Here he shows how his manipulation is actually paying off, "[...] He [Othello] holds me well; / the better my purpose shall work on him," (I.3.382). Iago shows his audience yet another motivation for his ensuing treachery in this passage as well. Earlier in the play, Iago spoke about his own jealousy towards Cassio when Othello choose him over Iago for the position Iago desperately wanted. Despite Othello's reasoning behind his decision, Iago's jealousy has obviously not subsided at this point in the play, "Cassio's a proper man. Let me see now: / to get his place, and to plume up my will / in double knavery-" (I.3.384-386). Iago reveals that he will commit double treachery, ruining both Cassio and Othello in his plot to frame Desdemona's betrayal with the innocent Cassio. The last chunk of the passage is where Iago's role as the internal playwright is most emphasized. From the very beginning, he uses his skills of manipulation to contort the events of the play. In this soliloquy, Iago lets loose his plan of action to the audience, "After some time, to abuse Othello's ears / That he is too familiar with his wife," (I.3.387-388). He goes on to continue to forwarn the audience of what is soon to come. Othello has no idea of the oncoming betrayal, and so Iago is still in complete control of his manipulation to convince Othello of his wife's false infidelities with Cassio, "He hath a person and a smooth dispose / to be suspected - framed to make a woman false," (I.3.389-390). The innocently ignorant Othello is pitted against the malicious Iago, who frames Desdemona's betrayal. Despite his more personal relationship with the audience, Iago's own language in describing Othello leads the audience to sympathize with the helpless Othello, "The...
The audience can see how Iago is praying on Othello's trust. Othello is the tragic hero, who despite his initial honesty, is ultimately destroyed. The playwright Iago is the direct effect of Othello's downfall. He, who controls the characters as if he were not one himself, forces them to act in ways unfamiliar to their natural personas, "And [Othello] will as tenderly be led by th'nose / as asses are," (I.3.393-394). The physically strong Othello is no match to the manipulative powers of the deceptive Iago. He is so successful in his deception, that it is not until the end of the play that he is fully exposed. Despite his wife's eventual confession, Iago succeeds in his manipulations, which only the audience knows how much effort he put into crafting, "I have't! It is engenered! Hell and night / Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light," (I.3.394-3950).
Othello and Love Love and Othello Love is a fleeting, passionate, agonizing, and steep theme to William Shakespeare's tragedies. Chief among these tragedies is Othello, which portrays the aspect of love in different ways. Through the eyes of the varied characters, the audience can see that love is easily thrown about to mean a number of things; true love, a phrase that seems to be used only by one character -- or
Yet despite the fact that the play's title is nothing but his name, Othello is arguably not really the central figure of the story. Iago is far more instrumental in moving the plot forward; it is his (not fully explained) hatred of Othello that the play is concerned with, and though Othello is obviously necessary as the object of Iago's hatred and jealousy, he takes a largely passive role in
Homosexuality in Shakespeare's Tragedies Elements of sexuality and lust are very openly present in the works of Shakespeare's tragedies. No matter if one is reading Othello, Hamlet or Romeo and Juliet, one can't deny the frequent allusions to concepts such as love and lust, hatred and desire, want and self-absorption, even violence as they relate to relationships and sexuality. This common theme pervaded much of the work that was written during
Clown in William Shakespeare's The Tragedy Of Othello: Comic relief and symbolism The Elizabethan playwright William Shakespeare is the author of some of the most famous tragedies every written. The Tragedy of Othello is one of the rawest of all of his works, given that it is a romantic drama that hinges upon one of the most primal emotions of all human beings -- the sensation of jealousy. The jealousy of Iago
Hamlet and Revenge Hamlet -- Prince of Denmark -- is considered to be one of Shakespeare's greatest plays. (Meyer, 2002). It is also one of his most complex plays. It is about the evolution of a character within the context of a revenge drama -- that of Hamlet in Hamlet. In keeping with the revenge-theme of this drama, this thesis of this essay will aver that Shakespeare exalts Hamlet as a
Midsummer Night's Dream The difficulty of love is one of the predominant themes in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. While love itself is not a theme of the play, Shakespeare uses romantic elements, and troubles stemming from romance throughout the play. Shakespeare's characters successfully distance themselves from the emotional side of love to keep the play lighthearted and funny. There is much more fun in poking fun, apparently. There are internal
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