The Character of Iago in Shakespeares Othello Essay

The Character of Iago in Othello In the play Othello, the character Iago plays a paramount role in the destruction of Othello and all of those around him. Some critics state that Iagos actions are motiveless and that he is a purely evil character. However, during the course of this paper, certain motives for Iagos actions will be discussed. For the first motive to be understood the reader must become knowledgeable of Othellos heritage and the setting of the play. Othello is a Moslem from North Africa. He is living in Venice. He is the leader of the Venetian forces. Anthony Burgess, a Shakespearean critic, believes that Othellos color has nothing to do with Iagos actions. Othellos color†¦show more content†¦Even now, now, very now, an old black ram/ Is tupping your white ewe.(Othello, Act 1, scene 1, ln. 88-89). Iago knew that Othello and Desdemona had eloped and he was determined to break the couple up. Othello was a high-ranking officer in the Venetian forces, however some critics believe that to Iago, Othello was simply a Moor who had moved into his territory and taken over. Iago had reasons other than the color of Othellos skin to hate the Moor. Iago is a very secretive villain throughout the play and until the end of the play there were not many characters who knew what Iago was scheming. However, in the first scene of the play Iago tells Roderigo that he hates the Moor and despises the fact that Othello chose Michael Cassio to be his lieutenant. Iago tells this to Roderigo before he plans to seek revenge on Othello. This envy of Michael Cassio plays a very important role and is a tremendous motivational factor in the plot against Othello. Iago is so ruthless that he involves Cassio into the plot in order to ruin his reputation and career. Iago wants to destroy Cassio because he does not believe that Cassio is qualified to fulfill the position he has obtained. Iago is a very distinguishable solider who has been a military man, and Othellos right hand man, for some time. Iago has been in many battles whereas Cassio has yet to fight. Iago refers to Cassio as an arithmatician not a solider with practical experience. C assio wasShow MoreRelated The Character of Iago in Shakespeares Othello Essay1145 Words   |  5 PagesThe Character of Iago       The old clichà © One bad apple ruins the bunch is what enters ones mind when discussing the villainous, deceitful, protagonist Iago in Shakespeares tragedy Othello. It is amazing how one person alone can completely destroy, or deteriorate a group of good natured, trusting, loyal peoples lives in a matter of days- three to be exact. What is the motive behind Iagos heinous, selfish acts, one may ask? A rather obvious theme in the Shakespeares tragedy, OthelloRead More The Character of Iago in Shakespeares Othello Essay1865 Words   |  8 PagesThe Character of Iago in Othello      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   No one has ever failed to appreciate the skilled art with which Shakespeare has defined the characters of his plays; great and small alike, their distinctiveness, their dignity, their misery, and their integrity are captured and displayed.   In particular the depiction of certain characters in Othello have been universally acclaimed.   Identified by many scholars as one of Shakespeare great tragedies, along with Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear,Read More Shakespeares Othello - The Character of Iago Essay840 Words   |  4 PagesThe Character of Iago      Ã‚   In Othello, by William Shakespeare, one of the most intriguing characters is Iago. At first glance he seems to be pure evil, but I think his actions are much more complex. Through thought-out words and actions Iago is able to manipulate others to do things that benefit him and move him closer to his goals. This character is consumed with envy and deceit that leads to theft and killing. Iago is the main driving force in this play, pushing Othello and the otherRead More Shakespeares Othello - Character Development of Iago, Desdemona and Othello1052 Words   |  5 PagesCharacter Development of Iago, Desdemona and Othello  Ã‚   The three characters of Iago, Desdemona and Othello are gradually revealed to the audience as Act One unfolds. All three are linked to one another and talk to and about each other. Their characters unfold through their interaction with others and how they behave in isolation. The first impression formed of Iago comes from what Roderigo says. Being gullible, Roderigo has given Iago his purse. A character who accepts an offer like this isRead MoreEssay about Character Study of Iago in William Shakespeares Othello1225 Words   |  5 PagesCharacter Study of Iago in William Shakespeares Othello In Othello, Iago works to bring about the downfall of the characters that he hates, particularly Othello and Michael Cassio. In order to do this, he uses not only the weaknesses of his victims, but their strengths and good qualities as well. Iago says this about Desdemona: So will I turn her virtue into pitch, And out of her own goodness makes the net That shall enmesh them all (Act 2 Scene 3) Read MoreThe Evil Character of Iago in Shakespeares Othello Essay630 Words   |  3 PagesIago is a complex character that takes evil to a whole new level in the 1600’s and plays a key role in this tale. Iago’s main goal is to get Othello and Cassio out of the army, but in the end fails to ruin Cassio’s life, only Othello’s. He uses many characters to his advantage, realizing how trustworthy and oblivious these people are. Iago cannot be relied on and has many masks, behind which he hides. He has many disguises and secrets that he hides from everyone and his acting skills come in handyRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Iago In William Shakespeares Othello705 Words   |  3 PagesKarla Morales GRASP 10/23/17 Iago is the most interesting character in Othello, by William Shakespeare. With his carefully thought out plans, he is able to manipulate others to do things in a way that helps him and moves him closer towards what in his mind is revenge against Othello. He is the main antagonist in this play, pushing Othello and everyone else towards their end. Iago manages to commit all seven deadly sins. He constantly uses his good reputation for dishonorable purposes. His talentRead More Comparison of an Evil mastermind in Shakespeare’s Othello and MacDonald’s Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)1433 Words   |  6 PagesIago is one of the most renowned villains of pre-modern literature, as first introduced in Shakespeare’s Othello. His deceiving personality and complex nature is painted such that readers are amazed by his ingenious schemes. At the beginning of Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago is represented as trustworthy and honest, but readers soon realize that h e is the opposite of what he seems. Even though Iago’s personality and thoughts are revealed less in MacDonald’s Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)Read MoreOthello: Good vs Evil1525 Words   |  7 PagesMain Characters William Shakespeare’s Othello is a classic depiction of a struggle between good and evil. In the play,, the characters are faced with the choice to either conquer or succumb to the overpowering force of evil. Shakespeare places his characters on a sort of spectrum in which a character’s amount of god or evil can be represented by a shade of color: black representing pure evil, white representing absolute goodness, and a shade of grey exemplifying the nature of all characters thatRead MoreOthello Character Analysis1678 Words   |  7 Pagesdrama. Shakespeare’s masterpieces and tragedies such as Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, King Lear and Romeo and Juliet caused a remarkable turning point in English literature as whole, and English drama in particular.His play Othellois one of his unforgettable tragedies. The play of Othello is the finest example of Shakespeare’s poetic and narrative style. Thus, Shakespeare is known as the most influential dramatist whose tra gedies found the way to interact with the audience.Shakespeare’s Othello is about

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Love and Relationships Throughout the Ages of Man Essay

The Social Problem Kind Hearted Women (Sutherland, 2013) is a documentary that attempts to portray what it means to be a Native American in modern times. It uncovers how child abuse and domestic violence tainted the life of one woman on an Indian reservation. Robin Charboneau, the protagonist of the film, becomes a whistleblower of the dysfunctional tribal council system. As she seeks help and advocates for her family, she faces the scars from her own past and starts on a journey full of learning, growing and healing. Robin Charboneau Robin Charboneau is an Oglala Sioux woman in her early 30s who lives in North Dakota. She is a heterosexual, divorced mother of two young children. With a phlegmatic temperament, she writes poetry that†¦show more content†¦Her diagnosis of depression comes from a history of victimization starting when she was placed in foster care at a very young age. Alcoholism could have been a result of her emotional trauma, but it might also be an inescapable, genetic pattern she is repeating. Her own mother died from alcoholism, which is why Robin entered foster care. Robin’s support system played an important role in her turning point, as her daughter Darian began to verbalize Robin’s substance abuse. In contrast, Robin’s mother suffered from alcoholism when she was younger than Darian. Her addiction was also the flag needed to mobilize her towards help. Becoming sober strengthened the bond with her children. According to the convoy model (Antonucci, Akiyama Takahashi, 2004), the children form part of her inner circle: people that one cannot imagine life without. While she is a single parent, Robin receives forms of emotional and financial support from people like her father and brother, also part of her inner circle. 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Set List Revised free essay sample

â€Å"Seriously, Mom, I’m fine.† On a chilly March evening outside the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., my mother insistently nagged me to wear a sweater. Looking at everyone else in line for the concert, there was no way I was putting that thing on. I was sixteen years old, and if I chose to stand outside in nothing but a t-shirt, then I’d deal with it. The world needed to loosen its grip and let me grow up already. My mother’s worries slipped from my mind the instant those creaky glass doors opened. Thick black X’s drawn on the backs of my hands, I rushed inside to see the smoke, speakers, and shining lights. When Forever the Sickest Kids took the stage, I screamed my lungs out, feeling the energy inside me practically burst out of my uncontrollable grins. As heavy guitar riffs vibrated through the air, I could feel my Converse pound against the hard black floor while my sticky hands reached high, pumping to the beat. We will write a custom essay sample on Set List Revised or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In those moments, I finally discovered what it meant to be lost in the music. I found my personal infinity, and I was a happy little child again. This peace was shattered when â€Å"Keep On Bringing Me Down† began playing. Dynamic singer Jonathan Cook spewed angry words about how he could not find hope in this disappointing world, no matter how hard he tried. I continued jumping in unison with the crowd, but my mind had wandered back to my poor mother. Had this angry frustration become my attitude towards the world? Was I a rebellious child who rejected all emotion? I never wanted to sink into this persona, but looking back at myself, I could see all the pieces coming together: I was a sixteen-year-old girl who wore tight clothes and too much makeup, banging my head along with older kids sporting tattoos at a punk rock show. There I stood, singing along to choruses that blamed the world for my problems, trying to find an inner peace with music as a temporary escape from reality. The only real issue was that I had created these problems for myself. After the concert dispersed, I returned to the family minivan and thanked my parents, giving them each a long hug. Climbing into the backseat, I realized my irritation towards my mom was nothing compared to the distress I had already caused both her and my dad. Inevitably, I will have to make more mistakes, and my parents will have to give a few more lectures, but I now understood how I could make this life learning process less painful. My parents have devoted such great time and effort to raising me, and to return my love to them, I should be an obedient child for these eighteen years, if not forever in their eyes. Growing up is not about doing whatever I want. I had to fulfill my responsibilities and respect my limits before making any decisions of my own.