Greed, jealousy, revenge, hatred, love, regret, death. Othello. Othello loves Desdemona, Iago loves Desdemona, Emilia loves Iago, Cassio loves Desdemona. Othello, written by Shakespeare is a love story gone tragically wrong. In the novel, jealousy, greed and hatred cause one character to take revenge and that leads to tragedy. Jealousy is common in the novel, and the author, Shakespeare uses it to keep the storyline moving. In Othello, Shakespeare uses figurative language to help Iago manipulate Othello, causing the reader to feel more sympathetic towards him. The way Iago is treating Othello makes the reader realize what jealousy and a thirst for revenge can cause a person to do to another person. Othello was manipulated by Iago in many different ways for numerous different reasons, one of them is jealousy. Iago was jealous of the relationship Othello shared with Desdemona. Therefore, he felt revenge was necessary and the only way to do that was by destroying their relationship. “He hath a person and a smooth dispose / To be suspected, framed to make women false”(35). In this piece of text, Iago is stating that he will destroy Othello’s relationship by falsely accusing Cassio and Desdemona of having an affair. For someone …show more content…
This enraged Iago; he felt he deserved the promotion more than anyone else. After all, Iago did work very hard at an attempt to get that promotion. Unfortunately, Iago worked much harder and was better at getting revenge. “As masterly as he: mere prattle, without practice / Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had the election; / And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof”(5). Since Iago felt entitled to the job, he “obviously” deserved it. All of this manipulation over not getting a job promotion, and jealousy of a relationship, once again, showing what revenge can do to a person’s mental state and why Othello not only has more sympathy from the reader, but deserves
He had the weapon of knowledge. Since IAgo seemed to answer to Othello, nobody thought he was a threat, however the reader, who could see the big picture, could recognize what IAgo was capable of. Iago used his weapon of knowledge to manipulate those around him into trusting him and subconsciously destroying themselves. Another weapon Iago possessed was motive. In act 1, scene 1, Iago expresses his disapproval of cassio being chosen for the promotion over himself. IAgo begins to list Cassio's faults: “That never set a squadron in the field, Nor the division of a battle knows More than a spinster; unless the bookish theoric, Wherein the toged consuls can propose As masterly as he: mere prattle, without practise, Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had the election: And I, whom his eyes had seen the proof”. Iago seems to get angrier in each line, giving reason to sabotage his surrounding personnel. In act 1, scene 3, Iago explains how he is to carry out his destruction: “To get his place and to plume up my will In double knavery -- How, how Let’s see:-- After some time, to abuse Othello's ear That he is too familiar with his wife. He hath a person and a smooth dispose TO be suspected, framed to make women false. The Moor is of free and open nature, That thinks men honest that but seem to be so, And will as tenderly be led by the nose As asses are.” Not only does Iago seem to get increasingly bitter, but the audience can
The use of figurative language ensures a text is dynamic To be honest and truthful are traits many aspire to have, yet often our reality is clouded by the appearances put up around us. William Shakespeare aptly displays this in his words: “we know what we are, but know not what we may be”. In his play Othello, Shakespeare uses figurative language to ensure his play is dynamic. Shakespeare skilfully employs the use of imagery, through the stark contrast between light and dark to construct a dynamic text that deals with the idea of good and evil though the appearance and reality of his characters. Light and dark imagery is first seen in the play through the main character of Othello.
Honest Iago, Right? The villain in Othello, Iago, fits the stereotype of manipulation and lies that most commonly gets associated with fake people. He contradicts himself to make a character view him in a specific way, which is necessary for Iago to fulfill his revenge on Othello. Iago tricks Roderigo, a foolish Venetian, who loves Desdemona and would do anything to have another chance at her heart.
He is consumed with jealousy of Cassio and with hatred of Othello because he was not chosen as lieutenant, Cassio was. Iago is a man blinded by envy, jealousy and anger, with an objective in mind for everyone to become equally jealous. Shakespeare uses Iago’s jealousy to move the force of the play and with Iago’s betrayal and manipulation Shakespeare shapes the play as a study of how jealousy can consume you, leading to the destruction of others. Iago’s plan is to get revenge on Cassio while destroying Othello. Iago’s jealousy towards Cassio leads him to invent a lie about Cassio having an affair with Desdemona, Othello’s wife.
Despite the accusations being made toward Othello, he still remains even-tempered. Iago does not possess the same respect for Othello that Desdemona does. Iago appeals to Othello’s insecurities by instilling the idea of Desdemona’s infidelity. Iago tells Othello, “...as (to be bold with you0 [n]ot to affect many proposed matches [o]f her own clime, complexion, and degree, [w]hereto we see in all things nature tends...” (III. iii. 228-231).
Jealousy is an individual showing envy of someone or what they have. In Shakespeare’s tragic play Othello, jealousy plays a major role throughout the tragedy. Iago, Othello 's ancient , acts as the antagonist and is very manipulative. Iago envy of Othello’s position of power causes issues between Othello and Desdemona. His premeditated motives are used in the tragedy to manipulate the other characters. Iago’s wicked actions of revenge causes destruction in the play.
Some scholars say that Iago is going after Cassio and Desdemona to get Othello for himself. Iago schemes a plan to make Othello believe that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. Throughout the rest of the play, Iago works on this scheme to chiseled at Othello until he fully believes that Desdemona is cheating on
For not choosing him as lieutenant, Iago decides to get revenge on Othello. From the very beginning Iago makes it blatantly obvious that he plans on manipulating Othello when he boldly states, “I follow him to serve my turn upon him” (I.i.4). Iago conducts his villainous ways as he plots iniquitous schemes to convince Othello that his wife Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio, his lieutenant. Iago, being the mendacious man that he is, lies to Othello about a dream he claims to have overheard cassio having about Desdemona, furthering Othello’s suspicions (III.iii.164). Iago’s true evil is shown throughout the play as he breaks down Othello leading to the deaths of multiple
This decision makes Iago very upset with Othello’s especially after years of devoted service to him. This situation starts a conflict between Iago and Othello. In this simple action, Othello has made Iago feel that his years and loyalty in the military service has been ineffective, since he is being replaced by someone who he felt could not run anything in the military. The emotions he feels in this moment are only the beginning stages of his madness. This predicament makes Iago feel he should hold a grudge against Othello, based on betrayal.
Othello carried two sides of Iago, one that wanted recognition from the rest of the world, and one that passively thought about the morally right actions. Iago let his darker side consume him because he did not listen to his inner self, only with the dealings with other peoples, and the feelings of cheat he had experienced when Othello replaced Cassio as his lieutenant. Shakespeare is emphasizing an attribute about greed by using Iago lust. Iago’s main goal was the constant pursuit to undermine Cassio and Othello, but his greed took him farther than winning back his reputation. The lust of greed after Othello confides in Iago, shows that Iago’s vulnerability is hubris.
Othello’s love for Desdemona makes him a prey to jealousy, whereas Iago’s hatred for Othello is what makes him jealous and Iago keeps his jealousy unnoticed while Othello fails to do the same. Ultimately, however, both characters let their jealousy get the best of them and push them to extremes mentally. Othello is a tragic story about love, betrayal, trust and most importantly, jealousy. Jealousy steers the play in different directions. It breaks friendships, ends relationships, and stirs up evil.
In Othello, Shakespeare presents us with that tragic story of a man who, in a jealous rage, destroys what he loves most in the world. All of the tragedy that happens in this play is caused by jealousy. It destroys their lives by causing Iago to show his true colors and forces Othello to destroy his own life as well as the lives of many others around him. Jealousy is what makes this play a tragedy, and if that jealousy had been eliminated from this play it would no longer be a tragedy. Jealousy is shown through the characters and their actions. Throughout the play you see the characters go through the stages of jealousy starting with suspicion, then it begins to consume all of their thoughts, then they take to the next level and begin to act on it, and finally it becomes the demise of all of the characters.
Shakespeare's Othello follows the tragedy of a great general. The general, Othello, is plagued by the thought that his newly wedded wife, Desdemona, may be cheating on him. While he never catches Desdemona in the act, he is persuaded by the villain Iago to believe that Desdemona is unfaithful. Othello is usually level headed, but the thought of his wife committing adultery drives him past the brink of insanity. Because of Othello’s jarring difference in character from the beginning of the play to the resolution, readers are encouraged to ask themselves, why does Othello become jealous? Othello’s jealousy is ignited by Iago’s constant prodding about Desdemona. Othello continues to fuel his jealousy because he has never had to deal with challenges in his personal life. As a result of his lifestyle, Othello has no coping skills that lead him to act irrationally when faced with a potential personal trial.
Iago is perhaps one of the most notorious villains in the entire shakespearean canon. This evil mastermind uses the possessive properties of the human psyche to bring ruin upon the lives of the protagonist Othello and his lovely wife, the fair Desdemona. He accomplished this feat through his insight on the destructive powers of jealousy, which he put to use in making Othello a pawn in his plan. Iago managed to gradually make Othello suspect that his innocent wife Desdemona was cheating on him with lieutenant Cassio who, in Othello’s mind, had taken the shape of the rival.
Throughout the play Othello , the author, William Shakespeare portrays Iago as a character full of unhappiness and self-hatred. The theme of jealousy and betrayal is apparent as it motivates the actions of Iago and expresses the effect of jealousy. Iago has the ability to convince people of his honesty and loyalty; as it is only a part of his plan of revenge. In the act three scene three the audience starts to realize that all Iago’s work couldn't possibly be all for revenge. There was something deeper than just jealousy and hatred.