At some point in our lives we have probably felt insecure or been manipulated by someone. In the case of Othello by William Shakespeare, Iago was a very talented schemer who would stop at no ends to achieve his ultimate goal of essentially ruining other people’s lives for his own sake and self-worth. By influencing Roderigo, Emilia, Cassio, Othello, and other characters, Iago was able to cleverly construct a plan that would leave him on top of every other character. He successfully caused tremendous destruction to the people around him because of how trusting the characters were of him and how unaware they were by his genuine intentions.
Iago portrays two completely different personalities: one when he speaks to characters and the other when …show more content…
When talking to Cassio he tells him that he will “devise a mean to draw the Moor / Out of the way, that [his] converse and business / May be more free” (3.1.36-38). Iago knows, however, that he is going to need the help from his wife Emilia to get Desdemona to take Cassio’s side in the situation. When Emilia speaks to both Cassio and Desdemona the audience is presented with foreshadowing. Emilia says, “I warrant it grieves my husband / As if the cause were his” (3.3.3b-4). Desdemona promises Cassio that she will get him his position back by nagging Othello, bringing his name up at every given opportunity, and will advocate for him; which is exactly what Iago’s plan …show more content…
He then proceeds to behave very shifty when saying that he was just curious and as Othello keeps insisting that Iago tell him what is on his mind, Iago continues to dodge the question and give very vague responses. Othello views Iago as an honest man who knows about human behavior which reassures him that he can trust Iago and what he says. Othello is very insecure about his race (“Haply, for I am black”), manners (“[I] have not those soft parts of conversation / That chamberers have”), and age (“or for I am declined/Into the vale of years” [3.3. 265-268] as Brustein (42) and Dreher (32) pointed out, allowing Iago to influence him. Othello quickly becomes defensive to Iago’s
Iago portrays two completely different personalities: one when he speaks to characters and the other when …show more content…
When talking to Cassio he tells him that he will “devise a mean to draw the Moor / Out of the way, that [his] converse and business / May be more free” (3.1.36-38). Iago knows, however, that he is going to need the help from his wife Emilia to get Desdemona to take Cassio’s side in the situation. When Emilia speaks to both Cassio and Desdemona the audience is presented with foreshadowing. Emilia says, “I warrant it grieves my husband / As if the cause were his” (3.3.3b-4). Desdemona promises Cassio that she will get him his position back by nagging Othello, bringing his name up at every given opportunity, and will advocate for him; which is exactly what Iago’s plan …show more content…
He then proceeds to behave very shifty when saying that he was just curious and as Othello keeps insisting that Iago tell him what is on his mind, Iago continues to dodge the question and give very vague responses. Othello views Iago as an honest man who knows about human behavior which reassures him that he can trust Iago and what he says. Othello is very insecure about his race (“Haply, for I am black”), manners (“[I] have not those soft parts of conversation / That chamberers have”), and age (“or for I am declined/Into the vale of years” [3.3. 265-268] as Brustein (42) and Dreher (32) pointed out, allowing Iago to influence him. Othello quickly becomes defensive to Iago’s