A storm has dispersed the venetian fleet so that cassio arrives first, anxious for othellos safety. Iago takes advantage of other peoples trust, especially the trust othello assigns him with. Dishonesty and misunderstandings between desdemona and othello drive the collapse of their marriage as well as iagos deceitful words which force. This shows how much othello trust iago that he even leaves his wife with such a man. An examination of the relationship between othello and iago, and why iago hates othello, from your trusted shakespeare source. Shakespeares othello othellos relationship with iago and iagos. Othello may be impressive on the battlefield, but his own personal insecurity leads to the tragic end of the story. Their mutual affection and dependence on one another grows into a deep love and eventually becomes a moral force in itself.
Character analysis of iago in othello english literature essay. The most important themes center around othellos and iagos. While only brabantio is prejudiced enough to actually say it to othellos face, he and desdemona are. Iago with malicious intent uses this opportunity to implant the idea of cassio trying to steal desdemona from othello, in order to spark rage, anger, and jealousy in othello, setting the change of events that lead to the tragic end of the play. When brabantio asks his men to bring lights, iago cunningly leaves roderigo, telling him that he cant safely speak against. However, the personal relationship between othello and iago is much. Iago lures othello into a false sense of security by utilizing linguistic communication such as my lord when speaking to him and maintain all his true purposes hidden so othello believes that he is an honorable adult male. The crushed othello attempts to kill iago but he soon flees away after killing emilia. Iago is the plays main antagonist, and othellos standardbearer. A formal analysis of trust and distrust relationships in shakespeares. The two couplesothello and desdemona, iago and emiliahave very different relationships. The tragic play othello by william shakespeare, discusses the relationship between othello and desdemona that begins as loving, but abruptly alters to a hateful relationship due to a lack of truth.
Conflict of male female relationship in othello sexual relationships in othello are the locus of two types of conflicts same sex conflict as well as malefemale conflicts upon which many other themes like themes of sex and violence, love and hate, honor and dishonesty, loyalty and betrayal, trust and suspicion may be explored. Most of what the reader learns about iago and emilias relationship comes from emilia herself, who often speaks of iago or of husbands in general. Iago primarily acts independently, functioning as a master manipulator of those around him. Brabantio, a venetian senator, father to desdemona. Iago has a reputation for honesty, for reliability and direct speaking. Iagos lies about cassio feed into othellos selfdoubt to the point that othello doesnt believe the truth when he hears it.
This is key to his scheming because he is frequently put on the spot by othello, and if iago fails to respond in a timely and witty fashion, his plan will be either foiled or, worse, revealed to othello and others. William shakespeares othello is a play loaded with controversy, deceit, and manipulation, and most of the action that we see is generated by the plays main manipulator, iago. Relationships in othello between desdemona and othello, and iago and emilia thesis all relationships have ups and downs, yet only the existence of love, trust, and loyalty will ultimately decide the overall outcome of these characters. Right from the beginning of othello, the relationship between desdemona and othello is an important issue. Finally, section 5 concludes the paper and presents some possible avenues for future work. He is the husband of emilia, who is in turn the attendant of othellos wife desdemona. Critically, iagos character has been interpreted, among many things, as. An analysis of othello and iago essay artscolumbia. Two men, iago and roderigo, are discussing how upset they are by the fact that othello.
Psychological perspective explains why people are experiencing difficulties. Othellos social standing is not what upsets brabantio. Othello, at first sided iago and refers the handkerchief as a proof. The history of a metaphor in relation to his major villains on the. In act 2, scene 1 of othello, iago formulates his plan to drive othello mad. Othello by william shakespeare summary, themes, and analysis. However, his envy is not the only aspect that qualifies him as a possible introvert, but a feeling of sexual inferiority as well. Contrast between iago and othello is the most important. There certainly is not that strong and equal tie of love which we would expect to find existing between man and wife. The relationship between othello, general of the venetian army, and iago, his ensign, or flagbearer, fuels the drama of the play.
Shakespeares famous play of love turned bad by unfounded jealousy, begins in venice with iago, a soldier under othellos command arguing with roderigo, a wealthy venetian. However, this confusion soon dispatches when emilia tells him that she found the handkerchief and gave it to iago. Essay on the relationship between othello and desdemona. None of these claims seems to adequately explain iagos deep hatred of othello, and iagos lack of motivationor his inability or unwillingness to express his. Iago talks about his hatred of othello for choosing cassio as his lieutenant instead of him. Come, my dear love, the purchase made, the fruits are to ensue. After iago stages a conversation with cassio to obtain this handkerchief, othello finally enraged strikes up an agreement with iago that he, othello, will kill desdemona, and iago should eliminate cassio. Shakespeare shifts the action from venice to cyprus.
Othello and desdemonas relationship is based on admiration and pity rather than love. Othello and iagos relationship 587 words 123 help me. We might think of a night at the theatre as a deeply uplifting experience because of dramas ability to communicate. Cliffsnotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what youre studying, cliffsnotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. Explain how othellos and iagos relationship leads to. Additionally, othello has won the love of desdemona, a senators highly.
Manipulating roderigo is actually masked by the animosity that iago feels. This means that they have a close military relationship. An analysis of power desire of iago in shakespeares othello from. In othello, there are certain relationships that shakespeare establishes which turn out to have major repercussions on the main action of the play. Essay on othellos relationship with iago 2539 words cram. Chapter 25 a formal analysis of trust and distrust. Othello says honest iago, my desdemona must i leave to thee othello is trusting iago to look after desdemona and leaves her with him. Iagos nerves of steel allow him to think quickly and delicately, without boxing himself in to his own trap. Iago goes on, trying his best to incite and humiliate brabantio, while simultaneously disparaging othello by crudely playing the race card. In shakespeares othello, explain iagos plans about roderigo, cassio, desdemona and othello. This is shown with othello being the general, hence superior to iago, but in social and mental terms iago is taking control, using his intelligence and deceitful.
Trust and betrayal are features of nearly every relationship in othello. Roderigo has paid iago a considerable sum of money to spy on othello for him, since he wishes to take othellos girlfriend, desdemona as his. Iagos simmering hate and resentment towards othello leads him to. For example, when iago suggests the idea of cassio and desdemonas relationship, othello has to coax iago into voicing his suspicions, but only because iago has manipulated the situation so effectively. Iago is othellos ensign, which is essentially his third in command. One minor relationship which revealingly impacts the tragic arc of the play is that between iago and emilia. Describe the relationship between othello and iago iago talking behind othellos back othello puts his trust in iago because iago manipulates him iago i am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter and the moor are now making the beast with two backs. He is jealous of cassio for obtaining the position of lieutenant over him, jealous of othellobelieving that he has bedded his wifeand jealous of othellos position. Othello to the horror of his relationship with desdemona.
How does shakespeare use the relationship between othello. Angry at having been passed over by othello for promotion to the rank of lieutenant, and also because he seems to enjoy creating mayhem for its own sake, iago develops an intricate conspiracy to ruin othello. An analysis of the relationship between iago and emilia in. Othello is a tragedy that proceeds from misunderstandings and miscommunication. Othello and others in the play constantly refer to him as honest iago. Shakespeares othello iagos manipulation skills the.
Othello, desdemona, iago, cassio, roderigo and, for the first act. To be sure, othello does not begin the play echoing or even seriously responding. The changing relationship between iago and othello english. Many of these errors are bound up with iagos deception, but michael donkor looks at other, additional causes in the play. Iagos understanding of love, jealousy, and deception in a loving relationship is not. For little, shakespeares drama inscribes antiblack sentiments and, in the process, makes othello a victim of the plays own prejudice. Iago mentions this suspicion again at the end of act ii, scene i, explaining that he lusts after desdemona because he wants to get even with othello wife for wife ii.
Othellos disloyal standardbearer and the villain of the play. Othello is supposedly driven by the author to become a tragic hero. Describe the relationship between othello and iago prezi. Othello and desdemona have a romantic relationship that is, perhaps, too good to last. He admires and loves his wife, but he cant believe that she would be in love with him. Othello and iagos relationship the most striking and relevant tone behind this extract, is the irony between the two men, whereby there roles are reversed in the audiences eyes. To regain roderigos trust, iago and roderigo inform brabantio, desdemonas father, of her relationship with othello. In contrast, iago and emilias relationship is plagued by mistrust and misogyny. Iagos supposed gay attraction to both othello and cassio is given additional weight by the indifference and contempt with which he regards his wife emilia, and indeed women in general a component of iagos psychologically twisted personality and dark cynicism.
Iago, othellos standardbearer, or ancient emilia, iagos wife and desdemonas attendant. Iago hates othello and devises a plan to destroy him by making him believe that his wife is having an affair with his lieutenant, michael cassio. Check out shmoop s visual take on what its all about. Iagos desires in his play, othello the most notable tragedies. Iago becomes jealous to cassio and plans to destroy the relation between othello and cassio in any way it is pos sible. Iago is revengeful, for a number of reasons, the most prominent is the fact he is angry at othello and michael cassio the man who othello promoted, jealous of othello and desdemona othellos wife for their happy relationship and racist against othello as he is a black man in a white mans world. Shakespeares feminist bias the relationship between these women intensi. Pdf othello by william shakespeare book download online. The villain iago from othello is a central character, and understanding him is key to understanding shakespeares entire play. Section 4 provides an analysis of the model applied to the othellos scenario. He has risen through the ranks in the army by merit and achievement, and othello, whose military judgment is excellent, has taken him as ancient captain because of his qualities. Conveniently for iago, desdemona innocently dropped her handkerchief and iago uses this to convince othello that she was indeed unfaithful. An illustration of contrast between othello and iago is the contrast between manipulated and the operator.