The Manipulation And Jealousy Displayed In Shakespeare's Othello

In a time of heroes there was a great general who abides by the law, his bravery in battle was legendary, his devotion to love unchallenged and the love he admires with all his compassion; Desdemona. Othello is deceived by his right-hand comrade, Iago. One believes there are many reasons jealously is one of the main themes in the play. There is deception and manipulation which is caused by one man who was angry because of a promotion that was appointed to another soldier. The anger grew in Iago, and made it his decision to take revenge on Othello. Rodrigo another comrade who dislikes Othello, because Desdemona has eloped with him finds Iago and informs him of distress. Iago who sees a desperate man begging for help deceives him for his personal benefit which Rodrigo agrees to pay him money. As the play builds its plot one begins to see jealousy throughout the scenes. Othello who was perceived to be a great leader fell victim to belief that his loving and faithful wife was having an affair. The author showed how a man can succumb to weak thoughts that was told by another. Jealously can force one to be blind by the truth rather than hearing both parties as well as seeing evidence that contributes to the false accusations. Is Othello fully responsible for deeds? Othello is a story of a man named iago who manipulates by killing and hating each other for any reason.

The play Othello displays a lusty drama between Othello and Desdemona. Othello is the hero in story that posses the qualities of leadership. He is known as a man of action and his military background have given him a reputation. However, Iago in contrast is the master manipulator from the beginning of the play, Othello wins Desdemona with stories of affection. “Twaspitful…did petty them” (1.iii 182-194) As Othello shares his adventurous stories with Desdemona she quickly fell in love with him and wondered if Othello was the right man for her. With open arms Othello reluctantly succumb to her love because he felt the pity he was given by her. Othello character that was portrayed by Laurence Fishburne did an exceptional performance in the play, however, his judgement was thrown off by his love and his good friend, Iago. The great general, Othello, fell prey to manipulation and false accusation that was said. One agrees and disagrees that it was Othello’s fault for all of the drama that started. Firstly, as a man of character, who knows his wife love him unconditionally, he lets Iago, a deceitful friend, influence his thoughts through manipulation. Although Iago is angry with Othello promoting Cassio as his lieutenant instead of him. In act 2 scene 4, Iago convinces that Desdemona is having an affair with his lieutenant, Cassio. Due to false speculations by Iago, Othellobecomes an emotional wreck instead of speaking with Desdemona, the evidence that was shown by Iago he was quick to judge that Desdemona is unfaithful. Before Desdemona dies she begs for mercy and tried to explain herself but Othello is filled with rage that he painfully suffocates his wife to death because of a jealous man that was not appointed to be a lieutenant. After the death, Emilia spoke truth to Othello for him to understand that he had a loving and caring wife who would never betray his trust or be disloyal to their marriage. His deceitful friend Iago who is not of pure mind and heart lied to his face into killing his wife wrongfully. Othello is a character that makes decisions from his heart instead of his mind. He was influenced easily by a friend who became his enemy and as a great general Othello is to be firm and trusts the person who loves him for him. One is considerate for the rise and fall of a hero of one of the main characters.

In true tragic form Othello can regain his reputation by committing suicide.Is Iago is the villain in the play? Iago declares early in the play’ I am not what I am.’ What is his motif for saying that? There is one reason why Iago said that. One believes that Iago has conspiracy theories that suggest Desdemona is having an affair with her husband, Othello, as well as not being appointed second in command from Othello. Iago wanted that position more than anything,it gives him status in the village which fellow comrades would respect him. Due to some speculationIago is driven to manipulate the people around him and turn their strengths into weakness. He exploits Rodrigo desire for Desdemona and generosity with money, he leverages Cassio desire to please Othello and he turns Desdemona kindness to weakness and played her emotions against Othello. At this point Iago fabricates a world of lies which includes everyone. Iago’s plan is a trick of beliefs, he plots for Cassio to fall out of Othello’s good mercies. Moreover, at this point Iago influenced Cassio to become drunk and at the same time persuade Rodrigo to battle Cassio. After the dispute, Othello strips Cassio of his rank and will ask for advice on what to do to gain Othello’s trust again. Iago connivingly tells Cassio to convince Desdemona to persuade her husband to get him on his good side. Next, Iago is strongly plotting for Othello’s downfall. As Iago continue to influence Othello’s thoughts with negativity one begins to see that Iago is making fools of everyone he knows but no one realized that their being played by their “friend” Iago that is eventually exposed by his wife Emilia. Iago’s presence in every scene impacts the decision of Desdemona, Cassio, Emilia, Roderigo and Othello. These people think that Iago is truthful with the words he says. From one’s point of view what Iago is doing is ignorant but at the same time Shakespeare showed how one man can cause a catastrophe through lies. In the beginning of the play Iago was not portrayed as the villain but until he was passed over as lieutenant by Cassio his vengeance started. Iago wanted to be Othello’s second in command because he believed in order and chain of command but after he realized that a soldier whom never had battle experience is ranked as lieutenant. One still agrees and disagrees that Iago is the villain in the play.

Another main character I analyzed in the play is Desdemona. She begins the play with strength and purpose and acts on her own to elope with Othello. Desdemona who is faithful and kind is used as a puppet from Iago’s manipulative tactics to successfully take revenge on Othello. What is the love relationship between Desdemona and Othello? One analyzes that the relationship of love is pity and lack of trust. Desdemona as a character in the play is feeble and submissive towards Othello and her father. In the play the chemistry between the two is quite on the contrary. One notices that there were a lot of miscommunications between the two. Before Iago’s lies; Desdemona and Othello were eloped secretly without her father’s blessings which caused a dispute between Barbantio, duke of venice and Othello. Othello explains that Desdemona fell in love with him through his war stories and caused her feel pity. Moreover, because Othello explains his side to the duke which caused one to realize there is no fundamental bonding between the two’ instead of depending on strong affection and feelings he bases his relationship on pity to keep his relationship together. This shows that their relationship lacks communication and trust. In fact, because Othello is black most people assume that Desdemona would give pity on him and due to his masculinity, Barbantio suspects that he used some black magic to brain wash his daughter. Was Othello right for killing Desdemona? In act 5, scene 2 of the play Desdemona know her faith is going to die because she felt Othello’s presence when the candle were blown out and begins to wonder if it was the right thing to do or his mind was playing games with him. Desdemona knew to her self that she had done no harm to make Othello angry but the false accusation made to her even though she begged for mercy and was an honest wife with intensions of loving Othello; she died peacefully and sadly. One saw that she was trying to do the right thing but unfortunately her life was taken foolishly because of jealously.

Furthermore, in the play another character that was used by Iago’s manipulation is Rodrigo. He is a young and wealthy man whom loved Desdemona but is envious of her husband Othello. Driven by his foolish Rodrigo believes that he can win Desdemona’s heart by giving iago money together they can win Desdemona. At this point one sees that iago convinces Rodrigo to kill cassio because he is in the middle of Rodrigo and Desdemona being together. However, Poor Rodrigo does not know that Desdemona has no interest in his wealth or him. By following Iago’s instructions Rodrigo loses his money, make a fool out of himself and made some enemies in the process. One made a connection between Rodrigo and Othello, in the play, Rodrigo and Othello never made contact but somehow messages were delivered to each other. The only person that Rodrigo was in contact the most was with Iago and because of that g=he thought could buy him love. What a full…thus!” ( Act 1. Scene 1) Rodrigo implies that Othello only won the heart of Desdemona through magic and would not be worthy of her love. Due to jealously that Rodrigo has with Othello, Iago feeds off of his anger in order to convince Rodrigo to do the wrong things.

Micheal Cassio was an ordinary soldier who was ranked as a lieutenant over Iago by Othello. At that point Iago is upset that Othello appointed a man whom had not experienced battle. One of Cassio’s qualities was honor. Cassio was raised to to treat women with respect, however, he did not show much respect to Bianca another character in the play. When Iago tries to encourage Cassio to insult Desdemona he insists on being respectful to the general’s wife. In Act 2 scene 3 “Oh, I Have lost my reputation!” indicates that because he lack battle experience and training he is not worthy of being a lieutenant for Othello. In his defense, cassio turns to the honest iago for advice which iago then tells him he should convince to speak to Desdemona in order for him to get back in his good graces and his job back. Cassio believes that because of the embarrassment which he caused by being drunk is hurtful and is willing to beg for forgiveness. Cassio indicates that his tittle is much more important to him that anything else. As Iago’s Deception, Lies and manipulations becomes unraveled by Emilia, he learns the truth behind why all the chaos happened in the first place. In the last act of the play all characters gather to witness the fate of Othello as what was once a lieutenant is now the general.

“Thus we see Iago’s sadistic, Machiavellian and to a lesser extent narcissistic behaviour is evident throughout the play. However, what I found really interesting was the counter-intuitive fact that these traits actually make him more intriguing, more compelling and more fascinating for the audience. Perhaps we are captivated by him because he is so unusual, so unapologetic and so honest in confiding his own ruthlessness to us. Like every great villain in literature and popular culture, we do not like him, yet we cannot look away. Iago, after all, is the focal point of the drama, the tension and the tragic violence that make this play worth watching“.