The metaphor of Iago’s lies to a poison that slowly works on Othello, enhances the deadly influence Iago has over Othello. Poison often leads to death or serious illness when it infiltrates individuals. This may foreshadow Othello’s moral death or serious injury from Iago’s psychological poison. Poison can symbolize deception, corruption or betrayal, therefore the use of the word poison to describe Iago’s plans is aptly placed; there is deception in the lies that Iago uses, betrayal of the Othello’s tragic flaw of trust, and corruption of Othello’s thoughts and opinions. By poisoning Othello’s very thoughts Iago has gained the ultimate power over him. ‘As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he,’ thus Iago literally “changes [Othello] with [his]
