Iago pressures Cassio to have a drink and Cassio gives in, resulting in Cassio becoming drunk. In many of Shakespeares other plays, the phrase: actions speak louder then words, could be applied to the villain of the play. Othello Essay: Prove Iago is the Perfect Villain Throughout the play, Othello, Iago often showed how evil and relentless he certainly is and how he does not care about the characters that interfere with his plan. Shakespeare portrays Othello as the general without faults, perfect. He loses most, if not all, of the empathy the audience have gained from him in the space of nearly 30 lines, in preparation for the plays finale where Shakespeare presumably wanted all of the initial, spontaneous empathy to be directed towards Desdemona, Emilia and Othello. His intelligence and sadism are revealed in his three soliloquies, which I will explore in this essay. One of the all time great villains. Iago is extremely confused and, after recoiling away from Emilias love the only person he feels any connection with is Othello. At the end of Act 2, Iago begins his soliloquy by casually stating that he is not a villain; the sarcasm reveals much about his character. By siding Othello in an argument with Brabantio shows the evil side of Iago and he can not be trusted. Iago is mysterious and unpredictable; for every wrongdoing, he finds a way of justifying it. A soliloquy acts as an aid to the audience in order to understand a characters internal thoughts. The lines: Divinity of Hell When Devils do their blackest sins put on, They do suggest at first with heavenly shows, show how Shakespeare compares Iago to the Devil, implying that Iago is the physical manifestation of evil. You could even argue that, at times, Iago knows even more than the audience, which is a trait of a true, compelling villain. First the audience feel sorry for Iago, before Shakespeare turns the story on its head and makes Iago utterly evil once more. He completed it prior to its deadline and was thorough and informative. Villain in Othello by William Shakespeare | Iago Character & Role At the top of Iagos reasons for his deep hatred is Othellos latest promotion of Cassio to the position of lieutenant. Iagos very language reveals the level at which his evil mind works. For this love he will forsake anything. Unlike other villains of . First, Iago showed how great a villain he is, by how he manipulates almost every character to keep forwarding his plan to ruin Othello. Iago is such an evil bastard, yet he knows it and loves it. Humanity has always been powerless against tactically devious individuals such as Iago; therefore, we have to keep in mind that for as long as power hungry narcissists such as him exist there will always be a tug of war between good and bad we just need to know how to deal with such situations. Often it is the dark side of human nature that brings a story to life, and there is no sounder proof of this than William Shakespeares masterpiece Othello. To me, Othello is the most accessible of Shakespeares tragedies. Was Iago A Real Villain? - Free Essay Example | PapersOwl.com Want to write about Literature or other art forms? Plays have become more violent and dramatic as well as new ways of driving a performance. And later on informing Brabantio about Desdemona and Othellos Marriage. The fact that Iago is the only character to mention Othellos skin colour is also signs of one of his weakness- the fact that he is blinded by stereotypes. The best analysis of Iago I have seen online. This comparison links with another line Iago speaks, however this time it is directed to Othello, not the audience. Contrary to popular belief, the Devil, or Lucifer, is or was not a fire-spitting, all-powerful behemoth. Others say Iago's talent for understanding and manipulating the desires of those . Othello Essay : Prove Iago : The Perfect Villain - bartleby He is also driven to continue with his schemes and to never quite. Hes such a slime. In other words, he advises Cassio to ask Desdemonas help as she is the wife of the Moor. His sadistic character hurts everyone in a web of deceit. The way the content is organized and presented is seamlessly smooth, innovative, and comprehensive." Get LitCharts A + Themes and Colors In many of Shakespeares other plays, the villain of the piece is foolish and slow, but in this play, the villain is arguably the smartest of all the characters. Iago even manipulates Othello to strangle her, which is a much personal and vengeful death than poison. I think Iago is intended to represent Thomas Cromwell, the favored and trusted minister of Henry VIII. Iago is going to put the impression that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair. Even though Iago has had years of experience in battle, Othello decided to hand the position to a man with no sense of leadership in battle. Iago works towards an aim that is constantly changing and becomes progressively more tragic. Essay Preview: Iago: The . Lucian Msamatis Iago and Hugh Quarshies Othello, working together, have transformed this play. Iago throughout the play becomes insecure over his decline in power leading him to become jealous and get revenge on those who contributed to this feeling of self-doubt. They are left unsatisfied yet intrigued by Iago, a being who remains enigmatic for eternity. By comparing the two men, Shakespeare is making an important statement: Iago is no fool. The lieutenant tonight watches on the court of guard. Ive always hypothesised Iago does what he does not because he inherently wants to do evil, but rather he is logical to the point where he disregards morals. Iago uses his intellect to control the scene and situation for how he sees fit. This question has been argued for centuries and people still do not grasp the complexity of the word. This character trait is explored further by Shakespeare in Iago's soliloquies. I believe that Othello undermining him was the final straw on the camels back. Everything you need for every book you read. In his third soliloquy, Iago once again comes up with other reasons for destroying Othello. This essay will explore the complex character of "honest Iago. Iago is the epitome of evil; therefore, understanding how he operated can help readers/the audience to identify villains in their own lives and protect themselves from suffering the same fate as Othello, Emilia, Cassio, Roderigo, and Desdemona. Essay by 24 May 3, 2011 1,172 Words (5 Pages) 1,388 Views. Othello tells Iago to go get some poison to kill Desdemona, but Iago refuses and just tells him to strangle her in her bed (IV. Chiwetel Ejiofor as Othello at the Donmar was utterly wonderful, the best Ive seen. Roderigo's Evil In Othello - 1041 Words | Cram Iago is truly a horrid character. He is also inferring that the latest fool that is making his purse is Othello, a man revered by others for his honest and noble nature. Personally Ive never seen him as being evil. Othello:
Despite hating Othello, he still desires his love and praise. Or was he simply a wronged man? Othello is the perfect example that you cant believe everything you see or hear in life, also that constant self-doubt can push one to the brink of insanity. Thank you for this, it really helped me understand his character better. Iago also manipulates Othello with jealousy. Iago deceives many characters, not just Othello. One tiny incision that punctures into the outermost layer of the skin. He is mistaken here, as Othello and the guards eventually find him out and it is Emilia who reveals his deceit, which is very ironic as Iago isnt quiet in his contempt of women and believes all women to be stupid. In Othello, it is jealousy that ultimately leads to the downfall of three characters, Roderigo, Othello and Iago. However, such a villain would distract from the impact of the play and would be trite. Iago believes the only way a servant will not be outdone by their leaders is to put their own desires in front of their masters. Students looking for free, top-notch essay and term paper samples on various topics. She seems to know nothing of his supposed rage toward Othello at being overlooked for the promotion to lieutenant. Shakespeare uses them as a tool, an instrument in engaging the audience. This fact reflects Iagos incredible contribution to the play and also sets the tone for the story- for the most part we see things from Iagos perspective as, after the audience, Iago has the most knowledge on what is going on in the play. I hate the Moor; And it is thought abroad that twixt my sheets Hes done my office. The audience obviously knows that Iago set Cassio up to get into a fight and ultimately get fired. Iago is able to get the trust of everyone around him, and to appear honest. He is also once again revealing the sense of detachment he feels, he is planning on manipulating Desdemonas innocence and purity into a weapon, thus highlighting the ruthless nature of his character. In fact the only true relationship he has with another person is the perverse relationship he shares with Othello. Iago is commenting on how he is able to make money from fools, from manipulating them. Iago, in the play Othello, is a very intriguing villain. In a way, he almost reminds me of Lady Macbethboth being incredibly maniplative, deceitful and cruel villains. Iagos manipulative traits, deceitful actions and love for Othello eventually cause the death Emilia, Desdemona and Othello himself. One gets the impression that Shakespeare wanted the actor portraying Iago to spit the word to the audience. However, the article could have benefited from a deeper analysis of the historical and cultural context of the play, which would have provided a more comprehensive understanding of Iagos character. Iago influences Othello, and exploits his weaknesses; till [he] is even with [Othello] (1,2,288) essentially achieving his desires. The fact that Iago sees these qualities as factors to be exploited sum up his nature in perfect fashion. This makes him an extremely perverse and sadistic character, which could go some way to making him the perfect villain. He is a liar and he steals on the pretext of helping. Othello, when he finally gets the story from Iago, is blinded by Iagos honesty and love and says that these doth mince [his judgement in] this matter,/ making it light to Cassio.(II.iii.241-242). What qualities are needed in such a character? Although, Othello is not the only play where William Shakespeare has made jealousy a central motivator. Iago, in the play Othello, is a very intriguing villain. He has all the Evil is about putting your own interests above everyone elses. Prove you are human, type cats in singular form below: Laurika is freelance writer and columnist. He loses it in a Falling Down kind of way. As a outcome of the dramatic irony that Iago uses throughout the play, the audience is pressured into feeling closely connected with Iagos wickedness. Listening to him raises great sorrow and anger and pity all in my mind at once. Thanks! One of the most evil dudes outside of Lucifer Ive witnessed speak. Hes addicted to his own hatred. Iago displays many morally ambiguous and downright dirty traits. The most striking aspects about his character is his complete lack of remorse for the pain he inflicts on others and the complex manner in which he justifies his actions; he comes across as someone who takes pleasure in the chaos he creates. He convinces Roderigo that there is an affair between Desdemona and Cassio. Because why did he need to be so petty over a promotion. Handkerchiefconfessionshandkerchief!. (Act 4, Scene 1, Line 35). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Anybody who has to ask what motivates lago to act as he does has very little experience of certain areas of humanity. Annes daughter Elizabeth I was a great patron to Shakespeare. The main themes in this play are appearance and reality, love, hate and jealousy. Iagos opinion on women is that he detests women in all kinds and shapes, and finds faults even when they have little or no faults. A good place to start when constructing a villain is to look at William Shakespeares villain in Othello, a man called Iago. This keeps the audience on the edge of their seats, making Othello one of Shakespeares most popular plays. People of this time would have been devoutly religious and the devil would have frightened them, as he was seen as the ultimate evil. Thus do I ever make my fool my purse: Iagos first soliloquy, included in Act one Scene 3 opens on a sinister, malicious note. This is because Iago despises Cassio; for, he has a greater power and position than Iago. Iago is commonly referred to as Machiavellian, a term coined for Prince Machiavelli. Key quotation (Aside) O, you are well tuned now!But I'll set down the pegs that make this music, As honest as I am. (331-334). Until this point, Iago had been pretending that he believed he was acting justly. Essays Analysis of Othello's Iago, The Perfect Villain Analysis of Othello's Iago, The Perfect Villain analytical Essay 784 words Open Document 784 words Open Document Small Normal Large Huge Essay SampleCheck Writing Quality How does one create the perfect villain for a story? One is born and the other is made. Iago - The Perfect Villain William Shakespeare`s Othello is a tragedy based on the retaliation between two characters, Iago and Othello. Othello Essay: Prove Iago is the Perfect Villain Throughout the play, Othello, Iago often showed how evil and relentless he certainly is and how he does not care about the characters that interfere with his plan. Until now Stratford 2015. Shakespeare crafts Iagos evil characteristic through the way he manipulates others in order to carry out his plans and his unfit motivation for his maliciousness. Othello Essay In William Shakespeares play Othello, the Iago is the most important character. He wants to destroy their marriage because he believes Othello has slept with his wife, Emilia which is another motive as to why he hates Othello. What is it about how Iago is characterized in the play Othello and how he acts that makes him such a vivid villain, even today? Iago is so easily able to lie in front of, Two individuals may be the best of friends but when one individual is taken in by jealousy over the other he or she will do anything in his or her power to ruin the other individuals life; this is where the dilemma arises. However, she is continuously hoodwinked by her husband. Interesting piece. 1072).
Only problem is if theres someone stronger than you that cares about punishing evil, like a superhero, or the writer of your story, or God. Did Iago screw up? This is, Emily Turney Mrs. Steppe AP Literature 27 January 2017 In 1603 William Shakespeare wrote the classical tragedy Othello. Iago has a shrewd two-dimensional character; his goal throughout the play is to bring down the Moor. "Sooo much more helpful than SparkNotes. Frequently, Iago expressed his support for Othello, telling the audience that he is noble and in doing so, comes across as a person who is completely fixated to ruin Othellos life despite his recognized compassion. Struggling with distance learning? Thats called being a psychopath. That is something that transcends all cultures; the ultimate betrayal. By having Iago boast so close to the dramatic and disastrous finale, I believe that Shakespeare is showing that, despite being extremely clever and in many cases the perfect villain, Iago is still only human. The Devil also influences others by tempting them, in a similar fashion to Iago. The fact that Shakespeare does not allot Othello a specific race could be due to the fact that he wanted his audience to see that race isnt crucial in understanding a person or character and only the narrow minded (or evil, like Iago) would see race as a barrier. His racism is definitely an issue, and probably something that Shakespeare wanted to bring light to. Iago is the villain in the play. Iago is a SOCIOPATH, NOT a psychopath. Our Teacher Edition on Othello can help. This all contributes to making Iago the perfect villain; he is unreadable and unpredictable, unlike other Shakespearean characters that remain the same character throughout. He shows instantly that he exploits people and revels in it. Iago fooled Montano, the governor of Cyprus, into believing that Iago is an alcoholic. One would think that being so close to Iago, she would know something of his deceitful nature. This is enough to convince Othello of Desdemonas affair with Cassio, enraging him to want to murder the two. Cite This Essay Download Did Iago screw up? He unmoral above all others in English literature. Though Iago at times is satisfied with the way he treats others, his motives are humanistic and the way he deals with his envy for others makes him one of the manliest men in William Shakespeares Othello. Iago from Othello is the Perfect Villain - EduZaurus.com Iago shows in his second soliloquy that he sees people as tools, ready to be manipulated, hinting at the sense of detachment he feels. Iago is poisoning Othellos ears by telling him about the ocular proof that Othello was asking for all along. I know not ift be true; But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, Will do as if for surety. And let him find it. He is often able to convince people that his motives are meant only for good. Cassio is made drunk by Iago; Roderigo takes advantage of this and picks a fight with him. Don't use plagiarized sources. Iago utilizes the trust of each individual in the play to manipulate them in order to achieve his goal. (IC: Quote (citation).) He is opportunistic, ruthless and compelling, a perfect villain in so many ways. In Act 2, Scene 1 of Othello, Iago formulates his plan to drive Othello mad. To be exact, Iago is a puppeteer who sets up scenes to deceive the credulous foolsOthello, Cassio and Desdemona (4.1.45). We can all see a little of the characters in ourselves or those we know. Evil. These actions eventually lead to a tragic event. Unlike other villains of plays from the same age, Iago isnt a butcherer, a thug. Hitler, Stalin and Napoleon are all leaders, who undoubtedly can be stated as evil. Lie with her! Indeed, he is more likely to be hinting at Iagos more sensitive nature. How Cosmic Horror Made Paganism Great Again, The Map That Came To Life: A Memento from Childhood, The Transition from Internet Content Creation to More Traditional Media, The Evolution of Mills and Boon Romance Novels, The representation of women as the hero in YA novels, The Relationship Between Odysseus and Telemakos. In the end opportunity presents itself to Iago and he seizes the moment to stab Cassio in the back but the blow fails to kill him. Is Iago The Perfect Villain?. I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs. ( Act 1,Scene 1, Line 116). His first soliloquy appears in Act 1 Scene 1, line 149. In William Shakespeare's play, Othello, a man named Iago is fueled with revenge toward a soldier named Othello for not assigning him the position of lieutenant. You got the difference between socio and pyscho wrong. Iago is wonderfully devious. We can look at it homosexually or a brother to brother relationship that many men in the army feel as they fight together. Iagos manipulation has driven Othello insane, leading to Iagos plans on his last night. KarrieWrites did such a phenomenal job on this assignment! Iago succeeds as a villain due to his ability to make people trust him. Iago is the epitome of a conniving and evil character in a play. Iago is a unique and complicated character. the most amazing performance of Iago ive ever seen, including theatrical adaptations. 7-32 ). Evil masterminds are always successful in their diabolical schemes, but each one does it in their own special way. He puts more of his plan into action saying, in Cassios lodging [I] lose this napkin. Kenneth Branagh is bloody brilliant. He makes everyone believe that he is trustworthy. Machiavelli is famous for his political treatise, The Prince which espouses, among other things, that the ends to power always justify the means. Furthermore, Iago believes that Othello has robbed him of the role of lieutenant, and his wife. This links in with the idea of Iago hating women as he has a rather shallow relationship with Emilia and mentions in the play how he thinks women are good only for sex. The words my fool also imply that he is in complete control of the people he decides to manipulate, suggesting that he is in a Godly sort of position. Its funny how I find myself irritated by the attempts to humanise and rationalise Iago. Iago does this by manipulating Othello, and everyone dear to him, to fulfill Iagos desires of vengeance towards Othello. Iago also tells Cassio that he will drink for Cassio which makes Cassio think, The most interesting character in the play Othello is the villain, Iago, commonly referred to as "Honest Iago". During this time Iago poisons Montanos impressions of Cassio by telling him, I fear the trust Othello puts in him,(II.iii.120). In the play, only Iago voiced an explicitly stereotypical view on Othello and his race and, the fact that Iago is the main villain of the play, means most scholars view the play as Shakespeares statement on society, notably that people are the same, regardless of skin colour- a message many would do well to remember in this current day and age. He was instead a fallen angel, once a trusted servant of God who eventually fell to Earth after letting ambition and greed cloud his judgement. At the beginning of William Shakespeares Othello, Emilia, Iagos wife and Desdemonas attendant, remains blindly loyal to her husband. Iago slightly sarcastically plays on the title Honest Iago in his third soliloquy, after many of the characters start addressing him by this title. William Shakespeare. This places Othello in the position of being alarmed because what could be so horrible that this honest man would want to keep secret from him. After becoming so consumed with jealously, greed or whatever is driving him on, Iago now feels no real emotional connection with ordinary people. Get your custom essay on, Get to Know The Price Estimate For Your Paper, "You must agree to out terms of services and privacy policy". Supplementary to linguistic techniques, dramatic techniques such as dramatic irony reinforces Iagos role as a two-faced villain, who is making a pretence of being Othellos loyal ensign. First, the trust of the pure is the liar's most helpful apparatus. Shakespeare turns Iago into a perfect villain, unlike other Shakespearean villains who are a one-dimensional character throughout the play. Othello who is a general of the armies of Venice is the protagonist of the play. The tragedy of Othello was believed to have been first performed in the early 1600s and is one of Shakespeares more famous plays. Similarly, Othello overlooked Iago and instead lavished his praise, and a promotion, on Michael Cassio. He hurts the people for no reason, just like the devil. He appears to be cunning, decisive, and able to take. Trifles light as air Are to the jealous confirmations strong As proofs of holy writ. Iago has his revenge when Othello demotes Cassio of his rank because of his misbehavior. He keeps up a false face when around Othello; "pouring pestilence into his ear" with his "heavenly shows" and this is arguably the greatest of Iago's many evil deeds. Retrieved from http://studymoose.com/is-iago-the-perfect-villain-essay. First, I must tell thee this: Desdemona is directly in love with him. (Act 2, Scene 1, Line 210). A good place to start when constructing a villain is to look at William Shakespeare's villain in Othello, a man called Iago. Sociopaths and psychopaths who wont hesitate to ruin our lives for no reason at all, or at least, one we dont understand. Shakespeare, Iago is the perfect villain. This often leads to alienating people, but if youre charismatic enough, you can manipulate people just long enough to get what you want. Iago has his revenge when Othello demotes Cassio of his rank because of his misbehavior. Shakespeares play Othello is based on tragedy of Othellos jealousy, which ironically leads Othello to kill Desdemona, his beloved (wife). 1 Works Cited Open Document How does one create the perfect villain for a story? But Iago seems to bring these pitfalls to new heights in how deeply engrained deceit has become in his being. We say lie on her, when they belie her. The word birth also suggests that Iago is comparing the manifestation of his evil plan to a newborn baby. To install StudyMoose App tap In other plays written by the bard of Avon the villains can come across as one-dimensional- weak, personified by a flaw in their genetic make-up or unattainable ambition yet Iago is a far more complex and compelling character. Order now Iago's greatest skill is disguising his manipulative schemes of destroying and betraying the ones around him who refer to him as "honest Iago". Ian Serkin at Manchester Royal Exchange a decade ago opposite Joseph Paterson was one of the best Ive seen. Psychopaths are simply manic people. Jennifer Putnam explains, He is clever in his diction to avoid confrontation that can easily erupt (Putnam, 2). What qualities are needed in such a character? He carries out his scheme against Othello cleverly without anyone pointing fingers at him. Who Is Iago The Perfect Villain - 774 Words | Bartleby Iago is true villain who makes people consider him as an honorable person. Iagos plan is successfully and easily executed. The plan arranged by Iago involves scheming Roderigo out of his money, convincing Othello that Cassio has slept with Desdemona, and using Othellos frame of mind to drag him into his downfall. He tells Montano, Tis evermore prologue to his sleep./Hell watch the prologue a double set/If drink rock not his cradle (Shakespeare 2.3.134-136). Yet when used in his soliloquy, used after he passionately describes his plan, the word sounds very ominous and sinister. Each reading of Othello yields new revelations and demonstrates the intricacies of Shakespeares work. Boose further explains this, writing that Iago makes use of the token of love to create falsity as he first puts the object in an erotic context and transforms the motif of marital consummation into an evidence of adultery. William Shakespeares Othello involves a man named Iago who wants to get revenge on Othello who is known as the Moor of Venice. From this time forth I will never speak word. This epitomises the character of Iago. After some time, to abuse Othellos ear that he is too familiar with his wife. Iago utilizes his deft and shrewd key demonstrations of control to undermine each characters shortcomings. During the Elizabethan Era, drama began to flourish in Western Europe. Due to which Cassio loses his position as Othellos lieutenant. Eventually, Iagos villainy nature sows a seed of doubt in Othello that germinates into the murder of Desdemona. Iago: The Perfect Villain - 792 Words | Cram Is Iago the Perfect Villain? How old is Iago? - Shakespeare Online Iago constantly uses his innocence to make Othello jealous and start to assume that it is true. Fortunately, Iagos wife, Emilia gets a hold of Desdemonas handkerchief and gives it to him. The first person in the play that is manipulated by Iago is Roderigo. When goodness begins to look boring, evil starts to look alluring. He pursues his attacks on his victims through covert ways and despite being able to differentiate between right and wrong, Iago still chooses the latter. To defend his own interests, Iago kept pretending to be of use to Othello. He easily and eagerly manipulates the structures of culture and identity, whether it is marriage or the authority of the state, as if they are fantasies.