The Manipulation Of Roderigo In Shakespeare's Othello

First, Iago cunningly deceives Roderigo into giving Iago all of his money by telling Roderigo it would win over the girl he loves Desdemona. Roderigo is an innocent weak man who falls in love with a women and trusts the wrong person to tell. In the very beginning of the play Iago already puts his plan in action, "Thou art sure of me.

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).

The first victim of Iago’s manipulation was Roderigo. Iago realises Roderigo will do anything to be with Desdemona, so Iago uses this to his advantage. “Thus do I ever make my fool my purse” (I, iii, 374). Iago plays with Roderigo’s emotions and hopes to swindle his money. Iago makes a fool out of Rodrigo because he is a rich guy who thinks that money will win over Desdemona’s heart. Roderigo buys her gifts and gives it to Iago thinking that he will give it to Desdemona. Instead, Iago keeps it for himself, and making a lot of profit in doing so. Iago does not waste his on knowledge and skills on something he can get someone else to do. “For I mine own gained knowledge should profane” (I, iii, 375). Iago convinces Roderigo that he will make Desdemona fall in love with him by giving her presents with Rodrigo’s money. This shows that he is sly and clever because he knows that Roderigo has a lot of money he can benefit from. Also, Iago gets something useful out of Roderigo that aids in his evil plans. “If I would time expend with such a snipe But for my sport and profit” (I, iii, 376-377). Roderigo is shown to be a very gullible character that believes everything Iago says. Iago keeps Rodrigo uninformed about his plans and continues to profit from him. Rodrigo follows Iago blindly, thinking the whole time that Iago is trying to aid him, but since Iago is driven to become lieutenant, he uses Roderigo for his money and something to rely on. Later Iago sends Roderigo to kill Cassio so Iago would not be suspected as a criminal. Iago’s plans begin to dwindle as Roderigo ends up dying by the hands of the manipulative Iago that supposedly helped Roderigo get with Desdemona.

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

Iago does not stop there, his jealously leads him to start infecting others and the first is Roderigo, a naïve gentleman in Venice. To put his scheme into motion, Iago informs Roderigo of Othello and Desdemona’s elopement, which causes Roderigo to become very upset because he too is in love with Desdemona and is willing to do anything to win her love. Iago plants the seed of jealousy in Roderigo’s mind because he knows he can now use Roderigo “for sport and profit” (I.iii.1180) by playing off his jealousy toward anyone who comes close to Desdemona. After breaking Roderigo down he then, builds him back up by telling him a way they can break up the marriage. Iago tells him:

In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago represents the transformational style of leadership because he is influential, assertive and inspires a shared vision. Iago’s desires are to change and or transform individuals throughout the play. He illustrates this concept as he deceived Roderigo into thinking that Desdemona holds affection for him. The purpose of which is to motivate his mate to cooperate in his plan. Iago has his own jealous motives for hating Othello and Cassio, yet he strongly drags Roderigo to his side. He develops feelings of hate and revenge. He gets Roderigo to dislike Cassio by making Roderigo jealous of Cassio's chances with Desdemona, he states, “Desdemona is directly in love with him, didst thou not see her paddle with the palm of his hand? Didst not mark that?”(II.i.214-215,246-246). Iago emphasizes his belief that Roderigo

Later on in the play, Iago lies to Roderigo when he tells him that Othello will be taking Desdemona with him to Mauritania. He suggests that if Roderigo ever wants to see Desdemona again he has to make sure that Othello extends his stay in Cyprus. To do so, he suggests that Cassio must be killed, “Why, by making him uncapable of Othello’s place—/ knocking out his brains.”(4.2.226-227). If Othello goes to Mauritania, Cassio will be assigned Othello’s place. By killing Cassio, Iago gets his revenge and Roderigo would have a chance to win over Desdemona. Roderigo’s character is used to portray the theme of manipulation. He is persuaded into doing Iago’s ill deeds. Iago is only after one thing, to be appointed lieutenant, and he will do whatever is necessary to reach his goal.

Roderigo is a co-conspirator with Iago but is not equal in developing a web of lies and jealousy designed to ensnare others. “Thus do I ever make my fool my purse (Shakespeare)”. Iago takes advantage of the desperate former suitor of Desdemona and controls his emotions like a puppeteer pulling strings. With the line, “But for my sport and profit”, it is clear that Iago sees enriching himself off Roderigo’s envy as an amusing task with such an easy mark (Shakespeare 1473). Roderigo is a simple-minded fool who believes that by giving money to a lowly ensign he can win the love of Desdemona, have her marriage to Othello dissolved, and restore her virtue.

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

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.

Clearly, Iago took advantage of Roderigo, a pious man. He deceived him and took his money. Likewise, Iago uses Roderigo once more by convincing him to kill Cassio. At first Roderigo was unwilling to assist Iago. He changes his mind and decides to assist Iago and this will help him win Desdemona.

            Iago’s evil is also demonstrated by his ability to manipulate people and situations through his words and through his actions.  The first victim to fall under Iago’s manipulative spell is the half witted Roderigo.  Iago recognizes that Roderigo is consumed by lust for Desdemona and would go to the extremes to make her his own.  Iago convinces Roderigo that the only way to win Desdemona’s heart is to give her money; “...Put money in thy purse...” (Act 1, sc. iii, line 339).  However, Iago is able to manipulate Roderigo’s infatuation and make himself a profit by taking the money intended for Desdemona and

Iago promised him that if he gave him all these expensive objects he would give him Desdemona’s heart. Roderigo was only focused on Desdemona so he couldn’t see the evil that was behind Iago’s plan. Iago basically uses everyone in this entire play, which leads to the death of many characters. Iago character is meant to manipulate people because he assumed and got jealous which causes him to make bad decisions.

not pure love so he still has a chance to claim Desdemona as his own.

A victim of the villainous Iago, Roderigo was jealous of Othello’s marriage with Desdemona and tried to break it up by hiring Iago. His jealousy is seen taking its toll on Roderigo after he reacts to the confession of Desdemona’s love for Othello in front of the Duke and Brabantio. After hearing this, Roderigo feels as though all hope is lost and expresses his despair to Iago saying,