Iago Essays

In Shakespeare’s Othello, the character of Iago is constructed to demand the audience’s complicity despite the corrupt nature of his actions. an Elizabethan audience may have responded in a negative fashion to Iago’s manipulative behaviour but in contrast with this, the post Freudian audience would be fascinated by the psychological aspect of his character. Iago […]

The relevance of “being different” depends on the relationship between the values and context within a society. This concept is shown through the comparative study of the 1600’s play “Othello”, by William Shakespeare, and the 1967 feature film “Guess who’s coming to dinner”, by Stanley Kramer. Both these texts have similar issues of difference in […]

•Othello’s description of himself as, “one not easily jealous, but, being wrought, / Perplexed in extreme,” is perfectly just. His tragedy lies in this – that his whole nature was indisposed to jealousy, and yet was such that he was unusually open to deception, and, if once wrought to passion, likely to act with little […]

The ongoing debate surrounding the central character in “The Tragedy of Othello” between Iago and Othello has persisted over the years. In my opinion, despite Iago’s manipulative and vengeful nature, his importance is not substantial. On the other hand, Othello assumes the primary role in Shakespeare’s play for several reasons. Firstly, all events revolve around […]

Both Othello and Iago are articulate, courageous characters motivated by their revengeful tendencies. However, the downfall of Othello is triggered by his deficient discernment skills, which starkly contrasts with Iago’s shrewd intelligence. They both exhibit boldness and assertiveness. No matter how hard Brabantio attempts to interfere in Othello’s marital alliance, the latter remains prepared to […]

Individuals who frequently endure hardships due to other people’s actions, being subjected to unjust treatment that results in physical or emotional pain, are generally classified as victims. Their personal growth and life trajectory can be profoundly influenced by continuous abuse. The enduring repercussions of such ill-treatment, especially in situations like bullying, may be irreversible and […]

William Shakespeare’ Othello is an impressive work that is mainly dominated by the theme of jealously following love. These elements are bound together to create a tragedy so devastating it compels both the characters and audience. From the very start of the play the conversation between Roderigo and Iago during Othello and Desdemona’s elopement should […]

Shakespeare’s plays mostly end in the tragedy of the protagonist due to forces outside himself or due to his own undoing. The Tragedy of Othello is one of these plays. It tells the story of Othello who is a Moor soldier in the service of Venice. He marries Desdemona but kills her because of jealousy […]

The peripeteia in Shakespeare’s Othello occurs when the protagonist decides on whom to lay his trust and questions his own previous actions. This happens in Act 3, Scene 3 when Othello tells Iago that he plans to kill his wife, Desdemona, in effect declaring that he has elected to believe him. Like in his other […]

Introduction Jotirao Phule, a prominent social reformer from 19th century Maharashtra, was criticized during his lifetime for inciting animosity among nonbrahmins through his unconventional interpretation of Indian history and ancient texts. Detractors mocked his limited understanding of grammar and philosophy. Phule’s outspoken condemnation of the Brahmins, understandably, alienated him from the upper classes and government […]

As a tragic hero, Othello should be viewed within the context of Aristotle’s Poetics, within which contains the theories of tragedy and the traits a tragic hero must possess to ensure his downfall. These are seen as flaws which cause the hero’s own downfall regardless of external influences. It is undeniable that Othello bears some […]

Many of William Shakespeare’s tragedies portray characters that eventually experience misfortune by the end of the play. Othello is a prime example of depicting various characters that each come to their own downfall because of a critical weakness. In the play, Othello’s mislead insecurities in his wife’s love for him, Roderigo’s foolish trusting nature, and […]

This soliloquy brings Act One of Othello to a rousing and ominous close. The whole first Act we have been made aware of Iago’s feelings of animosity towards “the Moor” (Shakespeare l. 368) but it is here where we finally see, unmasked, his utter disgust for Othello, and Iago’s need to gain revenge. Shakespeare’s language […]

Shakespeare uses the dramatic device of soliloquy to present his characters’ inner thoughts and feelings. It is through these speeches that the audience can see and perhaps relate to the sometimes dark or forbidden feelings of the characters. Iago’s soliloquies establish him as a tragic villain through the way in which they reveal his misanthropic […]

Religion and race are both familiar themes in Elizabethan literature; Shakespeare and Marlowe among other playwrights included many characters of different races and religions throughout their theatrical work. In this essay I will attempt to explore the idea of representation of race and religion in two of the set plays. The plays I am studying […]

Lines 130 to 177 in act 1, scene 3 of the Othello play is what encompasses Othello’s speech to the Duke, the senators and Brabantio. Othello and Brabantio were present in front of the Duke and the senators, basically because Othello was being accused of witchcraft, since there was no other reason why a beautiful […]

In William Shakespeare’s Othello, the tragedy of a man plagued by his own thoughts unfolds. At first, Iago lures Othello into believing his wife is unfaithful. Othello succumbs quickly and unknowingly aligns himself with evil. From hereon, Othello is determined to find any evidence to confirm that Desdemona is a prostitute. Once he marries evil […]

Jealousy, once implanted, rapidly grows and often leads to destruction. Its devastating power in Othello arises from various sources within the human psyche: sexual tensions, financial greed, and an obsession for power. These factors lay the groundwork for jealousy among the male characters, ultimately consuming them with resentful intentions. Shakespeare’s play, Othello, is considered didactic […]

Othello, a tragic play written by William Shakespeare, is one that represents many characters who experience troubles and misfortune. There are, in fact, some characters in Othello who cause their own misfortune, due to a flaw in their personality. Othello’s love and jealousy blurs his judgement, in addition to his excessive pride. Roderigo is foolish […]

The theme of racism is prominently portrayed in Othello by William Shakespeare, showcasing European society’s attitude towards individuals who differed in terms of color, race, and language. In this European society, those with white complexions were the majority, while all other races were deemed less important and inferior. Several characters in this play embody this […]

The play “Othello” by Shakespeare exemplifies the theme of deception through friends. The play’s main antagonist, Iago, employs manipulation to ensnare all the characters, including his wife, Emilia, in a complex web of deceit. Tragically, the falsehoods perpetrated by one individual lead to numerous fatalities. The play serves as a stark reminder of the devastating […]

The theme on manipulation and deception is central to both the characters and plots of Shakespeare’s Othello and Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. Though story line and context of the two plays is very different, similarities can be found through the theme of manipulation and deception. Both of these plays contain events of manipulation sometimes manipulating […]