Reputation is a very defining element in modern society and has been for centuries. In Shakespeare's "Othello," a lower class citizen by the name of Iago manipulates those around him in horrifying way in order to climb up the social ladder. Shakespeare depicts Iago's motive when he tries to increase his reputation as jealousy in order to demonstrate how far lower class people will go to in order to increase their own social status. First of all, Iago is shown throughout the play using Roderigo for personal gain in situations to give himself a higher social status. This is demonstrated when Iago speaks with Roderigo of how to rob Cassio of his place of authority and his reputation. In the passage, it says, "provoke him, that / he may;
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An example of this is when Othello is shown rambling after hearing Iago's words. In the play, it says, "OTHELLO: (By heaven,) thou echo'st me / As if there were some monster in thy thought / Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean / something" (3.3 106-108). The emotional toll on Othello that Iago's forgery is taking and how it's getting to his head is illuminated by this quotation. Iago's using his tactics to wear-down Othello and to make him easier to control in his furiously complexed condition. The manipulation is getting to Othello and slowly brings him to insanity, where Iago plans to overcome him and take his authority. Another example from the text is where Iago's lies build up to an extent where Othello is compelled to kill Desdemona. In the act, it says, "OTHELLO: Arise, black vengeance, from the hollow hell! / Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne / To tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with thy fraught, / For 'tis of aspics' tongues! / IAGO: Yet be content. / OTHELLO: O blood, blood, blood!" (3.3 446- 451). This quotation brings attention to Othello's complete loss of sanity from Iago's continued fabrication of the situations that actually took place. Othello's inordinate trust in Iago overwhelms his sense of judgement and reasoning, disorienting himself to the point of madness and rage. Not being able to cage these
An example of this is when Othello is shown rambling after hearing Iago's words. In the play, it says, "OTHELLO: (By heaven,) thou echo'st me / As if there were some monster in thy thought / Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean / something" (3.3 106-108). The emotional toll on Othello that Iago's forgery is taking and how it's getting to his head is illuminated by this quotation. Iago's using his tactics to wear-down Othello and to make him easier to control in his furiously complexed condition. The manipulation is getting to Othello and slowly brings him to insanity, where Iago plans to overcome him and take his authority. Another example from the text is where Iago's lies build up to an extent where Othello is compelled to kill Desdemona. In the act, it says, "OTHELLO: Arise, black vengeance, from the hollow hell! / Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne / To tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with thy fraught, / For 'tis of aspics' tongues! / IAGO: Yet be content. / OTHELLO: O blood, blood, blood!" (3.3 446- 451). This quotation brings attention to Othello's complete loss of sanity from Iago's continued fabrication of the situations that actually took place. Othello's inordinate trust in Iago overwhelms his sense of judgement and reasoning, disorienting himself to the point of madness and rage. Not being able to cage these