The Destruction Of Iago's Cruelty In Othello
In the play Othello Iago, the antagonist, causes most of the plot movement through his cruelty. The play opens with Roderigo and Iago conversing in the street. Here we see the first of Iago’s many acts of cruelty, as he manipulates Roderigo into doing his bidding. Iago is hell-bent on revenge with Othello passing him up on the title of lieutenant and handing the title to Cassio, a man “that never set a squadron in the field.” He plots the destruction of the Moor and manipulates Roderigo into helping him with the promise his love of Desdemona, Othello’s wife. Through his serpent tongue, Iago is able to drive the plot by steering other characters towards feelings of jealousy, rage, and the like, causing them to act in a certain way that they
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Although this may have actually seemed like helpful advice, it is actually just a ploy that Iago will take advantage of at a later time. While Cassio and Desdemona talk, Iago leads Othello to them where, from out of hearing range, abuses Othello’s ear by feeding him lies about the meeting of Desdemona and Cassio. Iago plants a seed of doubt within Othello’s mind, acting surprised to see Cassio and Desdemona together and at Cassio’s “hasty” retreat at the site of Othello. This in turn causes Othello’s feelings of jealousy and anger to arise as shown when later on in the play, Desdemona tries to wipe his brow with the handkerchief and he throws it to the ground, leaving it there for Emilia, Iago’s wife, to pick up. The throwing away of the handkerchief is an important detail because it was no ordinary handkerchief, it was given to Desdemona by Othello, who had received it from his mother. It symbolized their love, and the throwing away of said handkerchief represents the breaking of their love. Iago capitalizes on this opportunity by planting the handkerchief in Cassio’s bedroom. Once Othello finds out that it was not in Desdemona’s possession and that it had been discovered in Cassio’s room, he is convinced that Desdemona has been
Although this may have actually seemed like helpful advice, it is actually just a ploy that Iago will take advantage of at a later time. While Cassio and Desdemona talk, Iago leads Othello to them where, from out of hearing range, abuses Othello’s ear by feeding him lies about the meeting of Desdemona and Cassio. Iago plants a seed of doubt within Othello’s mind, acting surprised to see Cassio and Desdemona together and at Cassio’s “hasty” retreat at the site of Othello. This in turn causes Othello’s feelings of jealousy and anger to arise as shown when later on in the play, Desdemona tries to wipe his brow with the handkerchief and he throws it to the ground, leaving it there for Emilia, Iago’s wife, to pick up. The throwing away of the handkerchief is an important detail because it was no ordinary handkerchief, it was given to Desdemona by Othello, who had received it from his mother. It symbolized their love, and the throwing away of said handkerchief represents the breaking of their love. Iago capitalizes on this opportunity by planting the handkerchief in Cassio’s bedroom. Once Othello finds out that it was not in Desdemona’s possession and that it had been discovered in Cassio’s room, he is convinced that Desdemona has been