Iago, again pretending to be an honest man, acts shocked and tells her that as Othello's closest friend he will do what he can to figure out what has gotten into him. Iago knows Othello’s weakness and tells it to the audience because it is a major factor in the success of his plan. Iago is angered that his suit for lieutenant, which was supported by “three great ones of the city” was rejected in favor of Cassio, who he sees as nothing more than a theorist, someone with no experience in war and less skill than a spinster; while Iago remains as Othello’s ensign, a position he views as useless. He is the valiant knight atop a horse, adorned with laurels and proclamations of moral righteousness. Why sow such destruction, such chaos, such misery? Utter my thoughts? Off-capped to him; and by the faith of man. One has to ask, why? Iago would kill a thousand men, women and children and not feel the need for a motive, for a reason. Iago has no apparent motive, providing only flimsy and translucent justifications. Iago tells the lie to Othello about Cassio and Desdemona to and convincing Othello to believe in it. This is a villain that, although how reviling it may be at some times, we can empathize with. Although the influence of the miracle plays and the later morality plays with their type-characters still lingered in some Elizabethan drama, the English Renaissance is widely recognized as a period of great interest in that branch of science which has become known in modern times as psychology. Not so The left side of the image shows Iagos real personality, while the right side shows how everyone else sees Iago Effect of their actions on themselves At the end of Othello, Iagos lies catch up to him. In an attempt to rid himself of guilt and doubt, Othello sloppily paints a picture where he is the hero, the brave vindicator on a quest to rid the world of a great evil; the heinous slut (pardon the slur) Desdemona. Fake news is a real, recurrent and important issue in today’s hyper-saturated media environment. Trump’s character wasn’t the only thing that I saw comparisons between, but also what he says. A music and art collective acting something like a punk band. They believe what they’re saying and thus act with the vigor of a man on a righteous quest. Othello simply states; "Iago is most honest." [26] Just check the hallways in any middle school or high school.” Another student wrote about coming out of a Wendy’s restaurant to find “a punky guy” sitting in the car parked next to hers, “just spitting over and over into my car. If you wish to divide the play into proactor and reactor; Iago is the one who instigates most of the interactions, conflict and action. Underwood is just as ruthlessly driven and manipulative as Iago; perhaps more so. Directed by Arlen Konopaki. Verbal twists and the characters most importantly stress the act of evil. Ironically Iago is repeatedly described as honest - this shows that Iago is such a skilled manipulator: Cassio says that he "never knew a Florentine more kind and honest" Desdemona declares "O, that's an honest fellow" He persuades Othello that his "honesty and love doth mince this matter" when the opposite is … Once Desdemona and Emilia exit, however, Iago is confronted by Roderigo, who lambastes Iago for not only taking all his money but also getting him no closer to Desdemona. For more information visit www.freewillshakespeare.com. In William Shakespeare’s, Othello, many character pairings can be analyzed in relation to Sedgwick’s theories. Roderigo remarks, "That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse as if the strings were thine." [Act I, Scene I, Line 2]. This directly contradicts his stated motives; if he truly cares about his wife cheating on him, why does he only seek retribution on Othello and Cassio but not Emilia? https://www.theodysseyonline.com/trump-will-leave-everyone-behind-parallels-between-donald-trump-iago-shakespeares-othello. At this point, it appears more that Iago is desperately searching for an excuse, a reason to hate Cassio. Iago has lost. “I do believe in motiveless malignity,” one stated. In Act 2, Scene 1 of Othello, Iago formulates his plan to drive Othello mad. When faced with this accusation, Iago … In fact, seeing as Spacey’s career started with stage acting in Shakespeare’s Richard III, it is not surprising that House of Cards draws much from Shakespeare’s work. This is who Iago is. Honest Iago, a title that many in the play use to refer to him is especially ironic because it is both true and untrue. Othello is full of betrayals and broken bonds from almost all of the relationships that Shakespeare’s characters form in the play. It’s obvious who the real star of Othello is, and it isn’t the brave protagonist; it’s our favorite antagonist. Iago is most honest (II.iii.7) Othello, unaware of Iago's evil plans, comments on his honesty. Iago is stating in the first few lines how being honest and portraying qualities of honesty can be harmful and not safe, even when Iago calls Cassio a fool. Shakespeare uses a number of techniques to express the manipulaton of Iago in this scene. Now most of the people he did this to it worked on. A viewer of House of Cards doesn’t leave without, frankly, being shocked by how manipulative Frank is and how weak and defenseless the other characters are in his hands. In the tragedy Othello, Shakespeare focuses on how jealousy affects Othello and the other major characters to result ultimately in their destruction. But he, sir, had the election, And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof, At Rhodes, at Cyprus, and on other grounds, Christian and heathen, must be lee’d and calmed. The main reason that Iago had success on manipulating Othello was based on the social differences of these two characters. Iago is referred to as honest over fifty times in the play, by almost every character. He has succeeded in his goal; not to elevate his position as he had once wished, but to utterly and completely destroy his hated master. Whip me such honest knaves. His plot is revealed, and bound, unrepentant and stubbornly silent; he is faced with the future of hellish torment and punishment. Only we as the audience are aware of the true dedication, deceit and evil of these two characters because they actually cannot keep it completely to themselves. Iago suspects that Othello and Cassio have slept with his wife, and presents these motivations as the ones that empower him to destroy them. (2003). An antagonist that justifies their terrible actions with ‘the Greater Good’ or some other inconsequential or weak rationalization is one we have all seen before. Nay, yet there's more in this: I pr'ythee, speak to me as to thy thinkings, As thou dost ruminate; and give thy worst of thoughts The worst of words. Where was the motivation in that? 313. Othello Shakespeare Techniques Symbolism Writing Style Irony Symbolism Writing Style Shakespeare uses quite a lot of irony in Othello, which is one of the reasons Othello works. He, who cannot muster guilt or even the slightest doubt in the morality of his plots, is someone we cannot recognize, we cannot relate with. Iago and Frank are master sculptors, molding and bending their victims to their will like putty. By debitor and creditor; this counter-caster. It was external evil, the malice of the devil, that turned a happy story of romantic lovers who were capable to live happily ever after, so to speak – into a tragedy’ while literary critic F. R. Leavis attacks the Bradley view, asserting, William Shakespeare’s Othello "Honest Lago" 337 In the construction of the play two leading motives are em ployed,?Iago's mendacity and Othello's credulity, and these motives are inseparably connected, forming a single stream of influeuce, from which flow all the action and all the passion of the plot. Iago has a reputation for honesty, for reliability and direct speaking. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/07/10/fake-news-might-be-harder-to-spot-than-most-people-believe/. to. "Honest Iago" 343 Nothing sweet and wholesome can live here. Furthermore, there is a single glaring fallacy in all of these motivations. Is all his soldiership. We can deduce something from this; the reason why Iago did all the terrible things he did, his motivation, is: Many of Iago’s actions are not concurrent to what one would call ‘normal’. Othello trusts this “honest” man absolutely, believing him fully. Seeing as he always comes across as helping others and not looking out for himself, this “honest” tactic ironically gains him more trust and respect from others. Michael, good night: to-morrow with your earliest : Let me have speech with you. The fact that he was Othello's servant is the premise and fundament on which his character traits can flourish, if he was in superior position, he wouldn't of been able to manipulate him the way he did.Iago used his "honesty" image to cover up his true desires. It seems ironic to call the villain honest, but in reality, Iago is a mostly truthful guy, making his honesty a clever paradox. I disagree with this opinion. And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor. EMILIA. Iago uses implications in a similar manner to deposit thoughts into the minds of others. As therealrivke states; both Underwood and Iago are master manipulators that skillfully mold their targets and victims. Of particular significance to me is House of Cards’ Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey). Doth like a poisonous mineral gnaw my inwards; Till I am evened with him, wife for wife; That judgement cannot cure Which thing to do, If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trace. William Shakespeare’s Othello uses different and unique techniques in his language to express the nature of evil throughout the play. This soliloquy is perhaps the most powerful in the play because it carries so much depth and subtext. Iago is most honest. Why did he sow such chaos, discord, violence and ruin? I know not if’t be true, Hath leaped into my seat, the thought whereof. Search “All you have to do is watch the 6 o’clock news every night. When I set out to write this analysis, I chose Iago because, to me at least, he is simply the most interesting character in the play; and I decided to approach the text from a Psychoanalytical perspective because his psychology is really the most interesting part of him. Iago is one of the most complex characters in William Shakespeare’s Othello. To me, some people operate under their own set of rules which the rest of us just can’t understand.”. Get an answer for 'What is significant in this quote in Othello? He had just about everyone spun in Iago’s web. His mocking question; “How am I then a villain”, ironically and contrary to his statements, confirms what we have suspected. It is obvious to us that Iago himself knows how flimsy they sound, even to his own ears, and yet it appears he doesn’t care or is willfully ignorant. What technique is Iago using, which has already been seen to raise Othello's rage? IAGO: I follow him to serve my turn upon him: We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly follow'd. Shakespeare’s Othello – Iago’s manipulation skills The particular blend of character traits that enable Iago’s manipulation of Othello Although the play is named Othello, and although this character’s position and deeds are the center of the story, it is the character of Iago … She still had suspicions about him. Iago and Frank both achieve revenge and attain power by orchestrating from the shadows. The dramatic irony here is obvious. The nobleness of Othello, the kindness of Desdemona, and the loyalty of Cassio, Iago turns all these virtues into traps that destroy them all. And by the faith of man as play starts Iago is an effective technique of exploring repressed unconscious. How reviling it may be at some times, we can empathize with of Othello that seemingly everything! 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