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How and Why Does Iago Convince Othello of Desdemona's Infidelity Essay
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How and Why Does Iago Convince Othello of
Desdemona's Infidelity
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How and Why Does Iago Convince Othello
of Desdemona's Infidelity Essay
Like any other Shakespeare tragedy, `Othello' deals with serious themes, traditionally
ones in which a character or characters meet disaster as a result either of personal
failings or circumstances beyond their control. For the play to work successfully, these
themes remain simplistic in the form of common issues that exist in the lives of the
characters. The themes of love and trust are present but are manipulated by Iago to
become implanted as jealousy and hatred in the tragic hero.
According to The New Lexicon Webster's Encyclopaedic Dictionary of the English
Language, "jealousy is a state of fear, suspicion, revenge or envy caused by a real or
imagined threat or challenge to one's possessive instincts. It may be provoked by
rivalry, in sexual love, by competition or by desires for the qualities or possessions of
another." In the midst of his subtle game to bring down Othello, he warns with great
irony that is missed by Othello, but understood by the audience, "O, beware, my lord,
of jealousy."
Iago plays the pivotal role of a disappointed and angered adjutant to Venice's most
trusted and respected Moorish general Othello. The plot of the play is set in motion
when we learn that Othello has caused great bitterness in Iago by appointing Cassio
and not him as his chief lieutenant but also shocking a Senator, Brabantio by secretly
marrying his daughter, Desdemona, to whom many young Venetians have without any
result paid court, particularly Roderigo. Jealous of Othello's success and envious of
Cassio's placement, Iago plots Othello's downfall by falsely involving Othello's wife,
Desdemona, and Cassio in a love affair. Othello's naive tolerance of the `exceedingly
honest' villain at face value allows Iago to play masterfully on his greatest weakness;
jealousy, and brings about his destruction. Overpowered with jealousy, Othello
murders Desdemona. When he learns, too late, that his wife is above suspicion, he
asks to be remembered as one who "loved not wisely but too well," and kills himself.
How and Why Does Iago Convince Othello of Desdemona's Infidelity Essay
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How and Why Does Iago Convince Othello of Desdemona's Infidelity Essay
Iago is one of Shakespeare's most captivating and credible villains. He can be summed
up as an opportunist, a quick thinker who is able to improvise when something
unexpected occurs. This is what happens exactly when Cassio takes hold of
Desdemona's hand just before the arrival of Othello, Iago comments, `With a little a
web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio'. This reveals his plan to ruin the
harmony between Othello and Desdemona by using Cassio as a scapegoat.
Throughout the play Iago is known and called `honest Iago'. This is ironic as the
audience knows the situation to be otherwise. He frequently takes the audience into his
confidence, a device that encourages close observation of his flawless skill as the
innocent manipulator. Shakespeare uses the soliloquy ambiguously as what is revealed
is not anything new to the audience. He uses descriptive, violent imagery often related
to lust and animals, perhaps revealing his own sexual insecurities he may have. `But
we have reason to cool our raging motions our carnal strings...It is merely a lust of the
blood and permission of the will.' He comments on the love between Othello and
Desdemona they have for one another and believes it to be nothing but lust. He refers
to passion rather than love as well and often to sex as `absolute lust' and Othello as the
`lusty Moor'. In his soliloquy he reveals his hatred and plans his revenge. He wants to
disgrace Cassio so that he is demoted by having Othello believe he is having an affair
with Desdemona. He will then begin to `pour this pestilence into his ear.' and watch
the extent of Othello's rage and madness as he soon believes in everything Iago says.
Iago's effectiveness at noticing innocent situations and making them look suspicious is
the ultimate way in which he gets Othello to believe of Desdemona's unfaithfulness.
When Othello first enters the room at the start of Act III Scene III, Cassio hurriedly
leaves the room after speaking with Desdemona, not wanting to annoy Othello any
more than he already had after his drunken behaviour. Of course it was Iago who
persuades Cassio to repair the situation with Othello by appealing to Desdemona. `I'll
tell you what you should do. Our general's wife is now the general...Confess yourself
freely to her; importune her help to put you in your place.' He believes that Othello
will do anything for Desdemona and reminds Cassio that he is his friend, `I protest, in
the sincerity of love and honest kindness.' The start of Iago's deception of Othello
How and Why Does Iago Convince Othello of Desdemona's Infidelity Essay
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How and Why Does Iago Convince Othello of Desdemona's Infidelity Essay
begins here where he plans to use Desdemona's appeal as a cover for her care and
affection towards Cassio. Iago comments on Cassio's quick departure with, `Ha! I like
that not!' suggesting that what had happened was something to disapprove of. He
successfully twists the situation, `That he would steal away so guilty- seeing you
coming.' The explanation he gives to Othello for Cassio's guilt is from that he has been
sleeping with Desdemona. Obviously the audience will know that its false, but to
Othello, once pointed out to him by Iago, becomes very suspicious. This is even more
enhanced in Othello's mind when immediately afterwards Desdemona starts defending
Cassio and pleads to Othello to re-instate him. `That he hath left part of his grief with
me. To suffer with him. Good love, call him back.' In being herself, true and direct,
she falls into Iago's trap. Iago asks suggestive question referring to the time before the
marriage to remind Othello the likeliness that Cassio may still have feelings for
Desdemona, `Did Michael Cassio, when woo'd my lady, Know of your love"' This
provides subtle evidence supporting Iago's suspicion which is by pure luck however is
not enough to fully convince Othello. `Give me a living reason she's disloyal.' In some
parts of the scene Iago refuses to answer the question directly, Othello asks of him,
`Think my Lord"' It seems he is making Othello conjure up his own ideas and by
reassuring his affirmation of `love' for him, `My Lord, you know I love you.' he is
gaining trust from Othello.
Iago has a vulgar yet affective way of letting Othello's imagination invoke images
from Iago's vivid description of Cassio dreaming of having sex with Desdemona. `In
sleep I heard him say. "Sweet Desdemona let us be wary, let us hide our loves." And
then sir he would gripe and wring my hand, Cry "O Sweet Creature!" and then kiss me
hard, As if he plucked up kisses by roots that grew upon my lips; then laid his leg
Over my thigh, and sighed and kissed, and then Cried "O cursed fate that gave thee to
the Moor." This pretentious description instantly implants the want for revenge in
Othello and this feeling stays with him for the rest of the play as that is his tragic flaw.
Even though Othello never sees Desdemona and Cassio having sex, we understand
how receptive he is to Iago's image and how angered he becomes by it. The leading
form Iago uses to convince Othello of Desdemona's infidelity is by using one of
Othello's most treasured possessions and telling Othello that his wife, Desdemona has
How and Why Does Iago Convince Othello of Desdemona's Infidelity Essay
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How and Why Does Iago Convince Othello of Desdemona's Infidelity Essay
given it away to her lover, Cassio. The treasured possession was a handkerchief,
which, `Did an Egyptian to my mother give' and was `bid me when my fate would
have me wive, To give it her.' It was the first gift he gave to Desdemona and is of
enormous sentimental value to Othello. Iago plans to plant it in Cassio's room which
will be the proof Othello needed, `I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin.' This
shows Iago's desperation to set out his plan. Finding out that his wife had given it
away, when really she accidently dropped it, angered Othello as this was his `living
reason she's disloyal.' Iago tells Othello that he saw Cassio wiping his mouth with it,
much like a rag. `I know not that, but such a handkerchief- I am sure it was your
wife's- did I today. See Cassio wipe his beard with.' This is the trigger that sets off
Othello in a mad rage.
Iago manages to manipulate Othello, when talking of Cassio. `Within these three days
let me hear thee say. That Cassio's not alive.' Iago suggests killing Cassio and adds to
the conversation, `but let her live.' To those unaware, this sounds like Iago is trying to
save Desdemona however he is deliberately planting the idea of killing her into
Othello's mind. Othelllo replies with `Damn her, lewd minx. O damn her, damn her.'
From this reaction we can see that rather than agree with what he has said it indicates
he is more determined to kill her. `I'll tear her all to pieces.' Here the love Othello once
had for `Desdemon' disintegrates and transforms into hate through jealousy and
mistrust he triggers in him. He becomes the `green-eyes monster.' Iago had
deliberately suggested that he was becoming and implants the word `jealousy' into
Othello's mind. `O beware my lord of jealousy.' This feeling of jealousy is born from a
dent in Othello's pride. The idea that Othello has only been married to Desdemona for
a short period of time, not being able to keep her satisfied for even that long, makes
Othello very resentful. At the start of the play he appears to be a strong-minded
character, but proves to be quite unconfident with some insecurities. At the end of Act
III Scene III, Othello, a professed Christian, swears `by yond marble heaven' that his
`bloody thoughts' will never turn back until a `wide revenge' has been accomplished.
He believes that by killing Desdemona, he is an agent of justice. Othello may feel
embarrassed as when Brabantio her father first found out about Othello's marriage to
his daughter without his consent, Iago cleverly points out to him, `Look to her Moor,
How and Why Does Iago Convince Othello of Desdemona's Infidelity Essay
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How and Why Does Iago Convince Othello of Desdemona's Infidelity Essay
if thou hast eyes to see: She has deceived her father and may thee.' This is a reminder
of Brabantio's prediction that Desdemona would do this, `She did deceive her father,
marrying you.' Much of Othello deals with pride and reputation for Othello now to
hear about his new wife's infidelity, after he replied so convincingly, `My life upon her
faith.'
He reinforces Othello's own beliefs and values, `'Why, why is this"' and suggests that
cardinal sin is discovery. Iago effectively takes advantage of Othello being a Moor and
therefore an Outsider to Venice. Iago uses this to suggest Venetian society to be
different and suggests that it is common for women like Desdemona to have affairs.
`In Venice they do let God see the pranks. They dare not show their husbands; their
best conscience Is not to leave undone but keep unknown'. In Act 2 Scene 3, while
Cassio speaks of Desdemona as `a most exquisite lady' and `delicate creature,' Iago
refers to her as `sport for Jove' and `full of game.' The idea that a woman is `sport' or
`game' (for sex) depicts Desdemona as a `whore'. In another one of Shakespeare's
plays, Cleopatra, queen of Egypt personifies all of the sensuous majesties of Egypt
and so fascinates Mark Antony that the great Roman general endangers his power in
order to be near her. Perhaps some of the titles given to Othello and Desdemona imply
the inevitable ending along with the series of tragedies Shakespeare has written, that
the couple were never meant to be. Again when Cleopatra sends a false report of her
suicide, she prompts Antony to wound himself mortally. The grieving Queen arranges
to have a poisonous snake delivered to her in a basket of figs to kill herself. We hear
Emilia describe Desdemona as `angel' and Othello as `devil.' Shakespeare uses
Othello's colour (black) as well to contrast with Desdemona's `whiteness' and it is Iago
who points this out.
He feigns false embarrassment, `I humbly do beseech you of your pardon For too
much loving you.' In this way his role as the loyal companion of Othello is made more
genuine to Othello and more immoral to the audience.
The fact that Iago hates the Moor yet acts with `exceeding honesty' to cunningly
provoke and play on Othello's suspicion, shows how eager Iago was to fulfil his
How and Why Does Iago Convince Othello of Desdemona's Infidelity Essay
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How and Why Does Iago Convince Othello of Desdemona's Infidelity Essay
revenge. We can see that Iago is clearly not after a place as Othello's lieutenant
anymore according to him `I know my price, I am worth no worse a place.' And so his
new aim is to make sure the other characters all suffer, especially Othello.
Shakespeare has created an intelligent and quick-witted yet a completely amoral
villain, who shows no signs of remorse or even conscience, although he mentions, `I
am not what I am'. This expresses his conflicting `honesty' and along with the
soliloquy we do not find out much more about his character apart from his intentions
in the play; to act on his own jealousy and to destroy Othello. He is the embodiment of
evil, with no noticeably explained reasons or purposes for his wrong doings. He is a
repulsive character who ends with `I have nothing to say' which adds to the mystery of
the soliloquy as we never hear him explaining himself. He manipulates Othello to such
an extent that through his rage he kills the one person, Desdemona, who he truly
adores and is totally infatuated by. We may never know Iago's reasons for his
tampering and involvement yet we can explain how he manipulates others for his own
egotistical outcomes.
How and Why Does Iago Convince Othello of Desdemona's Infidelity Essay
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