Unparalleled in his ability to prey upon the insecurities of those he wishes to ruin, Iago is one of Shakespeare’s most destructive villains. He plants the seeds to destructive plots that are aimed to exploit the fundamental nature of other characters.With his use of garden metaphors throughout the play, Iago exhibits his effectiveness as a villain in being able to nurture and manipulate the tangled roots of human nature Throughout the play, Iago views the other characters through the lens that they are all wild plants, and that he, as a gardener, will bring under his control. Early in the play, while starting his plans to bring about Othello’s downfall, Iago tells Roderigo that, “Our bodies are our gardens, to which the wills are gardeners”
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Iago understands this, and uses the knowledge to manipulate what people want to do. He goes on to say that, “So that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce, set hyssop and weed up thyme, supply it with one gender of herbs or distract it with many...the power of corrigible authority of this lies in our wills” (Shakespeare I.iii.363-368). Iago takes actions to catalyze a future event or goal, knowing that depending on what a gardener does to treat and take of the plants, the end result will ultimately be what a person wants it to be. In order to get what he wants, Iago is willing to sow the seeds on other people’s gardens. For example, he sees that Desdemona is “as fruitful as the free elements,” (II.iii.361-362). Iago has Cassio go to her to plead his case to restore his lieutenancy, so that Iago can eventually “pour...pestilence into [Othello’s] ear” (II.iii.376) and Desdemona’s “goodness” will “make the net that shall enmesh them all” (II.iii.381-382). By seeing that Desdemona creates natural fruits of kindness, Iago decides to manipulate how the fruits grow in order …show more content…
With the seeds in Desdemona and Cassio planted, Iago observes that “the Moor” quickly “changes with [his] poison” because “dangerous conceits in their natures poisons” (III.iii.373-374). The very nature of what Iago has planted, human conceits, are a poison destined to grow beyond just affecting the garden of Othello’s mind. The poisons Iago planted are too effective, as once they take effect, “not poppy nor mandragora...shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep which thou owedst yesterday” (III.iii.379-382). The use of mentioning medicinal plants illustrates that once poison, like the deceit planted in Othello’s mind, has entered the body, no amount of medicine will cure it. With no cure, poisons spread unchecked. Iago has effectively been able to plant a seed that uses a form of human evil, deceit, in order to to advance his motives as a villain. Yet, the growth of evil, born from the seeds he tended, cannot be tamed as it is part of the forces of nature. When Iago lies to Othello about overhearing Cassio in his sleep mutter about an affair with Desdemona, he says “[Cassio] then kissed me hard, as if he plucked up kisses by the roots that grew upon my lips; then laid his leg o’er my thigh” (III.iii.478-481). Iago is trapped under Cassio’s leg, showing the poisoned plant roots have returned to kiss Iago back on the lips. He is ensnared under the
Iago understands this, and uses the knowledge to manipulate what people want to do. He goes on to say that, “So that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce, set hyssop and weed up thyme, supply it with one gender of herbs or distract it with many...the power of corrigible authority of this lies in our wills” (Shakespeare I.iii.363-368). Iago takes actions to catalyze a future event or goal, knowing that depending on what a gardener does to treat and take of the plants, the end result will ultimately be what a person wants it to be. In order to get what he wants, Iago is willing to sow the seeds on other people’s gardens. For example, he sees that Desdemona is “as fruitful as the free elements,” (II.iii.361-362). Iago has Cassio go to her to plead his case to restore his lieutenancy, so that Iago can eventually “pour...pestilence into [Othello’s] ear” (II.iii.376) and Desdemona’s “goodness” will “make the net that shall enmesh them all” (II.iii.381-382). By seeing that Desdemona creates natural fruits of kindness, Iago decides to manipulate how the fruits grow in order …show more content…
With the seeds in Desdemona and Cassio planted, Iago observes that “the Moor” quickly “changes with [his] poison” because “dangerous conceits in their natures poisons” (III.iii.373-374). The very nature of what Iago has planted, human conceits, are a poison destined to grow beyond just affecting the garden of Othello’s mind. The poisons Iago planted are too effective, as once they take effect, “not poppy nor mandragora...shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep which thou owedst yesterday” (III.iii.379-382). The use of mentioning medicinal plants illustrates that once poison, like the deceit planted in Othello’s mind, has entered the body, no amount of medicine will cure it. With no cure, poisons spread unchecked. Iago has effectively been able to plant a seed that uses a form of human evil, deceit, in order to to advance his motives as a villain. Yet, the growth of evil, born from the seeds he tended, cannot be tamed as it is part of the forces of nature. When Iago lies to Othello about overhearing Cassio in his sleep mutter about an affair with Desdemona, he says “[Cassio] then kissed me hard, as if he plucked up kisses by the roots that grew upon my lips; then laid his leg o’er my thigh” (III.iii.478-481). Iago is trapped under Cassio’s leg, showing the poisoned plant roots have returned to kiss Iago back on the lips. He is ensnared under the