How does Iago attempt to poison Othello against Desdemona and Cassio and to what extent is iagos plan working
Othello is a character whom from the start of the play does not see any faults within or within Desdemona’s and his marriage. However iago who is without doubt one of Shakespeare’s greatest antagonists but the question remains what motivates iago to betray Othello. Iago believes that Othello had an affair with his wife this or as iago puts it the ‘lusty Moor hath leap’d into my seat’ in a way he acts out of insecurity within his own marriage or it could be because of iagos jealousy or the newly ignited rage he found when cassio was promoted to a point where iago himself believes he should of achieved himself. In the beginning of the pay iago says a key quote; iago says ‘I am not what I am’ in act three and throughout the play the audience can easily see the widening cavity between who iago really is and what he pretends to be in order to achieve his own goals. We the audience all see what is happening during the play but the characters are all blind to Iagos treachery.
Iago attempts to gain his revenge against Othello in a multitude of ways however in scene 3 one can really see iagos plot of requite evolve as one can really see him begin to attempt to poison Othello mind in order to drive him insane. Iago seems to be extremely skilled in the fact that he anticipates and manipulates characters so skilfully that they seem to be acting normally when in fact they are simply iagos marionettes in his puppet show.
The Essay on Othello Character Analysis- Iago
In Othello, Shakespeare tells the story of the soldier Othello, a noble and respected man, whose insecurities enable him to fall prey to the overwhelming power of jealousy. Through manipulation and lies, Othello changes from a kind and faithful husband into a man completely taken over by jealousy, resulting in his downfall. This shift in Othello’s character is done by the antagonist, Iago. Iago’s ...
Firstly iago uses his skill of carefully selected narration to build Othello’s trust in him as he seems to be attempting to reinforce their previous friendship. It seems almost coincidental that all these events happen in the play at moments of seemingly scandalous moments shared between cassio and Othello’s wife Desdemona just as iago whispers into Othello’s ear ‘pestilence’, with the build-up of trust between Othello and Iago built from the events that Iago sometimes himself incurs, but is then lead on by coincidence by other characters, such as Roderigo’s statement and following of Brabantio and Cassio’s annoyance at Roderigo leading to the fight between Cassio and Montano. Here, he displays his ‘loyalty’ to help Othello and the service he leads to him; “General, be advised, he comes to bad intent.” Straight after the events of the fight iago once again demonstrates his loyalty to Othello: ‘Have you forgotten all sense of place and duty’/Hold, the general speaks to you hold for shame’. One must take into consideration that as iago orchestrated these events he was simply trying to make it more likely that his lies directed at Othello would sink in and stew as Othello’s mind is infected by it causing him to lose his sanity.
Secondly when Cassio rushes away after his rendezvous with Desdemona in an attempt to clear his name Iago uses this to begin his mind play. Iago says ‘Ha! I like not that’ at this moment iago knows Othello is near and therefore can hear him quite clearly one must also consider that in the actual play iago or the actor playing his character would of said this quite loudly. This causes Othello to immediately become wary and questions him iago using his language skills asks if cassio knew Desdemona before their marriage (of course iago knows the answer to this is yes) Othello entertains this and answers his question with a yes and that he was their consult. Othello queries iago about why he is asking so many questions and iago refuses to tell him. This is important as iago at this moment is trying to make Othello suffer and hunger for the truth and iago knows that this will make more likely to believe his lies he also makes Othello trust him more simultaneously as he makes it seem that he is protecting Othello from the truth. Iago then says to Othello ‘My lord you know I love you’ this can be compared to the Christian proverb of what Judas sad to Jesus ‘lord thou knowest that I love’ looking at this as an historian it is noticeable that at the time that the play was created and originally performed most of the English populace was catholic and therefore would have been able to make the important distinction between he and Judas as both are traditionally portrayed to betray those who they proclaim to love.
The Essay on Othello Iago Cassio Desdemona
People are not always the way you see them to be. Within the play Othello by William Shakespeare, a character named Iago displays a very good example of this. Iago who is Othello's ensign is considerate to people although at the same time manipulates their minds into thinking different things other than what had really occurred. Therefore, the victims of Iago's mischievous acts had been lured in ...
Iago does well in poisoning Othello’s mind as he suggests that cassio and Desdemona are having an affair however he does this so slyly that Othello himself believes he thought of it for instance iago would only hint that cassio was having an affair with Desdemona and would give only small pieces of connected information allowing Othello to fill in the gaps so not to reveal his own intentions. Iago also knows that Othello values his words greatly and so with this iago also reminds Othello of what Brabantio said to him in scene 2 ‘she did deceive her father marrying you’ this is effective as when Brabantio said this one can only assume that these words really hit home for Othello as for someone to say this about their own daughter it must have some truth within it.
Iago says ‘men should be what they seem/or those that not to be would they seem none’ this is an important quote as in this piece of text Iago is once again try to provoke a negative response from Othello In a way in which he says that cassio may seem to be honest and loyal (reasons why Othello promoted him and by saying this making Othello doubt his own decisions this is very bad for a general as they must be headstrong), but just because he seems to be honest he may not be (this is important as iago must suggest this and not just tell Othello as it may of revealed his plan or made Othello suspicious of his intentions) as he does this he is once again trying to make Othello come to the conclusion that Desdemona is having an affair this tactic is very successful as he is making Othello think what iago himself wants Othello to think.
Another prominent way how iago poisons Othello’s mind is by warping his view of realty. He will shield this with lies and deceit as he forces Othello to believe him as he will be submerged in self-doubt to see the truth. In A3 S3 as cassio leaves from Desdemona’s company iago makes it seem that cassio left so he wouldn’t be seen with Desdemona, suggesting that he left on suspicious means. This appears very bad from Othello’s point of view but as the audience knows it is completely different. Cassio (who was recently demoted by Othello) intensions were only to quite ironically to gain Othello’s trust again (ironic because in the process of trying to gain Othello’s trust he had lost all reaming trust Othello had with him).
The Essay on Tragic Hero Othello Iago Cassio
Othello Othello, a noble moor, general in the Venetian army. Othello is considered to be a Tragic Hero. What is a Tragic Hero To find the meaning of a tragic hero we must define what a tragic and hero mean. A tragic event is disastrous, dreadful or fateful. A tragic story or play has a serious theme usually results in death or defeat. In real life an example of a tragic event is unrequited love or ...
Iago tricks Othello by making him believe that every seemingly harmless encounter between Cassio and Desdemona are actually lies and that they are seeing each other behind his back. To the readers of the play it is quite obvious the nature of their encounter but to Othello who judges with eyes clouded by jealousy, he can only see the harm being done. Othello is unable to make a rational decision because he is too deep in madness. Iago has poisoned his mind and has further ruined his judgement.
In conclusion iago has successfully poisoned Othello’s mind and has clouded his judgement however during A3 S3 it does not seem that way as Othello repeatedly denies and does not seem to entertain the idea that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio, but after this event Othello finds it difficult to sleep this suggests that iagos lies had taken its toll on Othello as his mind has been plagued by Iagos lies even though he still seems to have trust in Desdemona. With this it also seems that iagos plans may have gone wrong as his attempt to make Othello’s trust in his wife failed as Othello still sees his wife as ‘honest’ and ‘fair’.