The Mediterranean Sea of Jealousy
Harriet Williams delves into the waters of jealousy and deceit in Oliver Parker’s Othello.Adapting Shakespeare for the screen can be problematic, as Oliver Parker discovered with his 1995 directing debut, Othello. Portraying the actions of a noble Moor who brutally sacrifices his beloved wife over a strategically placed handkerchief, or Justifying Iago, whose evil manoeuvrings create an irrevocable wreckage out of the lives of at least six people, all because he was passed over for a promotion, were some of the challenges he faced. I sat down with Oliver Parker, himself, to find out how calamitous jealousy can be when unimpeded.
Mr Parker, why did you chose to make Iago the central character in the film
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This multi-facetted characterisation of Iago is developed throughout the opening sequence of the film. His use of a caring and friendly tone when addressing Roderigo is sharply juxtaposed to Iago’s soliloquy directed to the audience, highlighting his ability to manipulate those around him and the ease at which he does so. Thus, establishing a false reputation which is invaluable to his scheme of deceit.
Another key aspect to the portrayal of Iago’s malignant nature is through motifs to illustrate how he sows the seeds in the garden of Cyprus.
Speaking of your use of symbolism, you’ve come under fire recently for your overt use of visual aids. Why did you feel it was a necessary device to convey the interconnection between jealousy and revenge? As Shakespeare’s original play was about 3560 lines, which is far too long to put in a film, some of the key ideas had to be portrayed visually. Luckily the big screen allows for a wide range of visual effects that can’t be achieved on a stage. Like I mentioned before, motifs were crucial in representing Iago’s quest for revenge, which stems from his incessant jealousy.
The chess pieces are a recurring motif to demonstrate Iago’s plans of deceit and destruction. The first time you see them is in a close-up shot of a chessboard which widens to reveal Iago controlling the pieces. Here the audience is able to see Iago is playing a game and those around him
Each situation of manipulation proves Shakespeare’s characterization of Iago. He was an evil antagonist, and would do anything to get to the top. Due
lying to his friend, and getting back at his enemy! Iago’s character has learned to use a high intensity of deception. Iago pretends to be this sweet innocent man, while in reality the audience knows his
Iago is one of the most misunderstood villains in Shakespeare literature. We side with Othello from the start because his name is on the cover of our paperback, we read Othello when learning about heroes, so we expect Iago to be a villain, a ruthless manipulator. We don’t know why, he doesn’t state it plainly or in simple English, so we assume that he’s evil, that he’s just a disgruntled sociopath out to exact his exaggerated revenge on good and noble Othello. Iago’s misunderstood reputation is a result of not truly examining his character, and answering the “why” factor behind his actions. After all, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. His goal in the play was not just to destroy Othello for the fun of it. His objective,
This passage is important in terms of the entire play because, it presents the reader with how the manipulating mind of Iago works in terms that would benefit him. This passage distinguishes Iago’s character for the rest of the play, where he uses and exploits several other characters for all his various schemes that will ultimately end with Othello ruined.
Shakespeare’s Othello explores the destructive nature of Iago’s villainy through his ability to confuse appearance with reality through his deception and trickery. In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago is a scheming antagonist whose goal is to destroy Othello. Iago uses foreshadowing when he says, “I am not what I am.” Iago tells the audience that his loyalty with Othello is all a scheme to destroy him, and his
This next part of Iago’s character plays an equally important role in the play. An article says that a “... superb ability of Iago is that he has an acute eye for his victim's weaknesses and exploits them mercilessly.” (“Villainous Role of Iago in Othello”). Iago is able to use the characters weaknesses against them for his own selfish reasons. While the audience is aware of Iago’s plan, the other characters are oblivious to his evil
The meaningful term “love” can be applied to differing relationships in Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello. In this essay let us examine under a microscope the “love” that we find throughout the play.
Iago is a powerful predator who exploits those around him by infecting their perceptions of truth with carefully chosen fallacy. His skill in finding the proverbial chinks in others' armor allows him to skillfully weave his machinations of destroying Othello into their minds and actions; by manipulating character's perceptions of Desdemona, Iago gains the leverage he needs to exploit each character. No one is impervious to Iago's seething purpose; even Othello falls prey to Iago's suggestions and insinuations about Desdemona. Iago's constant presence as the stager, as well as his ceaseless - but subtle - reinforcement of events through narration, allows him to be the pivotal force that directs
characters. Iago creates the scenes main atmosphere and topic by the very first line ,# “Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy!” it's purposeful
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.
This shows how Iago tries to make us have this illustration of how we see this big impression of Othello. This also shows how evil Iago is and what he'll do for pay back towards Othello. This begins to continue even more with the last character in
The play begins with a conversation between Roderigo and Iago. The opening lines are significant in that they set the tone and initiate the plot. Roderigo’s thematic purpose is portrayed through Iago’s manipulation in the lines, “Tush, never tell me! I take it much unkindly/ That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse/ As if the
In the first scene, Iago was seen in the middle of a conversation with Roderigo. This opening scene sets forth the key elements to understanding Iago’s basic character and the play’s conflict. The scene revealed Iago’s deep resentment toward Othello and his outlook on himself as a soldier. “And I of whom his eyes had
Iago used Roderigo till the end and felt no remorse for it what so ever.
Iago plants ideas in Othello’s head, uses the innocent actions of others as his proof; and Othello, who is not practiced in worldly matters, believes his the misnomer of the “honest Iago”, and eventually is consumed by the lie.