In act two, scene three, Iago has just seen another piece of his plot against Othello fall into place. After arranging Cassio 's termination, Iago has the gall to give the other man advice on how to re-enter Othello 's good graces. Iago utilizes misogynistic and racist imagery and attempts to trap the audience in his web of deception.
This scene holds great importance to the narrative of Othello because, once again, Shakespeare forces the audience into Iago’s perspective without offering any clarity to the villain’s true motivation. This ambiguity fuels the tension of the play just as much, if not more, than Iago’s dastardly deeds.
Iago 's begins his soliloquy by asking "And what 's he then that says I play the villain?" (2.3.324). This acts …show more content…
This reiterates a pre-existing theme where Iago describes Othello 's relationship with Desdemona using a religious context. In this soliloquy alone, Iago also claims that Desdemona "shall play the god" (2.3.335). This blasphemous claim is a reversal of Iago 's prior accusations where he paints Othello as a devil who bewitched Desdemona. These statements highlight Iago 's misogynistic and racist attitudes, showing that he associates both interracial relationships and women in power as something unholy. The tirade against the couple continues when Iago states that Othello 's "soul is so enfettered to [Desdemona 's] love" (2.3.333). The word "enfettered" summons the picture of a man bound against his will. The use of it against Othello, a black man, is not only steeped in racial prejudice, but takes on a darker tone within the context of the play itself. Members of the audience know Othello was sold into slavery at one point in his live. To compare such an atrocity to the joy of marriage creates a repulsive …show more content…
The irony in this statement, naturally, comes from the fact that Iago constructed the situation that led to Cassio’s termination. The audience also knows that Iago holds no warm feelings for the other man. Once again, Shakespeare leaves the audience to wonder why Iago appeals to him. Does he want reassurance that his misdoings against Cassio should be forgiven? Or is that simply the version of events Iago wants the audience to believe? Iago’s goes on to say that anyone who considers him in the wrong are the same as devils who put on “the blackest sins” (2.3.339). While “blackest” could be interpreted as meaning the gravest of sins, the word could also be a taken as another jab at Othello’s
This scene holds great importance to the narrative of Othello because, once again, Shakespeare forces the audience into Iago’s perspective without offering any clarity to the villain’s true motivation. This ambiguity fuels the tension of the play just as much, if not more, than Iago’s dastardly deeds.
Iago 's begins his soliloquy by asking "And what 's he then that says I play the villain?" (2.3.324). This acts …show more content…
This reiterates a pre-existing theme where Iago describes Othello 's relationship with Desdemona using a religious context. In this soliloquy alone, Iago also claims that Desdemona "shall play the god" (2.3.335). This blasphemous claim is a reversal of Iago 's prior accusations where he paints Othello as a devil who bewitched Desdemona. These statements highlight Iago 's misogynistic and racist attitudes, showing that he associates both interracial relationships and women in power as something unholy. The tirade against the couple continues when Iago states that Othello 's "soul is so enfettered to [Desdemona 's] love" (2.3.333). The word "enfettered" summons the picture of a man bound against his will. The use of it against Othello, a black man, is not only steeped in racial prejudice, but takes on a darker tone within the context of the play itself. Members of the audience know Othello was sold into slavery at one point in his live. To compare such an atrocity to the joy of marriage creates a repulsive …show more content…
The irony in this statement, naturally, comes from the fact that Iago constructed the situation that led to Cassio’s termination. The audience also knows that Iago holds no warm feelings for the other man. Once again, Shakespeare leaves the audience to wonder why Iago appeals to him. Does he want reassurance that his misdoings against Cassio should be forgiven? Or is that simply the version of events Iago wants the audience to believe? Iago’s goes on to say that anyone who considers him in the wrong are the same as devils who put on “the blackest sins” (2.3.339). While “blackest” could be interpreted as meaning the gravest of sins, the word could also be a taken as another jab at Othello’s