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Iago's Manipulation In Othello

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Iago's Manipulation In Othello
In Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Othello The Moor of Venice, Iago accomplishes his revenge by adopting logical, emotional, and ethical appeals to persuade others to do his work, such as when he manipulates Roderigo, blinded by his love for Desdemona and when he tricks Othello into thinking Desdemona cheated on him. Throughout the play, Iago expresses his hatred for Othello due to the fact he did not choose him for the lieutenant spot over Michael Cassio. He also suspects that Othello is having an affair with Emilia, Iago's wife.

First of all, Iago begins his manipulation by adopting emotional appeals. Iago's "partner," Roderigo, is madly in love with Desdemona, and wants to marry her. Iago understands that and starts to appeal to Roderigo: "Thou art sure of me. Go, make money. I have told thee often, and I retell thee again and again, I hate the Moor. My cause is hearted; thine hath no less reason. Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against him" (1.3.407-411). Roderigo falls for this because of his mad love for Desdemona. He believes Iago will work with him because Iago states his hatred for "the Moor," or Othello. Roderigo believes …show more content…
Michael Cassio, the lieutenant of Othello, is Iago's first target. Iago understands that if he gets Cassio drunk, Cassio will be unstable and most likely lose his job because of ethical standards. If you are drunk on your job, you would get fired because it's the wrong thing to do. Cassio also states that he has "very poor and unhappy brains for drinking" (2.3.34-35). Therefore, Iago gets Cassio liquored up and makes sure Montano and Cassio fight, so that Othello and the others will discover Cassio drunk. Ethically, being drunk on your job would get you fired, so of course, the plan works and Othello fires Cassio. He later appoints Iago as his new lieutenant, and the first part of Iago's revenge is finished. In the end, Iago ethically persuaded Othello to fired
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