Manipulation In Othello

Iago’s Manipulation of The Characters In Othello In Shakespeare’s Othello, one of the main characters, Iago, easily manipulates characters into believing what he says, and tricks them into falling into his trap of his calculated plots. “Honest Iago,” as Othello and many other characters in Venice call him, uses the character’s weaknesses to play them against each other. Everyone believes Iago because he is considered to be honest and is always trying to help people, but he actually is a manipulative monster. Throughout the play, Iago easily manipulates Othello and Desdemona by using their personalities, insecurities, and weaknesses against them. Iago uses Othello’s insecurities to manipulate him into believing Cassio and Desdemona are having …show more content…
In Act II, Iago and Othello are walking, when they see Cassio talking to Desdemona, and Cassio slips away quickly when he sees them. At first Othello thinks nothing of it but Iago begins to invoke ideas that Desdemona is unfaithful. Iago begins to set up his plot and plants seeds of doubt in Othello’s mind by saying, “Ha! I like not that”(III.III.33). Iago uses a tone that suggests that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio and that his wife should not be talking to him. Othello asks what he means by this, but Iago digresses making Othello want to know more information. Eventually, Iago makes Othello believes he is unworthy of Desdemona and makes him question Desdemona’s motives for marrying him. Iago says something must be wrong with Desdemona for choosing him over other men in Venice, who are like Cassio. Iago capitalizes on Othello’s insecurities and makes Othello doubt Desdemona’s innocence and faithfulness. Iago continues by saying, “She did deceive her father.../And when she seem’d to shake and fear your looks,/She loved them most”(III.III.208-209). This proves to Othello that he may not know everything that Desdemona is thinking or doing. Iago uses Desdemona’s past to convince Othello that it would