For generations, the Elizabethan era has been a prominent time period where Queen Elizabeth I heired. This era brought opportunities for great play writers to express their work as it was the era of the very first theatres in England. William Shakespeare joined the London theatre scene making history while creating 37 remarkable plays and 154 sonnets gaining the title of the great bard, since he is a great poet. During the year of 1603, Shakespeare wrote the classic drama, Othello. Othello captured the themes of Love and Jealousy. In the play, Iago is introduced as a manipulative and deceptive character that has motives for destroying his boss and the leader of Venice, Othello. In William Shakespeare’s play Othello, Iago’s motives towards the
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Iago looks at Othello as a lesser human being due to his different racial background which is evident when Iago wakens Brabantio with the news of his daughter’s recent elopement with the Moor. Iago tries to turn Brabantio against Othello saying “Even now, now, very now, and old black ram is tupping your white ewe” (1.3.90-91). Iago uses animal imagery and compares Othello to an old black ram which introduces racial association of black versus white. Iago discriminates Othello as a human being and compares him to an aggressive animal, leading Brabantio to become more enraged and think that Desdemona is under certain witchcraft for falling in love with a black man. When Iago has Brabantio furious, he further on makes racist slurs against Othello claiming “you’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse, you’ll have your nephews neigh to you, you’ll have coursers for cousins, and jennets for germans” (1.1.111-114). Iago is being racist by stating that Othello is a black Barbary horse that will create a family full of horses with Desdemona. At this point, Othello is not looked at as a powerful general anymore, but is now judged off his skin colour and looked at as a dirty black animal. The component of racism is a big factor in Iago’s motives towards Othello, and concludes that Iago uses Othello’s skin colour to define him as a person, and makes him out to be a filthy wild animal that is not capable of …show more content…
Iago’s ability to manipulate people and convince Othello of Desdemona’s infidelity is shown when Iago makes up a false story of him laying with Cassio and hearing him mutter “Sweet Desdemona let us be wary, let us hide our loves” (3.3.420-421). This story was the very first lie that Iago told Othello to ensure him that Desdemona was disloyal. Iago makes himself more believable by being wary, and having Othello beg for his information on Desdemona and Cassio. This makes Iago’s motive of having Othello believe in Desdemona’s infidelity easier to convey. Not only do Iago’s actions manipulate Othello; the behaviour of other characters also leads him to believe in Desdemona’s infidelity. Iago sets up a talk with Cassio in front of Othello to talk about Bianca, but make it as if they are talking about Desdemona. Bianca later on walks in setting up Iago’s plan further by questioning Cassio about Desdemona’s handkerchief. Iago’s quick thinking leads him to be one step ahead to manipulate and plot schemes so, upon hearing this Iago tells Othello “Yours, by his hand. And to see how he prizes the foolish woman your wife; she gave it to him, and he hath given it his whore” (4.1.171-173). Iago is exploiting Othello and Desdemona’s relationship, while playing on Othello’s fears and composing a web of lies. Othello
Iago looks at Othello as a lesser human being due to his different racial background which is evident when Iago wakens Brabantio with the news of his daughter’s recent elopement with the Moor. Iago tries to turn Brabantio against Othello saying “Even now, now, very now, and old black ram is tupping your white ewe” (1.3.90-91). Iago uses animal imagery and compares Othello to an old black ram which introduces racial association of black versus white. Iago discriminates Othello as a human being and compares him to an aggressive animal, leading Brabantio to become more enraged and think that Desdemona is under certain witchcraft for falling in love with a black man. When Iago has Brabantio furious, he further on makes racist slurs against Othello claiming “you’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse, you’ll have your nephews neigh to you, you’ll have coursers for cousins, and jennets for germans” (1.1.111-114). Iago is being racist by stating that Othello is a black Barbary horse that will create a family full of horses with Desdemona. At this point, Othello is not looked at as a powerful general anymore, but is now judged off his skin colour and looked at as a dirty black animal. The component of racism is a big factor in Iago’s motives towards Othello, and concludes that Iago uses Othello’s skin colour to define him as a person, and makes him out to be a filthy wild animal that is not capable of …show more content…
Iago’s ability to manipulate people and convince Othello of Desdemona’s infidelity is shown when Iago makes up a false story of him laying with Cassio and hearing him mutter “Sweet Desdemona let us be wary, let us hide our loves” (3.3.420-421). This story was the very first lie that Iago told Othello to ensure him that Desdemona was disloyal. Iago makes himself more believable by being wary, and having Othello beg for his information on Desdemona and Cassio. This makes Iago’s motive of having Othello believe in Desdemona’s infidelity easier to convey. Not only do Iago’s actions manipulate Othello; the behaviour of other characters also leads him to believe in Desdemona’s infidelity. Iago sets up a talk with Cassio in front of Othello to talk about Bianca, but make it as if they are talking about Desdemona. Bianca later on walks in setting up Iago’s plan further by questioning Cassio about Desdemona’s handkerchief. Iago’s quick thinking leads him to be one step ahead to manipulate and plot schemes so, upon hearing this Iago tells Othello “Yours, by his hand. And to see how he prizes the foolish woman your wife; she gave it to him, and he hath given it his whore” (4.1.171-173). Iago is exploiting Othello and Desdemona’s relationship, while playing on Othello’s fears and composing a web of lies. Othello