... constantly used. 'I Shall ensnare them all', Iago says. Iago has set his web and nothing can stop him now; he so easily controls the "levers" of the play. Iago, (our so friendly villain) uses a metaphor relating a garden to our lives, and gardeners to our independent wills: "Our ... ' even though he is far from it. A fundamental reason for Iago's success is his ability to appear 'honest', underhandedly giving him the power to manipulate and influence other characters. Iago manages to appear honest partly because of natural characteristics and partly because he purposely sets out to ... g...

• Word Count: 2496
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

... ! Come go with me part.   I will withdraw to furnish me with some swift means of death.   For the fair devil.   Now are the my lieutenant" (III, iii, 475-479). Here we see the anger and violent rage that is beginning to grow in Othello's character. He is not the passive Moor that he used to be. He becomes transformed into a cruel and tense man because of ... ) woo'd my lady, know of your love?- Othello: "He did from first to last. Why dost thou ask?- Iago: "But for the satisfaction of my thought, No further harm. Othello: "Why of thy thought Iago? (III, iii, 94-98) This dialogue shows ...

• Word Count: 1504
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... ! Come go with me part.   I will withdraw to furnish me with some swift means of death.   For the fair devil.   Now are the my lieutenant" (III, iii, 475-479). Here we see the anger and violent rage that is beginning to grow in Othello's character. He is not the passive Moor that he used to be. He becomes transformed into a cruel and tense man because of ... ) woo'd my lady, know of your love?- Othello: "He did from first to last. Why dost thou ask?- Iago: "But for the satisfaction of my thought, No further harm. Othello: "Why of thy thought Iago? (III, iii, 94-98) This dialogue shows ...

• Word Count: 1506
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... ! Come go with me part.   I will withdraw to furnish me with some swift means of death.   For the fair devil.   Now are the my lieutenant" (III, iii, 475-479). Here we see the anger and violent rage that is beginning to grow in Othello's character. He is not the passive Moor that he used to be. He becomes transformed into a cruel and tense man because of ... ) woo'd my lady, know of your love?- Othello: "He did from first to last. Why dost thou ask?- Iago: "But for the satisfaction of my thought, No further harm. Othello: "Why of thy thought Iago? (III, iii, 94-98) This dialogue shows ...

• Word Count: 1417
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... ;. IF she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself, I'll not believe it. [III.iii. 278-279] Othello's speech that begins in Act III is absolutely central to the meaning of the scene as well as to the meaning of the entire play (MaGill, 2132). Through this speech, he also allows the reader to see the magnitude of the mental stress that Othello is undergoing. Jealousy, once awakened, becomes so self ... . Damn her, lewd minx: O, damn her! Come, go with me apart, I will withdraw To furnish me with some swift means of Death. For the fair devil [III.iii.476-479] Othello is horribly jealous of wha...

• Word Count: 2187
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... always a villain. Iago had probably been honest and kind his entire life, and now reaching the age of 28 ("I hath looked upon the world four times seven years" [I. iii. 311]), Iago saw that his life was not going the way he wanted. He felt he was of low rank and without that promotion from Othello he ... is of free and open nature, that thinks men honest that but seem to be so, and will tenderly be led by the nose as asses are" [I. iii. 400]. "Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me for making him egregiously an ass" [II. i. 310]. Iago says these two statements in ... , speak to ...

• Word Count: 2394
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

... preconceptions of how a society should behave towards black people, but also allows the audience to empathise with Othello. However, as the play progresses and Iago's "monstrous birth- (I,iii) begins to sprout in Othello's "garden- (I,iii), he begins to conform to the assumptions and expectations which he so strongly contradicted in the open stages of the play. Othello even says himself that "passion, having my best judgement collied ... / Assays to lead the way- (II,iii). Othello gradually strays from his original composure and dignity to the point where a sudden outcry of "O, blood, bl...

• Word Count: 1558
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... are, it were enough To put him to ill thinking. EMIL. Is he not jealous? DES. Who, he? I think the sun where he was born Drew all such humours from him." (III.iv.881) During this conversation Desdemona has said how important the handkerchief is to her and Othello. Desdemona has also told Emilia that Othello is a jealous man with no sense of ... give "t Iago: what he will do with it Heaven knows, not I; I nothing but to please his fantasy." (III. iii. 876) This quote is said by Emilia in a soliloquy after she has stolen the handkerchief. Once again it shows that she is aware of the impor...

• Word Count: 1495
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... bosom of such a thing" (I.ii.70). One who she feared "To fall in love with what she feared to look on"(I.iii.98). The idea of race developed as a way to explain social divisions in a society that thought it believed in equality. And what constitutes race has changed quite dramatically since then. Othello is ... sexuality over men: "That handkerchief Did an Egyptian to my mother give; She was a charmer, and could almost read The thoughts of people: she told her, while she kept it, 'Twould make her amiable and subdue my father Entirely to her love...."(III. iv. 55-60) . Brabantio who rep...

• Word Count: 2352
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

... ! farewell content! Farewell the plumed troop and the big wars That make ambition virtue! O, farewell! Farewell the neighing steed and the shrill trump, The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife, The royal banner, and all quality, Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war! And, O you mortal engines, whose rude throats The immortal Jove's dread clamours counterfeit, Farewell! Othello's occupation 's gone! (III, iii, 400-409) Undoubtedly, ... loathe. As Iago is trying to influence Othello by creating false ideas, the handkerchief begins to take a role in his plans, "but such a ha...

• Word Count: 1633
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... course Ne'er feels retiring ebb, but keep on To the Propontic and the Hellespont Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace. shall ne'er look back ne'er look back, ne'er ebb to humble love." (III.III. 452-458). After Iago manipulated Othello's feeling by proving him ... him, thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a sport. There are many events in the womb of time which will be delivered. Traverse! Go, provide thy money. We will have more of this to-morrow. Adieu," (I.III.368-375). After hearing rumors that Othello slept with Emilia, paranoia takes over Iago's ... emotional exhaustion. Whi...

• Word Count: 1537
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... an excellent warrior, also being such an honest fearless leader to Venice; he has earned both respect and admiration from the Duke, the Senate, and many Venetian citizens. Most of the Soldiers in Othello's army followed him faithfully, except for "Honest iago " Shakespeare, uses clashing irony, by giving Iago ... decides to work up a plan; a plan to destroy all that was good, destroy innocence and love in "Act 1 Scene III, Iago spats out his words like fire, "I hate the Moor, my cause is heated thine has no less reason. I shall trick Othello into believing Desdemona is unfaithful, with t...

• Word Count: 1320
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... artist of evil, then this scene is the finest canvas he paints. This is the crucial moment in the play, the scene where he, , deceives Othello and induces him to fall. He does so by expanding on the tactics used in prior scenes. Once the seed of doubt is planted in the Moor's mind with a quick "Ha! I like not that" (III.iii.35) (when they come upon Desdemona and ... Cassio) and a few probing questions about the ex-lieutenant's relati! onship to Othello's wife, Iago retreats into the guise he has adopted. He becomes "honest Iago ... -eyed monster") and insisting that he will not speak sl...

• Word Count: 1419
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... pity! who would not make her husband a cuckold to make him a monarch?" (IV iii lines 71-73). On the other hand, Emilia's weakness in loving others becomes apparent to the audience once again when she betrays Desdemona, the woman she must serve with love and patience. Emilia clearly does not love Desdemona as much as ... . If Emilia truly had love in her heart for her dear Desdemona, she would have returned the handkerchief to Desdemona after seeing the immense amount of pain it caused her in Act IV scene ii and iii. The lack of love portrayed by Emilia can only be attributed to not only...

• Word Count: 1300
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... to live with him, my downright violence, and storm of fortunes, may trumpet to the wind. My heart's subdu"d even to the very quality of my lord." (Desdemona I.iii 248-251) However Othello's trust in Desdemona is slowly chipped away at by Iago, the villain of the play. Iago plays on the fact that Othello feels outcast because of his race. This allows Iago to make ... and sold as a slave. This led to much danger and hardship for Othello. "I spoke of. . . being taken by the insolent foe and sold to slavery, and of my redemption. . ." (Othello I.iii 134-138) He is also a soldier which is a ...

• Word Count: 1913
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... to live with him, my downright violence, and storm of fortunes, may trumpet to the wind. My heart's subdu"d even to the very quality of my lord." (Desdemona I.iii 248-251) However Othello's trust in Desdemona is slowly chipped away at by Iago, the villain of the play. Iago plays on the fact that Othello feels outcast because of his race. This allows Iago to make ... and sold as a slave. This led to much danger and hardship for Othello. "I spoke of. . . being taken by the insolent foe and sold to slavery, and of my redemption. . ." (Othello I.iii 134-138) He is also a soldier which is a ...

• Word Count: 1882
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... a true, honest and nave man that has been misled in a disastrous way. When he is accused of stealing away the fair Desdemona he replies with: "That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter, It is most true; true, I have married her,"" (I. iii. 78-79) He does not see that he has wronged Brabantio but simply is a man in love. He is ... confident in his innocence and has not wooed her with "witchcraft-: "Send for the lady to the Sagittar And let her speak of me before her father;- (I. iii. 116-117) The tragic tale of Othello is that all the characters are affected. By the end of the play ...

• Word Count: 1792
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... play, Iago is able to manipulate others to do things in a way that benefits him and moves him closer toward his goals. He is the main driving force in this play, pushing Othello and everyone else towards their tragic end. For someone to constantly lying and deceiving one's wife ... to forward his other goals. He also thinks quickly and is able to improvise whenever something unexpected occurs. When Cassio takes hold of Desdemona's hand before the arrival of the Moor Othello, Iago says, "With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio." [Act II, Scene I, Line ... of ...

• Word Count: 1302
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... Othello. Finding out that Desdemona has given it away without a care for him, would almost certainly anger him, for in Othello's mind she has thought the handkerchief to be a meaningless piece of cloth. Iago tells Othello that he saw Cassio wiping his mouth with it, much like a rag. " I know ... has succeeded in condemning Desdemona to death at Othello's hands. Iago also has a nastily good way of letting Othello's imagination do all the work convincing Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful. He does this most effectively in his vivid description of Cassio dreaming of having sex with...

• Word Count: 1414
• Approx Pages: 6

... his greatest literary heroes. However to combat Othello's truly heroic personality Shakespeare creates a character as evil as Othello is good. It is Iago, the antagonist of the play, who seems to hate Othello and his heroic image with no apparent motive present. Although Othello's heroic nature fails him when Iago manipulates ... that his heart is turned to madness. However it is because Emilia keeps her trust in Desdemona that allows her to be heroic. Othello, the man, is one of the greatest generals in Venice. However Othello is also an outsider in Venice. He is described as a moor or a...

• Word Count: 1287
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... And so much duty as my mother showed/ To you, preferring you before her father,/ So much I challenge that I may profess/ Due to the Moor my lord. (I. iii. 178-187). This speech illustrates Desdemona's inner conflict and also enforces Desdemona's deep- seeded emotions. This is very important because this proves that Desdemona ... was not a weak woman at heart. She did not readily take her subservient role to her husband but is concerned about how her actions will affect the ... her. She had a song of willow. And she died singing it. That song tonight Will not go from my mind" (IV.iii.27-...

• Word Count: 1594
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... and adventures, and loved him for that. He, on the other hand, was glad that a woman truly appreciated all that he had done for his country. Othello states in Scene III of the First Act, lines 166-167, "She loved me for the dangers I had passed, and I loved her that she ... did pity them."" This relationship however, would be a disgrace to Desdemona's father, the senator. He could not have his daughter married to ... handkerchief can keep a marriage together, but Othello takes this to heart, and immediately questions Desdemona regarding its whereabouts. When she does not instantly prod...

• Word Count: 1558
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... drives Othello crazy with suspicion and undoes Othello's character by manipulatively turning Othello's strengths against him to eventually destroy him and ruin his happiness; "The moor is of a free and open nature, that thinks men honest, that but seem to be so- Iago, (I.iii. 381-2) There is a moral law in Othello that is broken; this is also a characteristic of a tragedy. That is ... the battle between good and evil, in this case represented by a battle between trust and jealousy, with Desdemona and Othello, and Othello and Iago, and loyalty ... victim's control, that is Iago's drive ...

• Word Count: 1470
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... to receive. That punishment was death. If his love died, then life, as Othello saw it, was no longer worth living. Othello was so caught up in the heat of the moment, the chaos and emotion that he never stopped to think what all this entailed. Othello vows to spill none of Desdemona's blood, stating: "Yet I'll not shed her ... Shakespeare's Othello,"" Blooms Notes. Broomall, PA.: Chelsea House Publishers, 1996. Bradley, A.C. "Othello: A Noble Soul Overcome by Passion,"" Readings on Othello, San Diego: Green Haven Press, Inc., 2000. Bradley, A.C. "The Peculiarity of Othello,"" Critical E...

• Word Count: 1660
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... seems to place his trust in people that have not demonstrated a reason to be mistrusted. Iago at no time gives cause to be mistrusted. Othello had to see the reason, something tangible. The external pressures on Othello are partially due to his being black. Iago starts his scheming of destruction using Othello's color against him, when he beckons Barbanito to action. Iago ... "As honest as I am", which everyone knows is far from true, but Iago is still capable of bringing Othello. Othello believes in the honesty of Iago until the bitter end of the play. Othello and Iago's wife, Emilia, ...

• Word Count: 1363
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School