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Iago - Othello

Uses Roderigo's weakness to help him remove Cassio from his lieutenant position. Iago tells Roderigo to "put money in thy purse" (333) . Iago believes that Othello and Desdemona will not be together for a very long time since Othello is a Moor and Desdemona is an aristocrat. Iago urges Roderigo to earn money now so that he can be an eligible suitor when Desdemona is looking for another husband. This conversation and the soliloquy following it introduce the two different sides of Iago. Iago tells Roderigo what he wants to hear in order to enlist his help. However, in the following soliloquy the reader is introduced to what Iago really has planned. He states that he would never associate with someone like Roderigo except to gain his own ends. "Thus do I ever make my fool my purse--/ For I mine own gained knowledge should profane/ If I would time expand with such a snipe/ But for my sport and profit" (365-368). Iago feels that Roderigo is a foolish man who exists only for Iago's use or "sport." This idea a strengthened by the word "snipe". The Arden Shakespeare defines snipe as "fool" (p. 159) and states that the word meant "gull or dupe" (p. 159) before Shakespeare. These definitions emphasize the fact that Iago feels no respect for Roderigo and is manipulating Roderigo only to further his plan. In the same speech, Iago's real plan is revealed only to the audience. Iago wants to convince Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are in love. They are the two people that Othello trusts, and if Othello believes that they have turned on him, this will lead to his downfall. Iago plans to tell Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair. Cassio is a ladies man, and Iago believes that Cassio's charm makes women fall in love with him. Iago will make the innocent flirtations of Cassio and Desdemona seem like secret love to Othello. "After some time to abuse Othello's ears/ That he is too familiar with his wife/ He hath a person and a smooth dispose/ To be suspected, framed to make women false" (378-380).


Essays Related to Iago - Othello

1. Summary of othello

... how cleverly Shakespeare weaves public and private business in this play. Cassio, on official business from the Duke, does not know about the private life, the marriage, of Othello, his boss. It is Iago who informs him of the elopement. The Duke is involved with grave matters of state, for a war with Turkey is imminent; Brabantio ignores the matters of state and ... and wishes to meet Desdemona personally. Emilia immediately takes him to her mistress. As Cassio presents himself to Desdemona, to again ask her to persuade her husband to reinstate him, Iago and Othello are seen at a distan...

  • Word Count: 6585
  • Approx Pages: 26
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Othello

... the storyline has notably changed. He tries to trick Desdemona into admitting her crime by asking about the handkerchief. The handkerchief is not produced and so Othello believes in more of what Iago has told him. Othello speaks to Desdemona using words with ambiguous meanings. While he is implying one thing, Desdemona thinks he is talking about something else. "This argues fruitfulness and ... in his soliloquy, which is to have Othello listen in on his conversation with Cassio in hopes that what Othello believes he hears and sees, will further destroy Othello's and Desdemona's relation...

  • Word Count: 2824
  • Approx Pages: 11
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Iago

... be Lieutenant. From this hate comes his need for vengeance and the main conflict of the play. Iago plans to ruin Othello, in doing so, make Iago the only person that Othello believes and trusts, and Iago will use this trust to manipulate Othello. In Iago's vengefulness, he First, Iago plans to remove Cassio from his position as lieutenant so that he himself take over Cassio's position as ... . I know not if't be true/ But I, for mere suspicion in that kind/ Will do as if for surety" (369-372). Iago has no reason to hate Othello, but because he is an evil person Iago wants to ruin Othello...

  • Word Count: 2349
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Othello Act III To Act V Summary

... Desdemona are talking over the ordeal over Cassio. Desdemona pleaded on the side of Cassio but Othello thinks Montano's position would prove Cassio reappointment impractical even though Othello cares for the lieutenant. Act III Scene II Iago, Othello and a man walk together at the citadel, or castle. Othello gives Iago some letters to deliver and wants to look at the town's defense. Act III Scene III ... Desdemona promised to do everything she can on Cassio's behalf when Othello and Iago enter. Othello asks whether it was Cassio he ... , attempts to silence her with his sword. Graziano ...

  • Word Count: 2963
  • Approx Pages: 12
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Othello

... of the play. His fatal flaw is his jealousy, which is ignited by Iago, the villain of the play. This noble man meets with tragedy by falling prey to Iago's temptations and believing that his wife is unfaithful to him. Antagonist Iago, Othello's ensign, is the antagonist of the play. He exploits Othello's weakness, bringing out his fatal flaw of jealousy and making him believe ... he is sent. Their romantic marriage, however, is ruined by the villainous machinations of Iago. Othello is eventually led to murder his beloved, turning the romantic play into a tragedy. A third minor theme of ...

  • Word Count: 4125
  • Approx Pages: 17
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Othello's Changing Perceptions of Desdemona

... the storyline has notably changed. He tries to trick Desdemona into admitting her crime by asking about the handkerchief. The handkerchief is not produced and so Othello believes in more of what Iago has told him. Othello speaks to Desdemona using words with ambiguous meanings. While he is implying one thing, Desdemona thinks he is talking about something else. "This argues fruitfulness and ... in his soliloquy, which is to have Othello listen in on his conversation with Cassio in hopes that what Othello believes he hears and sees, will further destroy Othello's and Desdemona's relation...

  • Word Count: 2824
  • Approx Pages: 11
  • Grade Level: High School

7. William Shakespeare's Othello - Important Notes and Quotes

... , and your bags! " The daughter is grouped among the house and money which implies the female being powerless against her father. Act 1, Scene 2 Line 18-19 - Why Othello Will Not be Heavily Punished Iago tells Othello that Brabantio who is at a status almost as powerful as the Duke, knows that he and Desdemona have married and because he is furious he will try ... of mind and made no such bassness as jealous creatures are, it were enough to put him to ill thinking." Desdemona still thinks that Othello doesn't get jealous; however this is the power of Iago that has made Othello jealous. M...

  • Word Count: 3368
  • Approx Pages: 13
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Manipulations By Iago

... 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. Iago is smart. He is an expert judge of people and their characters and uses this to his advantage. For example, he knows Roderigo is in love with ... goal. He also thinks quickly on his feet 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...

  • Word Count: 2346
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

9. The Setting of Venice in Othello

... are in that sense understood to one another while this adds to the irony of the constant reference to Iago as "honest Iago". It also contrasts the Venetian way of social dealing with the open nature of Othello. Othello is clever, as his style and military prowess show but is to content of Venice he is na & ... results in something big, but to achieve that is all very simple. It's almost as if anyone could be doing what he's doing. Now that Iago has the full trust of Othello, he now has the power over him. Now that he has this power, why doesn't he stop there? Possibly he's bored. All he ...

  • Word Count: 3763
  • Approx Pages: 15
  • Grade Level: High School

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