a scheme used by people everyday to achieve their goals. It is an attempt to cunningly outwit another to gain personal advantage. In order to outwit the other person, people tend to exploit the person's weakness, which generates more situations favouring them. In Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible and Shakespeare's Othello, the villains, or in other terms, manipulators, Abigail Williams and Iago illustrate the essence of manipulation. Both characters take advantage of their state or situation and skillfully turn others into puppets which later goes on to having a huge impact on the fate other characters.
The verbal irony used in the play is sometimes zany. Some of the lines are found to be the exact opposite of what is actually the truth, but in such a manner is drives the audience crazy. This is especially found between Iago and Othello. Othello would be found saying things as: Honest Iago . . . "(V.II.92), "I know, Iago, Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter” (II.III.263). Iago has poured his poison into Othello and made him truly deem that he is his friend and protector. It shows how much trust Othello has in Iago, and shows the reader how it is going to waste. One line that shows great irony is: "O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock the meat it feeds on” (III.III.195-96). But the whole reason Iago wants to ruin Othello is because he is jealous, yet he counsels Othello on the matter instead. In the end, Othello does kill his wife because he in fact is jealous. Verbal irony is found throughout this play probably the most. It adds a bit of humor while tormenting the characters, who don’t know the truth.
Tragically, this pure, innocent love obsession more often than not, develops into a bitter and resentful obsession that will spite one or both parties. This is clear in Shakespeare’s Othello. Desdemona’s and Othello’s harmonious marriage is warped by the Machiavellian villain Iago, who is insanely jealous and obsessed himself. Othello finds true contentment in Desdemona; she truly comprises his ‘other half’, as a spousal cliché states. She provides serenity in the life of a soldier who has known war since the age of seven. Unfortunately, this serenity and this union is what Iago seeks to undo. Expert in his understanding, he seizes upon lines previously spoken: “Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see:/ She has deceived her father, and
William Shakespeare’s Othello, the Moor of Venice is a play of great manipulation and jealousy. Iago is the antagonist character of the play Othello. Iago becomes irate and filled with jealousy when Othello names Michael Cassio as his lieutenant, because Iago believed he should have been the one promoted not Michael Cassio. By manipulating everyone around him, Iago portrays himself as an honest noble man whom can be trusted. Iago being known for the honest man he earns everyone’s trust and therefore learns their weakness for his ultimate plan of destruction. Iago’s greatest skill is disguising his manipulative schemes of destroying and betraying the ones around him with what he leads people to believe as honesty. Iago uses their
Iago is deceitful, by saying his love was but a sign and ultimately leading Brabantio to
But not only this, he goes on to say that he believes that Othello has had sex with his wife, Emilia “Hath leaped into my seat”. In this silioquy Iago shares the beginning of his plan, to make Othello so jealous with the idea that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair “jealousy so strong that judgement cannot cure”. However because of the reasons he put forward to Roderigo earlier in the play, we cannot be sure that Iago is telling the truth to the audience, even though he is seen to be confiding in the audience with his master plan. Through the use of this silioquy, and the others in the play, Shakespeare creates dramatic irony, where the audience know more about what is happening than the characters themselves do. This assists his portrayal of Othello as a tragic hero, as the audience is able to see his fatal flaw, and learn the devastating result because of it.
In the most figurative of senses, Othello says that if a person has been robbed without noticing anything, it is the same as if they have not been robbed at all. This assertion by Othello serves to highlight the moral issue of what stealing is. Although being robbed literally is not good, Othello’s assertion actually implies an opinion on the age-old question of if ignorance is bliss. Othello is correct since if you can stay ignorant about the missing item forever, the robbery never happened to your mind in the first place.
“Some men just want to watch the world burn,” (Alfred [Michael Caine,] Batman; The Dark Knight). William Shakespeare uses a variety of literary devices throughout his works, but his use of dramatic irony specifically puts his readers at the edge of their seats. Being full of jealousy and betrayal, the plot of Othello is guided by this playwright’s usage of dramatic irony. Through the use of dramatic irony and characterization Shakespeare creates Iago, the most sinister character in all of literature.
Lastly, Iago talking to Cassio. Iago is pretending to be sincere and not understand why Cassio is feeling
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.
The tragic play Othello by William Shakespeare, discusses the relationship between Othello and Desdemona that begins as loving, but abruptly alters to a hateful relationship due to a lack of truth. Dishonesty and misunderstandings between Desdemona and Othello drive the collapse of their marriage as well as Iago’s deceitful words which force Othello to discredit Desdemona’s love. William Shakespeare portrays the fall of the relationship of Desdemona and Othello due to his ability of believing false delusions he hears about his wife and the reason for this is from his distrust for women, his jealousy and the fact that he truly lacks confidence in himself, leads him to doubt the love Desdemona has for him.