. For example, Iago is angry with Othello for passing up an opportunity to promote his military rank, and he is filled, In the story of Othello, we meet many astonishing characters, but there seems to be one character that stands out amongst them all; Iago. To those around him, Iago seems harmless because we associate evil with an evil appearance. When Emilia, his wife, confesses to Othello that Iago has been lying to him since the beginning of the play; Iago kills his wife and runs off. ay, honest. [ Withiri] My lord, my lord ! He is doing the dirty work whilst using another character o take the blame. Iago. My lord, for aught I know. Throughout this second soliloquy the possible motives of Iago progress from the rumour that Othello slept with Emilia, to the more disturbing and disconcerting motive of Iago desiring Othellos love before destroying him, the idea of Iago being thrust into a Godly position. 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. However, if you were to look closely at his love it can be argued that he only loves them because they work so perfectly for his plan. Iago says, O sir, content you./I follow him to serve my turn upon him./We cannot all be masters, nor all masters/Cannot be truly followed. (1.1.43-46). What qualities are needed in such a character? [ Within] O, good my lord, I would speak a word with you ! 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. Iagos very language reveals the level at which his evil mind works. Iago also broken the bond of Roderigo and Cassio. In Othello, Othello is what you would call a "tragic hero." 1072). Iago from Othello is the Perfect Villain - EduZaurus.com what should such a fool Do with so good a wife? Iago: The Almost Too Perfect Villain. (DOC) Iago in Othello : Perfect Villain - Academia.edu Prove Iago : The Perfect Villain - 774 Words - bartleby One of his many challenges is not something but someone.The one and only manipulative Iago. Poem 130 satisfies pundit Harold Bloom's idea of Shakespeare's 'balance Romeo + Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare that was adapted into a modern movie directed by Baz Luhrmann and released in 1996. Iago says, I hate the Moor,/And it is thought abroad that twixt my sheets/Hes done my office. This makes him an extremely perverse and sadistic character, which could go some way to making him the perfect villain. People could say that Iago's actions are simply a scheming liar and that he is a purely evil character. Iago - Wikipedia I know not ift be true, But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, Will do it for surety,. Iago decides to make Othello believe his wife is unfaithful to him. 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. He is the driving force in this play, pushing Othello and everyone else towards the tragic ending. This quote: Desdemona should continue her love to the Moor-put/money in thy purse-nor he his to her. His objective, Iago is the master villain in Othello, and is indeed a prototypal villain; that is, he is the mould for many other villains in their own deeds. Iago is indeed a villainous character. Still as the grave., (5.2.85-100)* This is the scene where Othello kills Desdemona because he - Othello - wholeheartedly believes that Desdemona has cheated on him - Othello - with Cassio and confronts her - Desdemona - about the handkerchief that Cassio had in his hand. According to Edgar Hyman, "Iago is a figuration of Satan." (38). This position is second to Othello's, and would mean more respect, responsibility, and money for Iago. Iago is commenting on how he is able to make money from fools, from manipulating them. 44. 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. Each plot point is spiraled further into tragedy due to the nature of Iago and his manipulative language towards the other main characters. What I mean by that is he may be seen as something that brings hope and goodness but his challenges and his own jealousy bring him at his fall. no, alas ! Despite hating Othello, he still desires his love and praise. What I mean by that is he may be seen as something that brings hope and goodness but his challenges and his own jealousy bring him at his fall. It is his dreams, hopes and desires that turn him evil, bringing out the worst possible characteristics in order to achieve all the things he wants. are you of good or evil ?, (5.1.61-67)* This scene is when Iago kills Roderigo, so he can not tell anyone of Iago's plan to wound Cassio. Shakespeare knows that in the soliloquies he will try to gain Iago some empathy but, he is still the villain, and with a line like this opening his first soliloquy, Shakespeare doesnt let us, the audience, forget it. It is his dreams, hopes and desires that turn him evil, bringing out the worst possible characteristics in order to achieve all the things he wants. His machinations are so effective because they flow consistently. The play Othello is one of Shakespeares tragedys, ending in a dramatic, breathtaking climax. Early modern sonnet traditions carried reasonable indecency, so it's not astonishing to discover farce, absolute opposite and reference among them. Emilia. 784 words Open Document Small Normal Large Huge Essay SampleCheck Writing Quality How does one create the perfect villain for a story? His public face of bravery and honesty conceals a satanic delight in manipulation and destruction, and he will stop at nothing. But for a satisfaction of my thought ; No further harm. Others say Iago's talent for understanding and manipulating the desires of those . Throughout Shakespeares Othello and Marlowes Dr. Faustus, the main characters both undergo a major downfall that ultimately leads to their death. And smote him thus. Emilia. Iago does not struggle with making bad decisions like Othello did. Verbal twists and the characters most importantly stress the act of evil. Google, Google, play.google.com/store/books/details/Othello_The_Moor_of_Venice?id=Ki9XAAAAYAAJ. I pray you, in your letters, When you shall these unlucky deeds relate, Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate, Nor set down aught in malice; then must you speak Of one that loved not wisely but too well; Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought Perplex'd in the extreme; of one whose hand, Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away Richer than all his tribe ; of one whose subdued eyes, Albeit unused to the melting mood, Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees, Their medicinable gum. She give it Cassio ! He is boasting to the audience, proud of his achievements. 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. He is mad at Othello for he granted Cassio as his lieutenant instead of him, this affects his pride, forsooth a great arithmetician one Michael Cassio, a Florentine (Meyer, 2017, pp. For example, Iago states many times I hate the Moor. Throughout the play, Iago evidences his love of talking and communicating and, when presented with no other characters to interact with, he instead communicates with the audience in his soliloquies. When Othello raises Cassio to lieutenancy instead of Iago, Iagos hatred towards Othello intensifies. To defend his own interests, Iago kept pretending to be of use to Othello. Iago is constantly changing, evolving and developing. The play of Othello was written by Shakespeare, it is one of the greatest tragedies he had ever written. Othello does not want to believe Iago when tells Othello that Desdemona might not be faithful. He is often able to convince people that his motives are meant only for good. 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? From the beginning of Othello to the time that Iago is revealed as the culprit, everyone trusts Iago and looks to, Villainous Iago of Othello However Iago finds that he has to lie to himself to keep strong and to help justify his actions to the audience, proving that he must feel some guilt. His words are his sword. Cassios hand. To make the people believe him he becomes loyal to them, pretends to be their friend and pretends to be honest. He is the husband of Emilia, who is in turn the attendant of Othello's wife Desdemona. What you know, you know. From the very start, Iago's manipulations, How does one create the perfect villain for a story? More sinned against than sinning? Othello is a very respected Moor who is known for his wisdom, intelligence, and power. Ha ! Othello is one of Shakespeares only plays where the villain of the piece speaks more lines then the title character or protagonist. Different from the other typical trite villains, Iago has more depth in him . In many of Shakespeares other plays, the phrase: actions speak louder then words, could be applied to the villain of the play. Othello. He was able to lead for the downfall of almost all of the plays characters. Despite working closely with him, Iago is only using Rodrigo as a puppet. Was he a skillful villain? Iago Essays | ipl.org - Internet Public Library In other plays written by the bard of Avon the villains can come across as one-dimensional- weak, personified by a flaw in He destroys a happily married couple. He relates to Machiavellian villains due to his extreme cunning, and his ability to be a puppet master., His actions reveals how evil in the world is and how it's able to manipulate the goodness which in this case would be othello. I that am cruel am yet merciful ; I would not have thee linger in thy pain. Soft you ; a word or two before you go. Shakespeare portrays Othello as the general without faults, perfect. His words are his sword. Because Iago is such a complex character, making you love him because he is so devious and smart, but hate him at the same time because he's ruining the lives of his "friends". Iago is the most interesting character in this Shakespearean play and actually has more speaking parts than even Othello himself. 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. These traits contribute to his overall evil character. Jacobean portrayals often reduce women to saints, mothers or whores. Indeed, Iago's argument itself is construed in the language of female reproduction, described as a 'most pregnant and unforced position' (2.1.224) that reminds us of the Jacobean archetype of the perfect yet paradoxical woman, the virgin mother. From Iagos perspective, he hate[s] the Moor. True, he has the power to both betray and murder those he once worked alongside, but Iago isnt the complete cold-blooded murderer in the same sense of Macbeth or King Claudius from Hamlet. My paper was finished early, there were no issues with the requirements that were put in place. This kind of relationship makes Iago seem slightly unstable thus making putting the audience one step behind Iago. There are several reasons that make Iago such a terrifying villain. Hatred fills Iago's heart . He relates to Machiavellian villains due to his extreme cunning, and his ability to be a puppet master., His actions reveals how evil in the world is and how it's able to manipulate the goodness which in this case would be othello. Is Iago The Perfect Villain? - Marked by Teachers.com But why is Iago so malicious? Iago is wonderfully devious. 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Most importantly, Iagos aptitude for insincere speech is his main asset, as he craftily uses it in every situation. Iago goes on to create plan with Roderigo to ruin the life of Othello. Why does Roderigo hate Othello? - eNotes.com Iago has so many evil traits, Othello may be a hero but he gets fooled like a villain. no more moving? Iago feels this way for a number of reasons that build up and cause Iago to reveal his vengeful mindset early in the play. How silent is this town ! 378-382). O murtherous slave ! He is actually known as honest Iago and even Othello admits to that. O inhuman dog ! By comparing the two men, Shakespeare is making an important statement: Iago is no fool. Here Shakespeare uses irony, as Iago is informing Othello that a man who hates the man whom his wife is cheating on him with lives in happinessthough Iago is attempting to cultivate his plan here, he is describing his own personal situation to Othello. i. 6a Cassio. Iago In Shakespeare's Othello : A Perfect Villain | Bartleby You cannot copy content from our website. Iago constantly asks for money, he is full of jealousy that seems to never be avenged, and he continues to deceive the other characters even after his motivations have been surpassed. Iago fulfills his beginning motivation to make things right; however, his greed is what prevents him from stopping the chaos he creates and this leads to the other character and his ultimate demise., the evil person as we all may think. Iago contains wicked character traits internally, but on the surface he appears charming and empathetic. He really is as slimy and conniving a snake as you could possibly get. Whilst most would see this as a weakness, Iago sees it as strength and it serves him well until he is caught. One particular villain, Iago from the play Othello by Julius Caesar, is a very famous villain. We dont know why, he doesnt state it plainly or in simple English, so we assume that hes evil, that hes just a disgruntled sociopath out to exact his exaggerated revenge on good and noble Othello. He also believes that Othello has slept with his wife. Many of the villains true characters are revealed when they are committing their piece of true evil however with Iago, it is the opposite way around. After a series of Iago-inspired mis-understandings, Othello believes his wife to be sleeping with his new lieutenant, Cassio and thus commences to kill his wife. Othello. Iago is smart, and well tuned to human behavior, and uses this knowledge to. The proud, noble and trustworthy character of Othello promotes his young solder Cassio ahead of his more experienced ally Iago, setting off a chain of events which eventually ends with the demise of Othello, his young wife Desdemona and Iago himself. Alfred who was the butler in Batman: The Dark Night, put it in the best perspective that, Some people just want to watch the world burn, (61). Othello. Please note! 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. It is engendered. They also reveal how much power Iago has over everyone around him due to his honest outward appearance. 43. Yet, at times, "honest" Iago does actually seem honest. Possibly the most heinous villain in Shakespeare, Iago is fascinating for his most terrible characteristic: his utter lack of convincing motivation for his actions. Othello does not believe Iago and wants proof that Cassio is with Desdemona. The noise was here. Iago is very manipulative bend those around him to his will with just words. (3.3 37-40) convinced Cassio to talk to Desdemona, which consequently shaped Othello to be even more jealous than before. Throughout the play, he not only poisons Othellos vision of Desdemona, he does this with no one, excepting Roderigo, the wiser. Iago exploits everyones weaknesses and in turn this reveals his own weakness, greed. 5 Stars, TurnItIn the anti-plagiarism experts are also used by: King's College London, Newcastle University, University of Bristol, University of Cambridge, WJEC, AQA, OCR and Edexcel, In many of Shakespeares other plays, the phrase: actions speak louder then words, could be applied to the villain of the play. Indeed, he is more likely to be hinting at Iagos more sensitive nature. His evil is not recognizable, and he can easily act with deceit. 'T is like she comes to speak of Cassio's death. Throughout the play, Shakespeare proves that everyone has a hamartia. Villanous whore ! Othello. Machiavelli was a well known villain in the Jacobean era but, importantly, he was also renowned for his intelligence. He is manipulating Othello, influencing him. Othello. Exact thing applies to Shakespeare 's Iago, the almost too perfect villain in the play Othello. In Othello, Iago is a villainous person who is filled with hatred, jealousy and an undeniable lust for power. Iago seems more of a main character than Othello, who the play is named after. In Act 3 Scene 3 Iago tells Othello to: Bewarethe green eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on. In this case Shakespeare is being extremely ironic, as it is Iago who has succumbed to jealously and let it change his character forever, not Othello who loses his better judgement momentarily and then repents in the final scene. This is, Emily Turney Mrs. Steppe AP Literature 27 January 2017 In 1603 William Shakespeare wrote the classical tragedy Othello. Shakespeare uses this character to set the basis of evil. Iago as the hero of Othello Essay, Othello - on Study Boss Iago. For me Iago's strongest characteristic when it comes to being the villain is manipulation. Othellos race is particularly important in the play, despite the fact that only one character slurs his race in the play: Iago. In Act I, Scene 1, Roderigo learns from Iago that Desdemona has run away from her home to be with Othello, and he is enraged because Iago has failed him, especially after he has paid him. Iago tells Othello it is the honest truth. Iago does not struggle with making bad decisions like Othello did. Iagos expertise is saying the right thing to the right people for them to believe exactly what he wants them to believe. Iago. This character is Iago. Indeed, it seems on first glance that the line is meant to make Iago even more evil, as it sounds like he has a solid motive for wanting to ruin the life of Othello. Why is Iago considered so villainous in Shakespeare's Othello Iago. He demonstrates this villainy act all through out the story beginning with being angry with Othello for not appointing him as lieutenant, his revenge on cassio for taking his place as lieutenant, and setting up Desdemona to look like she is cheating on Othello. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my lady, Know of your love? This quote and the job of being lieutenant shows that Iago has many motives to why he doesnt like Othello this one being that he thinks Othello is messing around with his wife. Character analysis: Iago in Othello | The British Library Iago uses the other characters in the play to do his dirty work. A good place to start when constructing a villain is to look at William Shakespeares villain in Othello, a man called Iago. 230 Emilia. Through his own greed, he is offended when he does not receive the position of lieutenant. Shakespeare uses rhetoric of identity early on when introducing Iago by the I am not what I am speech (Act 1, scene 1), perhaps foreshadowing his true personality (Sleczkowski). Many of the villains true characters are revealed when they are committing their piece of true evil however with Iago, it is the opposite way around. Unlike other villains of plays from the same age, Iago isnt a butcherer, a thug. Iago is characterized in the play Othello by William Shakespeare as a vivid villain because he manipulates the other main characters. Iago Is The Perfect Villain - 274 Words | Cram 1 Works Cited Open Document How does one create the perfect villain for a story? Iagos misunderstood reputation is a result of not truly examining his character, and answering the why factor behind his actions. Therefore many would be forgiven for thinking Iagos final stand involves a hail of angry metaphors and lies, as he finally lays into Othello. An Elizabethan audience would most likely have at first reacted very negatively to Iago, but such is the strength of his character that his motives for destroying Othello begin to be understood long after the play has been performed. Give examples from the play to support your answer. Emilia. Iago is commonly referred to as Machiavellian, a term coined for Prince Machiavelli. Roderigo especially follows Iago orders; "That Thou, Iago, who hast had my purse As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this (Diyanni). Iago is one of the most misunderstood villains in Shakespeare literature. Iagos determination also speaks to the grit of his character. Iago can convince anyone to see what his wants them to see, he did that with Desdemona father, Roderigo, and Othello. Othello: Get me some poison, Iago, this night: I'll not expostulate with her lest her body and beauty unprovide my mind again. Three things that make Iago a perfect villain are: manipulation, he is "honest" to others, and his actions ultimately causing the death of others. For this love he will forsake anything. He is the main antagonist in this play, pushing Othello and everyone else towards their end. Iago: The Perfect Villain 1273 Words6 Pages When goodness begins to look boring, evil starts to look alluring. Iago is the whole reason why there is any conflict in Othello. I know not if t be true,/But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,/Will do as if for surety. (1.3.324-327). Instead of directly going about killing good characters, Iagos multiple soliloquy reveals his devious nature and his ability to manipulate others. Iagos fabricated lies destroy the lives of others who did not do anything to hurt him intentionally. In "Othello," Iago fits this definition perfectly though Othello does not recognize that Iago is his enemy until the end of the story. This keeps the audience on the edge of their seats, making Othello one of Shakespeares most popular plays. 7-32 ). This is one of the many factors that could be seen as making Iago into the perfect villain. Iagos weakness drives the play because Iago cannot get enough revenge to satisfy his greed and eventually loses sight of when to stop. Iago ( / io /) is a fictional character in Shakespeare 's Othello (c. 1601-1604). Home / Essay Samples / Literature / Plays / Iago. His actions are simply for pleasure. Iago In Shakespeare's Othello : A Perfect Villain Surname 5 Olivia Venkus Mrs. Dey World Literature 11/6/17 A Perfect Villain Iago, a character in Shakespeare's Othello is evil. He is manipulating Othello, influencing him. Contrary to popular belief, the Devil, or Lucifer, is or was not a fire-spitting, all-powerful behemoth. 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. Othello is respected by all those around him. 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. 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. 'Is Iago the perfect villain?' Few Shakespearian villains radiate evilness and jealously quite as much as Iago, the unbeknown nemesis of the play's title character, Othello. By continuing, well assume you agree with our Cookies policy. Iago is not the average evil enemy character that is common in the thousands of stories where good is pitched against evil. murther ! Iago is true villain who makes people consider him as an honorable person. Othello who is a general of the armies of Venice is the protagonist of the play. Twisted with jealously and rage Iago sets out to manipulate and exploit Othellos trustworthy nature, instead revealing him to be slightly nave and gullible.

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