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Othello Essay
Othello Essay
Othello Essay
suggestion to Cassio, Iago can now be certain that Cassio will entreat
Desdemona to petition for him with Othello. Cassio does implore
Desdemona for he aid and predictably she responds that, ?Be thou
assured, good Cassio, I will do all my abilities in thy behalf.?(III, iii, 1-2),
and thus Iago?s plan succeeds. Iago will use their interaction to further
extend his evil plot. Iago?s suggestions to Othello will cause him to
construe Desdemonas pleas for Cassio, as pleas for her paramour.
Each time she suggests, ?[Cassios] present reconciliation take?(III, iii,
51), ?she shall undo her credit with [Othello]?(II, iii, 379), further. Thus
Iago manipulates Desdemonas wholesome urge into entreaties who fall
as proofs of infidelity on Othello?s ear.
Iago also manipulates the undeserving devotion that Emilia shows him.
We learn from Emilia at the end of the play that Iago, ?begged [her] to
steal?(V, ii, 272), the handkerchief that Othello gave to Desdemona: ?
that handkerchief?I found by fortune, and did give me husband?(V, ii,
267-9). Iago?s manipulation of his wife is tragic; she clearly sees his ?
wayward?(III, iii, 336) nature, and yet she remains obedient even though
she knows that it is her mistress?s, ?first remembrance of the Moor?(III,
iii, 335). Like Desdemonas good nature, Iago exploits Emilia?s devotion
toward his malicious goals. He then, ?lose[s] this napkin?in Cassio's
lodging?, where it will serve as the ?ocular proof? that Othello
demanded before concluding that Desdemona was unfaithful. Thus, as
Iago was able to control Desdemona through her character flaw of good
will, he is similarly able to bend Emilia to his purpose by exploiting her
spousal devotion.
In Roderigo?s case, Iago manipulates both his obtuseness, as well as
his desperate love for Desdemona. By exploiting Roderigo?s dimwitted
nature, Iago is able to attain any monetary resources he wishes.
Roderigo?s mental function is also inhibited by his love for Desdemona,
which shames him in its strength: ?I confess it is my shame to be so
fond, but it is no in my virtue to amend it?. Thus, with the promise that
Desdemona might be swayed to divorce Othello and marry Roderigo,
Iago procures whatever funds he wishes: ?Thus do I ever make my fool
my purse?(I, iii, 426). Roderigo desperately desires Desdemona and is
unable to reason that no amount of money will help the situation. Iago
seizes upon Roderigo?s inability to draw this conclusion, and slowly
bleeds Roderigo?s purse. By simply stating to Roderigo that, ?
[Desdemonas] eye must be fed?(II, i, 246), and that ?Desdemona is
directly in love with [Cassio] ?(II, i, 240), he convinces his
impressionable cretin. Thus Roderigo simply accepts Iago?s unlikely
theory, given Desdemonas exceedingly chaste nature, without a shred
of proof. Iago is a puppeteer that knows just how to play on Roderigo?s
weaknesses to produce the desired affect. Iago. Iago?s recognition of
Roderigo?s weakness in his love for Desdemona is clear: ?my sick fool
Roderigo, whom love hath turn'd almost the wrong side out?(II, iii, 5254). Iago?s manipulation of Roderigo is indeed perfect; the more he fails
which is good and moral into a pitifully depraved heap. This theme
reverberates throughout the play. Only as the setting moves from Venice
to Cyprus, order to chaos, is Iago able to blacken each character?s soul
or appearance. In this manner, Shakespeare warns of the corruptibility of
society when it veers from the order of a dominant patriarchy.
the play as a whole, because it is the reason for all of the major events
that happen in Shakespeares Othello. Motivated by revenge, Iagos
manipulation causes the downfall of protagonist, Othello. He exploits his
friendship with both Othello and Cassio is order to get the revenge he
seeks. His bitterness was conveyed at the beginning of the play when he
tells Rodrigo that he despises Othello for promoting Cassio over
himself. This bitterness grows and remains present right to the bitter
end. Shakespeare strategically places Iagos soliloquies to allow the
audience to see exactly when and how he is going to manipulate the
vulnerable Othello. Having manipulation as the main theme in the play
Othello gives the characters more dimension as we are able to see how
these characters react. It shows true human nature and instinct. This is a
theme that has remained relevant even today, which tells us that the
theme of manipulation is highly central to the play as a whole.