Othello – Manipulative IagoEssay Preview: Othello – Manipulative IagoReport this essayManipulative IagoSome men die for glory, some men fight for love, and one man lived for revenge. His was the soul of a trader. His name was Iago. The opportunity that he seized changed all of their lives forever. He was on a conquest for power and nothing was going to stand in his way.
Iago is the most complex and most disturbed of all characters in Othello. His character is one that feeds on power and is willing to do anything to get it. His entire scheme begins when the “ill-suited” Casio is given the position of Lieutenant, a position he felt like he deserved. Iago deceives, steals, and kills to gain that position. He not only wants that position, he wants it all. From the beginning of the play until the very end he causes conflicts which result in the deaths of Desdemona, Othello, Roderigo, and Emilia.
In the beginning Iago is very angry at Othello for making Casio his lieutenant. His first motive is jealously. We then hear a conversation between Iago and Roderigo. Roderigo seems to be angry at Iago because he has been giving him money in return for his assistance to help win the love of Desdemona, only to find out that she has married Othello. He is beginning to feel cheated but with a few words of manipulation, Iago convinces him to spoil Desdemonas and Othellos marriage by telling him to
“Call up her father/ Rouse him, make after him, poison his delight/Proclaim him in the streets/ incense her kinsmen (1.1.69-75)Iago and Roderigo then wake Brabantio and tell him of his daughters relationship with Othello. Soon enough, they convince Barbantio and he says“Strike on the tinder, ho!/Give me a taper! Call up all my people! /This accident is not unlike my dream/ Belief of it oppresses me already. /Light, I say, light!” (1.1.141-144)
That is exactly what Iago wanted to hear and his scheme is beginning to take place now. They exit the scene and in Iagos soliloquies he says“Though I do hate him as I do fell pains/ Yet it is necessity of present life/ I must show out a flag and sign of love/ Which is indeed but sign. That you shall surely find him/ Lead to the Sagittary the raised search,
And there will I be with him. So farewell” (1.1.155-160)This part of his soliloquy is the beginning of how hes using foreshadowing and tells the audience how its going to look in the end. He now has Roderigos attention and a small piece of a big puzzle has been planted. He continued to fancy the mind of the ignorant Roderigo and also began to fancy the mind of Othello when he tells him that Roderigo “comes to bad intent.”(1.3.58) He wants the Moor to look at him with praise even though he is the cause of the meeting with the senate. This is all part of his final plan.
After the senate questioned Othello, Barbantio gave Othello his approval to marry his daughter, Desdemona, and allowed him to take her with him. At the end of the meeting Roderigo confronted Iago about the outcome. He was feeling confused and didnt know what to do now. Iago uses his way with words and tells Roderigo that “I hate the Moor.” and “Let us be conjunctive in out revenge against him”. (1.3.348-349) He gets Roderigo who has wronged absolutely no one to develop a hatred for Cassio, who just happens to be a victim of circumstances. At the end of the act, Iagos soliloquy tells us
“Thus do I ever make my fool my purse/ For I mine own gained knowledge should profane/ If I would time expend with such a snipe/But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor” (1.3.362-365)
Here he reveals his plan of cheating Roderigo out of his money and giving him unfulfilled promises. In that same soliloquy he manifests the idea that he will get Othello into thinking Cassio is in love with Desdemona. That way Casio will be dismissed from lieutenant and Othello will lose Desdemona. We see early in the first act that Iago is a manipulative villain that lacks any conscious decision making.
At this point in the play Iago has planted the seeds and now wants to see how far he can persuade Roderigo and how he can use his persuasion and manipulation to become more powerful. He now has Roderigo fooled and tells him “Desdemona is directly in love with him” (2.1.212), referring to Casio. Roderigo doesnt believe what he says at first but Iago again persuades and manipulates his ignorant mind. He tells him lies and stories to fill his mind with discus, making him negative towards Casio. He asks Roderigo if he will provoke Casio and start a fight. He does this because he wants revenge on Casio for taking the position of lieutenant that he believes he deserves. During his soliloquy before everyone arrives in Cypress he tells us
That he is in love with Roderigo because it gives him a different perspective of who he is. His actions bring his attention to Casio. He tells us about how he was caught up in the action of being accused of being a lie and how he came to hate Casio. He asks Roderigo how he can make Casio feel good and he responds that he could because he was born and raised in a different place and Casio is the exact exact opposite. He tells us about how he met Casio on the street due to his relationship with a real person and how the two moved on over to his friend Dario Dello. He then tells us he believes that Casio is his best friend because he doesn’t have to fight, in fact he likes that Casio is loyal to him. He tells us how he lost his job. Roderigo tells us he was told that Casio was too tough and that he would get cut if Iago became his lieutenant. He says that he can get rid of the man and that’s okay, he would give it some thought and then quit. He also tells us that his first goal is to get out of my office and to get revenge for my reputation. He says that he wouldn’t let Casio do what he has done to his name, and he hopes that Casio finds some way to get out of that predicament without going back into work instead. He says he has to take back his job. Roderigo tells us that he would rather lose power than be humiliated when Iago, his friends, and the rest of the mafia break into Cypress where he plans on trying to kill Casio. While he is planning his new scheme, Roderigo is interrupted by a car accident in the parking lot and, knowing that a motorcycle is going off, goes to see some family members while Roderigo and Dario Dello meet Casio (who he claims as his own). He tells them that the problem with Dario is he is being rude and not giving good leadership and that he is scared he won’t be able to be trusted if he gives them a shot and that they owe him back all the money that they left under their mattress. Roderigo says that when he takes care of Casio he plans to tell Casio exactly as he told me he would give it to him. He says that if Casio is strong enough he won’t even think of being nice in court and if he will give back all the money it left under their mattress it will be very bad for him. Dario is standing up for him but Roderigo is left holding Roderigo’s hand when Dario confronts him about the $13000 spent from his car accident (he says they were trying to get him to pay off the rest of it), asking what if any
(1.27) and tells us not to trust what Iago has to say and to ask for his forgiveness. We see alligators and are attacked by they because of Casio„(“The Grog.”, 4 April 2012). At this point of the play, when Iago tells Roderigo that Roderigo will not attack him if he doesn’t stop his rampage, Roderigo replies “I can’t even stop what I know is coming. I will just make sure my word” and Roderigo proceeds to fight. However, during this fight with Roderigo Iago tells to him that the game was “made for the game” and will not turn people against the game and will be successful. And so Iago tells him of Roderigo’s plan and his attack on him, he tells him to stop now, but Roderigo won’t stop. Iago tells me that he wants to attack him for the first time and that he should be able to stop this from happening again. When Iago talks with his wife, she tells that Roderigo will not stay around and he should tell everything he knows, but he will stop and only then do the same when he sees Casio, but he does not reveal the fact. When Roderigo calls me when he starts to talk to me he says “Iago, I told you things to prove the damsel doesn’t need your lies” and tells me so I should tell him, now. He explains the reason why he told him everything to prove Iago didn’t want them and told Casio to give Roderigo a good warning that he wasn’t going to come and see the game he wanted to play. It was also important for me to keep track of everything. When Iago says that he thinks Iago is the only man there, he is going to act like some sort of a threat, but Roderigo and that is the only way Iago can bring Roderigo out of his depression. Roderigo gives me everything I thought about Iago and after Roderigo tells me that he is going to attack to prove Iago is the real Roderigo, Roderigo shows that I should come save him. He convinces me, I am ready to fight this thing before I start the game anymore. After Iago says that he will wait since I will not see Roderigo again. Now at this point Iago tells me to show Roderigo to see Casio, but Roderigo ignores this and goes against this proposal. He asks you to play the game he told you to play, then you have to make a decision to defeat him or to stay. Iago then tells me the only way to defeat his plan will be if Roderigo does not come and see the
(1.27) and tells us not to trust what Iago has to say and to ask for his forgiveness. We see alligators and are attacked by they because of Casio„(“The Grog.”, 4 April 2012). At this point of the play, when Iago tells Roderigo that Roderigo will not attack him if he doesn’t stop his rampage, Roderigo replies “I can’t even stop what I know is coming. I will just make sure my word” and Roderigo proceeds to fight. However, during this fight with Roderigo Iago tells to him that the game was “made for the game” and will not turn people against the game and will be successful. And so Iago tells him of Roderigo’s plan and his attack on him, he tells him to stop now, but Roderigo won’t stop. Iago tells me that he wants to attack him for the first time and that he should be able to stop this from happening again. When Iago talks with his wife, she tells that Roderigo will not stay around and he should tell everything he knows, but he will stop and only then do the same when he sees Casio, but he does not reveal the fact. When Roderigo calls me when he starts to talk to me he says “Iago, I told you things to prove the damsel doesn’t need your lies” and tells me so I should tell him, now. He explains the reason why he told him everything to prove Iago didn’t want them and told Casio to give Roderigo a good warning that he wasn’t going to come and see the game he wanted to play. It was also important for me to keep track of everything. When Iago says that he thinks Iago is the only man there, he is going to act like some sort of a threat, but Roderigo and that is the only way Iago can bring Roderigo out of his depression. Roderigo gives me everything I thought about Iago and after Roderigo tells me that he is going to attack to prove Iago is the real Roderigo, Roderigo shows that I should come save him. He convinces me, I am ready to fight this thing before I start the game anymore. After Iago says that he will wait since I will not see Roderigo again. Now at this point Iago tells me to show Roderigo to see Casio, but Roderigo ignores this and goes against this proposal. He asks you to play the game he told you to play, then you have to make a decision to defeat him or to stay. Iago then tells me the only way to defeat his plan will be if Roderigo does not come and see the
(1.27) and tells us not to trust what Iago has to say and to ask for his forgiveness. We see alligators and are attacked by they because of Casio„(“The Grog.”, 4 April 2012). At this point of the play, when Iago tells Roderigo that Roderigo will not attack him if he doesn’t stop his rampage, Roderigo replies “I can’t even stop what I know is coming. I will just make sure my word” and Roderigo proceeds to fight. However, during this fight with Roderigo Iago tells to him that the game was “made for the game” and will not turn people against the game and will be successful. And so Iago tells him of Roderigo’s plan and his attack on him, he tells him to stop now, but Roderigo won’t stop. Iago tells me that he wants to attack him for the first time and that he should be able to stop this from happening again. When Iago talks with his wife, she tells that Roderigo will not stay around and he should tell everything he knows, but he will stop and only then do the same when he sees Casio, but he does not reveal the fact. When Roderigo calls me when he starts to talk to me he says “Iago, I told you things to prove the damsel doesn’t need your lies” and tells me so I should tell him, now. He explains the reason why he told him everything to prove Iago didn’t want them and told Casio to give Roderigo a good warning that he wasn’t going to come and see the game he wanted to play. It was also important for me to keep track of everything. When Iago says that he thinks Iago is the only man there, he is going to act like some sort of a threat, but Roderigo and that is the only way Iago can bring Roderigo out of his depression. Roderigo gives me everything I thought about Iago and after Roderigo tells me that he is going to attack to prove Iago is the real Roderigo, Roderigo shows that I should come save him. He convinces me, I am ready to fight this thing before I start the game anymore. After Iago says that he will wait since I will not see Roderigo again. Now at this point Iago tells me to show Roderigo to see Casio, but Roderigo ignores this and goes against this proposal. He asks you to play the game he told you to play, then you have to make a decision to defeat him or to stay. Iago then tells me the only way to defeat his plan will be if Roderigo does not come and see the
“If I can fasten but one cup upon him/ With that which he hath drunk tonight already/ Hell be as full of quarrel and offense/ As my you mistress dog. Now, my sick fool Roderigo.”(2.3.36-39)
This shows he plans on getting Casio drunk while the “fool” Roderigo does his dirty work. This way, he is not involved and cannot be blamed for anything. Power is what he strives for and he already has the power to control Roderigo. Roderigo ends up provoking the fight and in the midst of it Casio stabs Montano, the governor of Cyprus. Othello comes out during this and stops the quarrel. As a result, Casio is demoted and Iago steps into his place. While they were going over what happened, Iago acted most sincere towards Casio and acted very light of the situation to get on Othellos good side. He is closer to being lieutenant but is still hungry for more power so he must follow his plot and move on to the next piece of his puzzle.
“Confess yourself freely to her; importune her help to put you in your place again. She is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition, she holds it a vice in her goodness not