Pradip Dhakal
Professor Leigh Johnson
English 1102
26 April 2018
Iago: The Joker
Who will not be jealous if something that one deserves is given to another incompetent person? The same thing has happened to Iago in the play Othello. This play was written by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare introduces Iago as Othello’s ensign; Othello is a Christian moor who is the general in the army of Venice. Shakespeare also introduces other character like Desdemona: love and wife of Othello, Emilia: wife of Iago, Brabantio: father of Desdemona, Cassio: Othello’s Lieutenant, Roderigo: young, rich, and foolish man who is in love with Desdemona, Bianca: prostitute who is in love with Cassio, Montano: governor of Cyprus before Othello, and Duke of Venice. This …show more content…
Iago knows that the main key to maintain a healthy relationship between husband and wife is the trust between them, so he plans to break the Othello’s trust in his wife by telling many lies, and presenting false evidence against Desdemona. When Iago lies to Othello that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair, Othello becomes sick and sweaty. Desdemona asks if he is alright and cleans his face with the precious handkerchief that Othello gave it to her. At that instant, the handkerchief falls on the floor, and Desdemona also does not notice. Emilia takes that handkerchief and gives it to her husband Iago, who had always wanted to steal that handkerchief from Desdemona. Iago put that handkerchief on Cassio’s place, and Iago presents that handkerchief as a proof of an affair between Cassio and Desdemona. Iago says to Othello, “I know not that; but such a handkerchief— / I am sure it was your wife’s—did I today / See Cassio wipe his beard with” (3.3.452-454). Iago says that he has seen Desdemona’s handkerchief with Cassio, which is all his plan to take revenge on Othello. According to Shawn Smith, “Iago’s deception depends on the image of the handkerchief in Cassio’s hand, and he achieves this image not only through description but by directing the actions of Cassio and Bianca as if in a play, in which he shows Othello that the handkerchief …show more content…
One of the reason Iago has betrayed Cassio is the promotion of Cassio instead of him as a lieutenant. Iago wants to make Cassio bad in the eyes of Othello. On the merrymaking night, Iago forces Cassio to drink, and Iago made Roderigo to provoke Cassio. Being drunk, Cassio starts a fight with Montano, and Cassio stabs Montano. Othello comes out and asks about the incident. Iago tries to be reluctant at first, but later he tells everything. Being disappointed with Cassio, Othello expels him from the service. Cassio becomes very worried about his reputation, and Iago gives him the idea to talk to Desdemona. Iago says, “I will tell you what you shall do. Our general’s wife is now the general—I may say so in this respect, for that he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and denotement of her parts and graces. Confess yourself freely to her; importune her help to put you in your place again” (2.3.281-286). This is all Iago’s plan to destroy the happy life of Othello. Cassio goes to Desdemona to confess about the shameless thing he had done that night; Cassio sees Othello coming, so he leaves because he could not face him after all the things he had done on merrymaking night. Desdemona talks to Othello in favor of Cassio to give Cassio’s position back; on the other hand, Iago fills up the Othello’s mind with an affair thing between Desdemona and Cassio, which is
Professor Leigh Johnson
English 1102
26 April 2018
Iago: The Joker
Who will not be jealous if something that one deserves is given to another incompetent person? The same thing has happened to Iago in the play Othello. This play was written by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare introduces Iago as Othello’s ensign; Othello is a Christian moor who is the general in the army of Venice. Shakespeare also introduces other character like Desdemona: love and wife of Othello, Emilia: wife of Iago, Brabantio: father of Desdemona, Cassio: Othello’s Lieutenant, Roderigo: young, rich, and foolish man who is in love with Desdemona, Bianca: prostitute who is in love with Cassio, Montano: governor of Cyprus before Othello, and Duke of Venice. This …show more content…
Iago knows that the main key to maintain a healthy relationship between husband and wife is the trust between them, so he plans to break the Othello’s trust in his wife by telling many lies, and presenting false evidence against Desdemona. When Iago lies to Othello that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair, Othello becomes sick and sweaty. Desdemona asks if he is alright and cleans his face with the precious handkerchief that Othello gave it to her. At that instant, the handkerchief falls on the floor, and Desdemona also does not notice. Emilia takes that handkerchief and gives it to her husband Iago, who had always wanted to steal that handkerchief from Desdemona. Iago put that handkerchief on Cassio’s place, and Iago presents that handkerchief as a proof of an affair between Cassio and Desdemona. Iago says to Othello, “I know not that; but such a handkerchief— / I am sure it was your wife’s—did I today / See Cassio wipe his beard with” (3.3.452-454). Iago says that he has seen Desdemona’s handkerchief with Cassio, which is all his plan to take revenge on Othello. According to Shawn Smith, “Iago’s deception depends on the image of the handkerchief in Cassio’s hand, and he achieves this image not only through description but by directing the actions of Cassio and Bianca as if in a play, in which he shows Othello that the handkerchief …show more content…
One of the reason Iago has betrayed Cassio is the promotion of Cassio instead of him as a lieutenant. Iago wants to make Cassio bad in the eyes of Othello. On the merrymaking night, Iago forces Cassio to drink, and Iago made Roderigo to provoke Cassio. Being drunk, Cassio starts a fight with Montano, and Cassio stabs Montano. Othello comes out and asks about the incident. Iago tries to be reluctant at first, but later he tells everything. Being disappointed with Cassio, Othello expels him from the service. Cassio becomes very worried about his reputation, and Iago gives him the idea to talk to Desdemona. Iago says, “I will tell you what you shall do. Our general’s wife is now the general—I may say so in this respect, for that he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation, mark, and denotement of her parts and graces. Confess yourself freely to her; importune her help to put you in your place again” (2.3.281-286). This is all Iago’s plan to destroy the happy life of Othello. Cassio goes to Desdemona to confess about the shameless thing he had done that night; Cassio sees Othello coming, so he leaves because he could not face him after all the things he had done on merrymaking night. Desdemona talks to Othello in favor of Cassio to give Cassio’s position back; on the other hand, Iago fills up the Othello’s mind with an affair thing between Desdemona and Cassio, which is