Essay on William Shakespeare's Othello

As a trusting man and good leader, Othello heeds the advise of his subordinates, but this character trait, leads him to trust a liar and suspect his loyal companion Cassio. “Honest” Iago convinces him that his wife is being unfaithful, and his lieutenant has betrayed him. When he sees Cassio courting Desdemona to get back into Othello’s good graces, he asks to know Iago’s thoughts on the matter, and Iago’s hesitant act draws him in, Othello

During Act I, Scene I of the play, Iago berates Cassio as he spoke to his fellow conspirator, Roderigo, by saying he was unworthy of his lieutenancy as a man who lacks knowledge in the battlefield. By repeatedly emphasizing Cassio’s inadequacy, Iago uncovers that he likely does this out of envy for Cassio.. Iago also suspects that Othello slept with his wife, and it supposedly sets his mind into emotional turmoil. He explicitly states that the thought of it bothers him, “gnaws his inwards.” Although the truth of Iago’s words here remain unclear, if he is in fact disturbed by this idea, this could give him more incentive to ruin Othello as he eventually

Iago is a fictional character in Shakespeare 's Othello. Being the play 's main antagonist, Iago is also the 'Ancient ' of General Othello as well as the husband of Emilia, the handmaiden of Othello 's wife Desdemona. Throughout the play, Iago schemes and plants fake evidence of Desdemona’s “affair” with Cassio, Othello’s righthand man. The question on my mind is, why would Othello do all of this?

In the play Othello, jealousy is shown to be very evident through the actions of the characters. Jealousy is an emotion that everyone shares, and it is ultimately responsible for the tragic ending of the play. Everyone feels jealous at certain times of their lives, and this feeling can cause people to do irrational things. This human emotion also shows people to be weak in the sense that they are never happy with what they have. Shakespeare shows through Othello, Iago, Roderigo, and Brabantio that jealousy is the most corrupt and destructive emotion.

Books related to Othello Othello - The protagonist and tragic hero of the play. A Moor commanding the armies of Venice, he is a celebrated general and heroic figure whose "free and open nature" will enable Iago to twist his love for his wife Desdemona into a powerful jealousy. Desdemona - The daughter of a Venetian Senator, and Othello's bride. The most sympathetic character in the play, she is deeply in love with her husband, and her purity contrasts strongly with Iago's wickedness. Iago - Othello's ensign, and Shakespeare's greatest villain. His public face of bravery and honesty conceals a Satanic delight in manipulation and destruction. Passed over for a promotion by his commander, he vows to destroy the Moor. Cassio -

Iago is planning to take Roderigo’s position and to damage Othello’s reputation from the inside to get back at him for the promotion. At the end of act two Iago says, “For that I do suspect the lusty Moor has leaped into my seat, the thought whereof doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my innards”. Iago is going to use Desdemona as Othello’s weak point because of the deep love that he has for her. Iago is going to pit Cassio and Othello against each other. He will achieve this

In Act 2 Scene 3, Iago attempts to control Cassio’s actions by making him drink and have fun for the night instead of commanding the watch for the city. Cassio is a distinguished lieutenant and has higher authority over Iago, but is persuaded by Iago to drink alcohol. Cassio reject’s Iago’s offer because he explains that he cares about the city Venice security. Iago playfully shames Cassio for rejecting him because Iago says that Cassio is a terrible friend by saying “O, they are our friends”. Iago reveals his true and bad intentions to the audience by saying “If I fasten one cup upon him, with that which he hath drunk tonight already, He’ll be as full of quarrel and offence” and this is Act 2 Scene 3, lines 41-43. This verse makes Iago seem significant and important for the other acts and scenes. Later on in the scene, Iago completes his manipulative act by making Cassio drunk. Cassio is a lightweight drinker and the result of him drinking, he loses his leadership and reputation for wounding a fellow soldier named Montano because of the brawl. Othello enters in the scene and is intruded by the fight. Othello is frustrated because Cassio cannot explain his mistakes of how he wasn’t prioritizing the watch and injuring Montano. Iago claims that he wants to protect Cassio but actually he wants to seem Cassio is at fault and should take all the blame. Othello is actually deceived into thinking that Iago is

Iago gets into both Othello and Cassio’s heads by telling them that he hates the other and spreading rumors that trigger them. He tells Othello that he notices how much Cassio has been talking to Desdemona and he plants ideas in Othello’s mind. “O, that's an honest fellow. Do not doubt, Cassio, But I will have my lord and you again As friendly as you were.” said Desdemona. Cassio was fired by Othello, and he is trying to get Desdemona to talk to Othello about giving him his job back. Iago knows what Cassio’s intentions are, yet he tells Othello how suspicious it is that when they talk and Othello comes near them, Cassio leaves. Othello then wants proof of Iago’s suspicions so Iago makes drunk Cassio laugh, which to Othello seems that Cassio slept with Desdemona. Iago uses the idea of sex and adultery to turn Othello against Cassio and Desdemona leading to his tragic

Iago is a man full selfishness. In the beginning of the novel, he complains to Roderigo that it should have been him being chosen as lieutenant other than Cassio. He goes on by saying how three of Venice’s most important noblemen took their hats off to Othello and asked him humbly to make him his lieutenant. But in the end, Othello refused the man's request and ended up choosing Cassio as the lieutenant. This is when Iago is eager on getting his revenge.

William Shakespeare’s Othello tells a story of the tragic downfall of a man through jealousy and mistrust, influenced by the manipulative actions of another. Due to innumerable changes within society over time, it is inevitable that a wide range of critical interpretations and readings of the text will emerge.

He successfully manipulates Roderigo, Cassio, Desdemona, and Othello into doing what he wants and he never once is a suspect due to his great façade of friendliness. Iago exploits certain personality traits of each character in order to achieve his master plan. For example, Iago uses Desdemona’s kind heart against her by making Othello believe that her consistent vouching for Cassio to earn his rank back is due to her alleged affair with Cassio. “For ‘tis most easy/Th’ inclining Desdemona to subdue/ In any honest suit/ She’s framed as fruitful” (II.iii.319-21). By abusing Desdemona’s kind nature in order to get what he wants, Iago proves that he has no concern, or empathy, for what happens to anyone else in the play, including the innocent Desdemona. Iago also utilizes Othello’s trusting nature, Cassio’s attractiveness, and Roderigo’s love for Desdemona to further his scheme, disregarding any consequences that would occur because of his

In this play Othello, a noble Moor, chooses Cassio to be his lieutenant instead of his trust worthy friend Iago. There are many hints within the play of past issues Iago had with Othello that may be apart of the motive for Iago’s revenge. However, Othello’s decision of the lieutenant position causes great jealousy within Iago and seems to be the main motive for revenge. After Othello marries Desdemona Iago decides that his revenge will be to destroy Othello’s happy life and marriage. Throughout Shakespeare’s play Iago is also portrayed as a very clever villain using others to secretly help with his plan and his “trustworthiness” to destroy Othello. In the end Iago tricks Othello into believing that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio upsetting Othello greatly. Othello decides that the best decision is to kill Desdemona for not being loyal, but only to find out in the end the affair was only a lie. To finish this very tragic play Othello ends his own life out of grief and the regret of his

Critics have debated the significance of Othello’s race in terms of portraying his identity for a long time. The negative connotations of “blackness” have led to the creation of many racial constructs associated with the “Moor”; this denigration has infused the opinions of many critics, such as Albert Gerard, proposing that Othello’s “negroid physiognomy” reaches down to the “deepest levels of personality” and that he is a “barbarian”. However, many other critics like Edward Berry and Martin Orkin believe that colour is merely a “surface indicator” compared to the outward virtue of beneficence, defining identity. Beneficence could be defined by the will to practice good acts, in conjunction with the aversion of practicing evil, and the prevention and removal of evil.

In Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago is portrayed as a cruel puppet master, using his high order critical analysis and manipulative skills to exact on those he believe wronged him; as he weaves a web of deceit to ensnare the play’s protagonist (and namesake of the play) Othello. Various movie adaptations have portrayed the characters in different ways, often resulting in a fusion of the context of the age, artistic license and Shakespeare’s character. One such fusion is Stuart Burge’s 1965 filmic portrayal of Iago in his Othello. Act II, scene I is a prime example of how Iago can be adapted for film.

saying he will “tear her all to pieces” and he tells Iago to let him