Preview

How is othello presented in act 3 scene 3?

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1352 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How is othello presented in act 3 scene 3?
How is Othello presented in Act 3 Scene 3?

Act 3 scene 3 is one of the most important scenes in the whole play and one of the most well known scenes in the world of theatre. In it, Iago speaks carefully and at length with Othello and plants the seeds of suspicion and jealousy, which eventually bring about the tragic events of the play. Ironically, it is Desdemona’s innocent attempt to reconcile Othello with Cassio that gives Iago the opportunity to get his revenge on Othello, thereby causing the murder and suicide that bring this tragedy to its violent conclusion.

Othello is a black, valiant and respected general, who seems to be a very dignified and eloquent gentleman. On the other hand, Iago is a very bitter, jealous white man who sets out for the title of lieutenant and stops at nothing to achieve it. In act 3 scene 3 we are fully exposed to Iago’s malicious actions that play on Othello’s insecurities.

Iago is constantly using Othello’s insecurities to achieve his wish, in act 3 scene 3. Othello’s soliloquy represents the psychological tipping point of the play. Up until this point Othello is characterized as a sturdy, brave and devoted husband, but from this point on, the audience witness Othello’s murderous intent and his personality disintegrate. The soliloquy opens with the most ironic of statements: “This fellow’s of exceeding honesty” he is talking about Iago’s trustworthiness. The constant use of the word “honest” (a key theme in this scene) and its attachment to Iago, emphasize him as a reliable person in the other characters eyes, but in fact for the audience we are exposed to his true dark, evil nature. It also highlights Othello’s unquestioning nature and a slight sense of naivety. Othello’s appraisal of Iago is correct, as Iago does know “all qualities of human dealings” he uses this knowledge in order to manipulate, rather than help others. Iago identifies every point of each character he can take advantage of, and by doing so is able to

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In the context of both the original and adaptation of Shakespeare’s, ‘Othello’ Iago is seen as an honest and loyal character. In the play he is constantly referred to as ‘honest Igao’. In the film Hugo is said to be Odin’s ‘man’ that will always have his back. Iago gives the perception to the other characters that he is honest, but to the audience he is obviously a dishonest person. The audience can see his vile intentions and his evil nature which is hidden from the other characters in the play by his acts of illusional honesty. ‘I am not what I am’ (Act 1 Scene 1). Iago boasts that nobody really knows him. Iago’s scheme is brought upon by his craving for revenge against Othello. As Othello promoted Cassio to be lieutenant instead of…

    • 1286 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Miss

    • 532 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Throughout act one, two and most of three, Othello is the same calm, strong character who is in love with his wife. In Act 3, Scene 3 is where everything changes, Othello goes from being a noble figure to a disturbed murderer, Iago is to blame for this. Iago pushed Othello to turn his feelings into jealousy and anger, this lead to him wanting to kill his wife and Cassio. Othello also says that when he stops loving Desdemona, there will be ‘chaos’, by the end of this scene he is already plotting her death.…

    • 532 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    How Does Iago Show Honesty

    • 1150 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Honesty can be defined as both truthfulness and loyalty. And an honest friend is one who is always there and always tells the truth. In William Shakespeare's Othello, the Moor of Venice, Iago, an ancient, villian, and antagonist, has a reputation for honesty. Known distinctly as "Honest Iago," Iago utilizes his honesty for dishonest purposes. Perhaps "Honest Iago" is best known for his articulation since he is ironic and sarcastic. He mocks other ideas that he considers excessive and not his own, yet portrays himself to be grounded. By asking many questions and appealing to common sense, Iago's wit surpasses all major male characters in this captivating drama. Through the personalities of Roderigo, Cassio, and Othello, Iago precisely locates each man's weakness; love,…

    • 1150 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In Othello, Iago is a power thirsty, problematic man of deception. Iago admits to his knowledge of his trickery QUOTE. This proves that he is fully aware of what he is doing and he plans on using this to his advantage. Iago plants thoughts of doubt in Othello's mind repeatedly…

    • 336 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Iago's Web of Deceit

    • 1009 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Perhaps the most interesting and exotic character in the tragic play "Othello," is "Honest" Iago. Through some carefully thought-out words and actions, Iago is able to manipulate others to do things in a way that benefits him and moves him closer toward his goals. He is the main driving force in this play, pushing Othello and everyone else towards their tragic end.…

    • 1009 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The timing of events is very important in Act III. Iago anticipates and manipulates the other characters so skilfully that they seem to be acting simultaneously of their own free will and as Iago's puppets. For example, it takes only the slightest prompting on Iago's part to put Othello into the proper frame of mind to be consumed by jealousy. Iago exploits Cassio's discomfort upon seeing Othello by interpreting it as a sign of guilt:…

    • 1727 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Othello: The Tragic Hero

    • 1587 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Othello demonstrates the difficulty in being certain of what we perceive, by observing the actions of others or by introspection. By placing importance of the traits such as trust and honesty, Othello is blinded by Iago’s manipulation of reality. The ease with which Iago manipulates Othello’s perception of reality is accentuated through the use of dramatic irony in “My lord you know I love you.” The use of dramatic irony emphasises that Iago’s appearance as a loving, loyal servant to Othello is nowhere near the reality of his Machiavellian nature. Iago’s blatant abuse of Othello’s values is also illustrated in A3S3 through Iago’s declarative statement “Men should be what they seem, or those that be not, would they might seem none.” The internal rhyme in this statement places emphasis on the juxtaposition of appearance (seem) and reality…

    • 1587 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Othello study question

    • 1535 Words
    • 5 Pages

    1. There are three main reasons for why Iago hates Othello. The first being that Iago deeply believes that there used to be an affair between his wife Emilia and Othello. While there is no actual evidence to support the affair, the fact that Iago believes it happened supports the fact that he is very paranoid and might be searching for reasons to hate Othello. The second is that Othello denied Iago a promotion he believes he very much deserved. The fact that Othello gives the promotion to Cassio is what leads Iago to take out revenge on both. The third (and most obvious reason to me) is the simple fact that Othello is a Moor (black) and Iago is angry act the fact Othello has authority over him and is praised by the other characters. On line 1.3.322, Iago meant that we get to choose who we want to be and that whatever we nurture becomes our nature. Iago chose to warn Othello because he is two-faced and wants to remain on Othello’s side just long enough to take him down.…

    • 1535 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Deterioration In Othello

    • 1202 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Throughout the play Iago displays an ability to identify flaws and weaknesses of others, which allows him to create devastation through subverting others who follow their own agenda, to achieve a web of events. In the quote “Where I the Moor, I would not be Iago. In following him, I follow but myself” – Act I, Scene I, Iago explains to Roderigo, that he follows Othello, not out of love or duty, but because he feels he can exploit Othello’s flaws. Iago identifies Othello’s trusting nature, as seen in the quote “That thinks men honest that but seem to be so” Act I, Scene II and plans to use Othello’s trust in him, which he considers is a flaw, to bring about Othello’s downfall. Shakespeare uses the character Iago to highlight issues relating to trust and betrayal “I follow him, to serve my turn upon him”- Iago, Act I, Scene I. Iago is the ultimate protagonist, his lack of morals, duplicitous nature and ability to manipulate others allows him to make Othello trust in the untrustworthy, Iago, and betray the people loyal to him, Desdemona. The central themes of trust and betrayal in Othello are reliant on the character Iago to create and accentuate. It is this reliance on Iago that suggests that he is a central for the understanding and interpreting of the play…

    • 1202 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The latter half of Act 3 Scene 3 contains, what some may consider, the climax of the play, as Iago completes his manipulation of Othello and decides that he must now let nature run its course. The scene depicts Othellos declining mental condition as Iagos supposed evidence, which in some parts has descended to complete lies, begins to take its effect on the once great general.…

    • 1075 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Kill and Reality Iago

    • 392 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Iago is the character that made the lies and slowly but surely plotted. Everyone in town knows that Iago is honest. Therefore, Othello has no real reason to doubt Othello. “Iago is most honest” (2.3.7) when in reality Iago can’t stand the thought of Othello being happy. This is the most ironic part in the play to me because Iago is the least honest man in the whole play. “the moor is of a free and open nature that thinks men honest and seem to be so, and will tenderly be led by thee’ nose as asses are” (1.3.392) this shows how Othello lacks hubris. Othello’s blind trust of Iago and his lack of understanding of Desdemona shows that he still had a mindset of a war time soldier-trust no one but your male companions.…

    • 392 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Othello's Jealousy

    • 937 Words
    • 4 Pages

    "Iago's poison does not work more powerfully through his images than through a corrosive habit of abstraction applied in those unique relations of love and faith where abstraction is most irrelevant and most destructive." This is just how Othello is lured in. Iago appears to be honest in such a way that his words are no longer the key. To Othello, even the spaces between the words of his loyal Iago, are proof enough, " . . . [T]hese stops of thine fright me more;/For such things in a false disloyal knave/Are tricks of custom; but in a man that's just/They're close dilations, working from the heart/That passion cannot rule." (III.iii.120-4) The character of our patient, slow -moving and -thinking hero becomes an accelerated persona whose anger, jealousy, and activity strike his two-sided coin of destruction into motion. Here a madness envelops Othello so that is judgment is not his own, but Iago's and his ocular proof is nothing more than the finely-painted dramas Iago creates for…

    • 937 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Act 3 Scene 3 is, arguably, the most important scene in the entire play, for it is the point of no return. It is as if for the entire beginning of the play you were pushing a huge boulder up a steep mountain, and in this scene you reach the top, and push it down the other side, helpless to stop it. This is how I see the action in Othello. Iago spends the whole time plotting, and conspiring with the audience, and in this scene you can actually pinpoint the line where he finally pushes Othello over the edge. Iago manages this in several ways, through imagery, ‘sewing the seed’ in Othello’s mind, and reverse psychology. However all of these ways boil down to one thing, Iago, throughout the play, plays on Othello’s own insecurities about race, and Desdemona.…

    • 1019 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The main theme of appearance vs reality is highlighted in this soliloquy. This soliloquy is the first time the audience experience Iago’s treacherous, deceitful and manipulative character. “men honest that but seem to be so” shows how Iago plans on Othello’s nature of being trusting in himself, “honest Iago”.…

    • 709 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Iago is one of the most interesting characters in Othello. He is full of jealousy, greed, selfishness, and hatred. At first, it seems Iago is only jealous of Othello because he has chosen Cassio for lieutenant instead of Iago. When it is revealed Iago is developing a plot in order to take down Othello, a shift in Iago’s character is seen. He is not only jealous, but he acts on his jealousy, making him appear crueler than when first introduced. As Iago explains, “The Moor is of a free and open nature that thinks men honest that but seem to be so, and will as tenderly be led by th' nose as asses are. I have ’t. It is engendered! Hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light” (I.iii.336-341). Iago notices Othello’s character and acts on his weaknesses, showing both his cruelty and intelligence. Iago deceives Othello, who trusts him the most throughout the story, often referring to Iago as “honest Iago” (I.iii.294). Shakespeare uses irony continuously throughout the play when it comes to Iago. One of the most ironic parts of the play is the fact Othello puts great trust into Iago, who lies…

    • 793 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics