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 care unspoiledy chosen fallacy. His skill in determination 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 each character. No one is impervious to Iagos seethe purpose even Othello falls prey to Iagos suggestions and insinuations about Desdemona. Iagos constant presence as the stager, as well as his ceaseless - but subtle - keep 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 constantly stages the scene, ensuring that everything goes according to his plan. Iago realizes that Brabantio is very susceptible to attacks on his d aughter Iago uses Roderigo as a dummy, through whom he makes such antagonizing claims An old black ram / is tupping your white ewe and your daughter and the Moor are now / making the beast with devil backs (1.1.90, 121). By inflaming Brabantios protective nature as a father, Iago directs Brabantios wrath towards Othello while using Roderigo as a front. Iago successfully bends an unwitting Brabantio to the prevalent goal of destroying Othello. The climax of Iagos power occurs during Iagos successful attempts to convince Othello - against the poor Moors better judgment - that Desdemona fails to be loyal and that Othello differs too greatly from his fellow citizens to be a part of the Venetianworld. Iago craftily inflames Othel... ... that Iago felt compelled to engineer to perfection and totality and once Iagos plan falls short of his mark, his pawns grow out of his control and finally undo his dark scheming. Fragility permeates Iagos liminal existence and, as shown, he has to b e omnipresent in order to execute and oversee every aspect of his plan. His ambition leads to his declension modest desires for revenge blossom 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.