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The most important feature of Iago is his permanent dissembling and his distortion of reality. This is the tool that he uses to deceive the others and to make them comply to his plan. Iago's permanent dissembling is very important for understanding the motivations behind his acts. Even from the first scene of Act I, Iago declares that he acts so as to reach his own goals, and he is not devoted to any other person or sentiment than to himself. Thus, as Iago emphasizes, he only dissembles that he "follows" Othello as a servant, but in fact, only follows himself and is only faithful to his own motivations. However, as it shall be seen, Iago can not be considered as a mere cold blooded and Machiavellic character that acts only...
Although his first motivation is to serve his own purposes and ensure his own comfort and pleasure, Shakespeare actually lets the reader see that Iago is motivated by his own passions, and most of all by jealousy, in his actions. A hint in the play that corroborates this assumption is the fact that Iago's manipulation of the other characters seems to spring from his own knowledge of the passions that impulse them.
Iago is also a great manipulator since he enjoys toying with the others' feelings. He is not content with merely killing Othello for instance, or Cassio to soothe his jealousy and his desire for revenge. Had he been moved solely by unrestrained hatred, Othello
Othello: The Tragedy of Internalized Racism William Shakespeare's tragedy of the Moor Othello is the only major drama of the great playwright in which race plays a major role. The title character begins the play a great and esteemed general, despite the fact that he is a member of an 'othered,' despised race against which some whites have great prejudice. Othello's apparent nobleness, his military prowess, and his eloquence (despite his
Othello as Tragic Hero While Othello is not Greek and Shakespeare is not a Greek playwright, Othello embodies many characteristics of a tragic hero as outlined by Aristotle. What is a tragic hero? Person who is neither perfect in virtue and justice, nor someone who falls into misfortune through vice and depravity, but rather, one who succumbs through some miscalculation. Othello is manipulated by Iago to murder Desdemona Iago uses Othello's trusting nature against him Hero
Othello as Tragic Hero Othello, the Moor of Venice is a Shakespearean tragedy that focuses on the great war hero Othello and the lengths to which Iago goes to in order to strip Othello of his power. Iago's thirst for power commences when he is passed up for promotion and Michael Cassio is instead award the position of lieutenant. Although it would appear to be more logical that Iago target Cassio,
Othello, The Moor of Venice There are a number of very specific literary conventions that a dramatic work must have to adhere to Aristotle's multi-faceted definition of a tragedy. One of the principle components of this definition is that a tragedy chronicles the downfall of a tragic hero. Tragic heroes are well-renowned individual with a wonderful set of virtues descended from decidedly noble lineages who are plagued by one (and only
Othello and Death Knocks: Two Characters Who Do Not Know Themselves The definition of a tragic hero is a great man who is brought low by a single, yet fatal flaw within his character. Shakespeare's Othello can be said to have many flaws as well as virtues -- he is a great general, but he is also a poor judge of character, extremely credulous, and jealous. But all of these flaws
For example, when the two are discussing Desdemona, Iago says: O, beware, my lord of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock The meat it feeds on. That cuckold lives in bliss Who certain of his fate loves the wronger, But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'ver, Who dotes yet doubts, suspects, yet fondly loves. (III.iii.166-71) Here we see an example of Iago's cleverness. He warns Othello about jealousy, appearing to be concerned,