Iago’s character definitely reminds me of a girl I knew in
high school. She would always be jealous of someone if she couldn’t get her way
and would be furious if something did not go right. Just like Iago, she was
very manipulative and deceiving.
Iago is
definitely the antagonist character. He will try to cause pain in anyone he
can. He is mad at Othello for giving his lieutenant position to Cassio who he
feels is not worthy for the job. He will manipulate anyone to get what he
wants. As the antagonist, he definitely causes conflict intentionally. For example, he uses Rodrigo’s love for
Desdemona to set up a bad reputation for Othello. He likes to have others
working to serve him and to do what he wants them to do. His ultimate goal is
to take down Othello and he’ll hurt anyone even Desdemona, Rodrigo, and his own
wife to take him down.
Shakespeare
portrays the element of jealousy and hatred through the character of Iago. He is
trying to illustrate that jealousy can destroy anyone. He is so jealous that Cassio was chosen to be
Othello’s lieutenant instead of him. Because of this, his hatred to Othello is shown.
Through Iago’s character, he manipulates Rodrigo into giving Othello a bad
reputation to Brabantio. His hatred for Othello makes him think that destroying
anyone would be acceptable if it also hurts Othello.
Iago will literally do anything to cause Othello pain. Iago uses everyone around to help destroy Othello's life. Since he knows that Rodrigo loves Desdemona, Iago uses that against him to destroy the most important things to Othello.
ReplyDeleteWithout Iago the story could not work. Shakespeare places him in the story to demonstrate what jealousy, hatred, prejudice, and ambition just through this character. He makes a great impact in the story, Iago holds the story together. I agree with what you write about how the author uses Iago to demonstrate jealousy and how it can destroy anyone. You can see this all the time nowadays, something we will have to deal with that lays within us all.
ReplyDeleteWhat Lauren said: "Iago uses everyone around to help destroy Othello's life." I mean...damn! What did Othello do that was so heinous an act that Iago would feel compelled to grind his life into dust? I know that Iago says he's upset over not being given the lieutentant rank, but that couldn't possibly be a reason to totally set him up for a fall...would it?
ReplyDeleteThe more and more I read these blogs, and the more we talk about it in class, and the more I look back over the play it seems to me that Iago has some alterior motives involved in Othello's demise. Iago often hints at being scorned in some way by Othello, and everyone keeps pointing out these little things in the play that seem to point to Iago being in love with Othello. There's mention of his bedroom antics with Othello, he scorns his own wife who even tells Desdemona that men (insinuating her husband) are all pigs, etc etc. It's like this twisted, dark comedy about the lost love between comrades-in-arms
haha I so agree with you Alex! He is pissed! He justifies it but thinking that other person is doing wrong to someone, but never that he himself is the issue. It's like he feels if he's going to suffer, than so is everyone else. I honestly don't think Iago cares about any consequences. He will keep going regardless like a drug addict.
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt of the hatred that Iago has for Othello. Shakespeare does a very good job of showing the damages that can be done when someone is acting out of spite and jealousy. He is definitely the type of person that is taking everyone down with him. If he is going to have to suffer and struggle then everyone else around him will as well. Iago is very self interested and will clearly go to any length to get the position he felt he deserved.
ReplyDelete