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Iago manipulates his relationship with Othello by pretending to be his loyal and trustworthy friend, all while harboring deep resentment and jealousy. He feigns concern for Othello's well-being, often offering advice and support that ultimately serves his own malicious agenda. By presenting himself as a confidant, Iago gains Othello's trust, allowing him to manipulate situations and sow discord without raising suspicion. This duplicitous behavior highlights Iago's cunning nature and ability to exploit the bonds of friendship for his own gain.
What else can I help you with?
What obsession is there in Othello?
Othello is obsessed with Desdamona, making it easy for Iago to use him and make him believe anything. Iago is obsessed with his revenge for not being promoted. He wants to get revenge on Cassio and Othello for making him look like a fool.
Why is iago now planning Desdemonas downfall?
Iago doesn't like other people to be happy because he is so unhappy himself, notwithstanding the fake "honest Iago" persona he has developed. Since Desdemona is happy in her marriage to Othello, Iago wants to destroy her in the process of destroying Othello.
How does iago manipulate cassio after the lieutenant's humiliating dismissal?
He tells him that the best way for him to get his place back is to get Desdemona to plead with Othello, which would probably be good advice if Iago had not at the same time suggested to Othello that Desdemona was having an affair with Cassio. Because of Iago's suggestion, Desdemona's concern for Cassio looks like confirmation of her having an affair with him.
What characters are like Iago in Othello?
He is Othello's ensign and the villain. He is selfish, narcissistic, extremely intelligent, two-faced, and deceitful.
Why is Roderigo upset in act 1 Othello?
roderigo is jealous of othello because desdemona has chosen othello asher suiter despite the overwhelming offers roderigo has made and the racial difference in othello, which at that time would be considered taboo. so desdemona would rather go against society with othello than be with roderigo.
Did iago ever like Othello?
No, but Iago doesn't like anyone. Including himself.
What obsession is there in Othello?
Othello is obsessed with Desdamona, making it easy for Iago to use him and make him believe anything. Iago is obsessed with his revenge for not being promoted. He wants to get revenge on Cassio and Othello for making him look like a fool.
Why is iago now planning Desdemonas downfall?
Iago doesn't like other people to be happy because he is so unhappy himself, notwithstanding the fake "honest Iago" persona he has developed. Since Desdemona is happy in her marriage to Othello, Iago wants to destroy her in the process of destroying Othello.
How does iago manipulate cassio after the lieutenant's humiliating dismissal?
He tells him that the best way for him to get his place back is to get Desdemona to plead with Othello, which would probably be good advice if Iago had not at the same time suggested to Othello that Desdemona was having an affair with Cassio. Because of Iago's suggestion, Desdemona's concern for Cassio looks like confirmation of her having an affair with him.
What characters are like Iago in Othello?
He is Othello's ensign and the villain. He is selfish, narcissistic, extremely intelligent, two-faced, and deceitful.
Why is Roderigo upset in act 1 Othello?
roderigo is jealous of othello because desdemona has chosen othello asher suiter despite the overwhelming offers roderigo has made and the racial difference in othello, which at that time would be considered taboo. so desdemona would rather go against society with othello than be with roderigo.
Why does iago say he hates Othello so much and what does he mean when he says in following him i follow but myself.?
Nobody really understands why Iago hates Othello; at one time he says that he suspects Othello of having seduced his wife Emilia. Possibly he hates Othello because Othello is a parvenu, a jumped-up galley slave no less, whereas Iago is of the established Venetian nobility. He seems to hate Cassio for a similar reason. Or again, he may be like Cassius in Julius Caesar--simply jealous. Whatever his reason, it is clear that Iago actually doesn't care about anyone in the world except Iago. He is totally selfish as the quotation "in following him I follow but myself" shows. Iago serves as Othello's ensign ("following him") only because it enables him to pursue his own agenda ("follow myself").
Why doesn't Iago tell Othello about Desdemona's and Casio's affair?
Because Othello would never believe him if Iago just told him. Iago wants Othello to believe that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair (which they are not), and so goes about it in a much more devious and effective way. He starts off making little comments under his breath, like "Oh, I like not that." and then the more Othello presses him to tell what he is thinking, the more reluctant Iago appears to be. He says he doesn't really know anything, it's probably really innocent, he doesn't want to get anyone in trouble, BUT . . . and then relates some mildly suspicious incident. As Othello gets hooked and forces Iago to tell more and more, Iago makes up more and more increasingly suspicious incidents. Othello believes him because he seems reluctant to say anything, and also because everyone calls him "Honest Iago". This is textbook con artist technique. And Iago uses it over and over, gulling people right left and centre throughout the play. Shakespeare's depiction of this kind of deception is masterful.
Why did iago want cassio to ask Desdemona for help in restoring Othello's faith in cassio?
If Desdemona asked a favour on Cassio's behalf, it would look to Othello like she was doing it out of an improper love for Cassio. The harder she argues, the more suspicious it seems to Othello.
Why is Othello gullible and easily fooled?
He is not. Every other character in the play, without exception, considers Iago to be honest and trustworthy. Cassio lets Iago trick him into drinking more than he should, and then immediately trusts him again when Iago tells him to go to Desdemona. Is he gullible and easily fooled? Roderigo is conned again and again out of his money by Iago for a purpose anyone could tell was a waste of time. Again and again Roderigo is taken in by Iago. Iago even fools his wife (who by this point ought to know better) in the matter of the handkerchief. Emilia does not think it suspicious enough to tell Desdemona, unfortunately. As for Othello, Iago knows that Othello cannot be easily fooled. If Othello were so foolish, Iago could have told him his wife was unfaithful, and he would have believed it. No, instead, Iago only plants the idea in Othello's mind, saying all along that he doesn't believe it. He plays on Othello's humility, his concern that a man of his age, background and race could have few attractions for a girl like Desdemona. And so Othello starts to wonder, to doubt, to worry, not because he is gullible but because he is humble. But he doesn't right off believe it. He's not Claudio from Much Ado. "Give me the ocular proof!" he demands. Are these the words of a gullible man? Iago is a very skillful psychological manipulator. Nobody is immune to his techniques. Nobody. Othello is not a gullible man. Iago is an evil genius.
Why is irony used in Othello?
Shakespeare's plays rely largely on irony. There are three kinds of irony presented in this novel. They are: situational, verbal, and dramatic. Irony plays an important role in Othello. It creates suspense, and adds interest to the story. There are many examples of situational irony in this play. Cassio was the one Iago wanted dead or out of his position. At the end of the play, Cassio was the only one that did not die and Othello actually promoted him to a higher position. In the end Iago never accomplishes what he started to do-- to get back at Othello and take Cassio's place. Both Othello and Iago treat their wives horribly. Both killed their wives even through their innocence. Iago killed his wife because she was working against his plan. Othello killed his wife because he thought she cheated on him when she really didn't. Before he killed her, Iago used his wife in a way that helped him to betray Othello. She was a good friend of Desdemona's and she worked against her friend without knowing it. She took Desdemona's handkerchief because Iago said he wanted it. Iago then placed the handkerchief in Cassio's room to make him look guilty. Also, throughout the play, it seemed that Othello was the only one who didn't know the truth. Shakespeare uses situational irony well to make the story more interesting. The verbal irony in this novel can sometimes be humorous because of how ironic it is. Othello often said things that were actually the opposite of Iago: "O, thou art wise! 'Tis certain"(IV.I.87), "Honest Iago . . . "(V.II.88), (II.III.179) & (I.III.319), "I know, Iago, Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter"(II.III.251-52). These lines are just a few of the ironic that Othello says to Iago. They show the trust that Othello mistakenly puts in his "best friend." Most things Iago says are ironic and he's always lying. Othello still considered him his best friend but Iago was the only one Othello trusted although he was constantly lying. He says, "My lord, you know I love you"(III.III.136). This is a blatant lie - Iago does and would do anything to make "his lord's" life miserable. He does not love Othello. One line that Iago says is very ironic in several ways. He says, "O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock the meat it feeds on"(III.III.192). This line covers many things because jealousy is the reason Iago is betraying Othell o and ruining everyone else's lives in the first place. Also, jealousy is what causes Othello to eventually kill his wife. Just a short sidenote, the metaphor coined by Shakespear of jealousy being a "green-eyed monster" is very famous and a very well written phrase. Early in the play, Desdemona's father says to Othello, "Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see. She has deceived her father, and may thee"(I.III.317). This is not good for Othello to hear. This just helps to enforce what Iago is trying to him to believe about Desdemona cheating on him. There are many examples of verbal irony in Othello that add humor to the story and makes it more interesting to read(or watch). Dramatic irony plays an important role in captivating the audience. Dramatic irony makes parts of a story more interesting for the audience to know something the characters don't. The strongest piece of dramatic irony which plays out throughout the story is the fact that the reader/veiwer knows that Desdemona is innocent. Along with this, the audience also knows that Iago is really crooked. The reader knows all of Iago's schemes and lies. Othello knows none of these things. He believes that Iago is honest and that his wife is guilty of adultery. More instances of dramatic irony show up as characters think aloud to the audience through asides. Then, the audience knows what is going on when most characters don't. Dramatic irony is exciting and it makes the reader feel like part of the story. Throughout the play, Shakespear uses irony to add humor, suspense, and just to make it more enjoyable. The three different kinds of irony; situational, verbal and dramatic, all make the play a classical Shakespeare play.
How does Iago use Othello's racial differences against him?
Iago suggests to Othello that Desdemona may have only been satisfying her curiosity by being with a black man. He says that it is only natural for people to want to be with others that are like them (a refrain sung by racists of all ages), and once her curiosity is satisfied she is bound to look for someone more like her, someone white and young and aristocratic like, oh, I don't know, like Michael Cassio maybe. Othello is not ashamed of who he is but he is a genuinely humble person who is amazed that a person as lovely and wonderful as Desdemona could possibly love him. And it is that humility which gives rise to the doubt which Iago exploits.
