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OTHELLO, by Shakespeare - Manipulation
OTHELLO, by Shakespeare - Manipulation
use their interaction to further extend his evil plot. Iagos suggestions to Othello will cause him to
construe Desdemonas pleas for Cassio as pleas for her paramour.
Iagos manipulation of Othello
Iagos manipulative behavior and rhetoric are evident from the start with his actions towards Roderigo
but it isnt until Iagos first soliloquy in the end of Act I that the reader gets a glimpse into his mind. In his
soliloquy, Iago breaks the fourth wall and speaks directly to the audience:
Iago: I hate the Moor,
And it is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets
'Has done my office. I know not if 't be true,
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
Will do as if for surety. He holds me well.
The better shall my purpose work on him. (1.3.429-34)
I follow him to serve my turn upon him (1,1)
Iago explains in a soliloquy how he plans to get his revenge on Othello: he will abuse
Othellos ear / That [Cassio] is too familiar with his wife (Act 1).
"I'll pour this pestilence into his ear" (Act 2, scene3)
Iagos most destructive manipulation is his manipulation of Othello. Othello possesses a free and open
nature, which his ensign Iago uses to twist his love for his wife, Desdemona, into a powerful and
destructive jealousy (I.iii.381) and make Othello trust him completely.
Iago poisons Othellos soul with subtle hints about the false idea that [Desdemona] must die, else she'll
betray more men (V, ii, 6). He exploits Othellos insecurities about himself to make him become
suspicious of Desdemonas love.
Othello sees his wife with a man and he inquires whether it was Cassio who just parted from his wife,
and Iago, beginning to kindle Othellos fire of jealousy, replies, No, sure, I cannot think it, / That he
would steal away so guilty-like, / Seeing your coming (III.iii.3739). And later on Desdemonas
entreaties to Othello to reinstate Cassio as lieutenant add to Othellos almost immediate conviction
that his wife is unfaithful.
When Emilia gives Iago Desdemonas handkerchief, he feels delighted and he plants it in Cassios
room as evidence of his affair with Desdemona. When Othello demands ocular proof (III.iii.365) that
his wife is unfaithful, Iago says that he has seen Cassio wipe his beard (III.iii.444) with Desdemonas
handkerchiefthe first gift Othello ever gave her. He then asks Iago to kill Cassio for
him, and promotes Iago to lieutenant. Through Iagos machinations, Othello becomes so consumed by
jealousy that he falls into a trance and has a fit of epilepsy. And due to Iagos deception, Othello ends
up killing his wife and killing himself, after he becomes aware of Iagos lies.
Iagos manipulation of Emilia
Iago also manipulates the undeserving devotion that Emilia shows him. He asks his wife to bring the
handkerchief Othello first gave to Desdemona, but he manages to deflect her questions and shes
unaware of her husbands evil plans.
Other characters being persuasive but not manipulative
Desdemona tries to persuade Othello to reinstate Cassio as lieutenant and to restore their fond
relationship.
Bibliography
Chloe Jenkins-Sleczkowski, "I Am Not What I am": Iago's Rhetoric of Identity and Anxiety. 2009.
Laura DeLuca, The Manipulation of Masks: the Rhetoric and Deceit of Shakespeares
Character Iago, Judith K.Winn School of Honors, Bergen Community College, Bergen Scholarly
Journal. 2015.
Sparknotes, Othello: http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/othello/