Shakespeare epitomizes human nature in his plays by creating every character with an individual set of characteristics. He combines emotions, virtues, and faults to construct each unique personality. These traits are used to help the reader better connect to the lives of the characters, allowing the understanding of their behaviours and motives. In Othello, Desdemona dies an innocent death by Othello’s hand due to Iago’s mastermind manipulation. As the reader is familiarized with his character, it is evident that his emotions govern his actions. His initial feeling of jealousy triggered a succession of events which eventually led to the unfortunate demise of Desdemona. His constant desire for power pushes him to continue manipulating everyone
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Iago is a ruthless character who has no shame, and finds happiness in creating chaos. In order to do this, he uses people’s virtues and faults against them. Iago uses the fault of Brabantio to his advantage, provoking him to take action against Othello. Iago says to Brabantio: “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe” (1.1.91-92). Iago describes in vivid detail to Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, of illicit acts between Othello and Desdemona. He knows that Brabantio is a racist and uses this to his benefit. He uses imagery of animals, Othello being the black ram, an aggressive animal, and Desdemona an ewe, an innocent creature. This vivid imagery manipulates Bramantio into imagining the scenario out of proportion. Similarly, he uses Cassio’s qualities against him in order to exploit Othello’s deep-rooted insecurities. Iago observes Cassio’s courteous manner towards Desdemona, such as taking her hand. He sees this as an opportunity to “ensnare as great a fly as Cassio” (2.1.169) by taking a small thing such as courtesy and developing it into a fabricated theory he can feed to Othello. Iago continues to consistently play on Othello’s emotions by altering his perspective, which ultimately leads to Desdemona’s death as a result of his paranoid
Iago is a ruthless character who has no shame, and finds happiness in creating chaos. In order to do this, he uses people’s virtues and faults against them. Iago uses the fault of Brabantio to his advantage, provoking him to take action against Othello. Iago says to Brabantio: “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe” (1.1.91-92). Iago describes in vivid detail to Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, of illicit acts between Othello and Desdemona. He knows that Brabantio is a racist and uses this to his benefit. He uses imagery of animals, Othello being the black ram, an aggressive animal, and Desdemona an ewe, an innocent creature. This vivid imagery manipulates Bramantio into imagining the scenario out of proportion. Similarly, he uses Cassio’s qualities against him in order to exploit Othello’s deep-rooted insecurities. Iago observes Cassio’s courteous manner towards Desdemona, such as taking her hand. He sees this as an opportunity to “ensnare as great a fly as Cassio” (2.1.169) by taking a small thing such as courtesy and developing it into a fabricated theory he can feed to Othello. Iago continues to consistently play on Othello’s emotions by altering his perspective, which ultimately leads to Desdemona’s death as a result of his paranoid