Iago’s Scheming in Shakespeares Othello Essay -- Othello essays

Iagos Scheming in Othello Iago is a powerful predator who exploits those around him by infecting their perceptions of truth with carefully chosen fallacy. His skill in finding the proverbial chinks in others armor allows him to skillfully weave his machinations of destroying Othello into their minds and actions by manipulating characters perceptions of Desdemona, Iago gains the leverage he needs to exploit apiece character. No one is impervious to Iagos seething purpose even Othello move prey to Iagos suggestions and insinuations ab proscribed Desdemona. Iagos constant presence as the stager, as tumefy as his ceaseless - but subtle - reinforcement of events through narration, allows him to be the pivotal force that directs Shakespeares Othello. In the opening scene, Iago provokes Brabantio against Othello by means of his pawn, Roderigo, and ceaselessly stages the scene, ensuring that everything goes according to his plan. Iago realizes that Brabantio is very susceptible to att acks on his daughter Iago uses Roderigo as a dummy, through whom he makes such antagonizing claims An old black ram / is tupping your unobjectionable ewe and your daughter and the Moor are now / making the beast with twain backs (1.1.90, 121). By inflaming Brabantios protective nature as a father, Iago directs Brabantios vexation towards Othello while using Roderigo as a front. Iago successfully bends an unlearned Brabantio to the common goal of destroying Othello. The climax of Iagos power occurs during Iagos successful attempts to convince Othello - against the vile Moors better judgment - that Desdemona fails to be loyal and that Othello differs too greatly from his friend citizens to be a part of the Venetianworld. Iago craftily inflames Othel... ... that Iago felt compelled to engineer to matinee idol and totality and once Iagos plan falls short of his mark, his pawns grow out of his control and finally expose his dark scheming. Fragility permeates Iagos liminal exist ence and, as shown, he has to be omnipresent in order to execute and carry off every aspect of his plan. His ambition leads to his downfall modest desires for revenge apex into extravagant and uncontrollable machinations which necessitate the deaths of all those involved. Iago finds it impossible to manipulate everyone at every moment, and for this sole reason, fails to bring his plan into full fruition. Work Cited William Shakespeare, The tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice (from Literature An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama, sixth edition. Ed. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. New York Harper Collins, 1995.