(II.iii.26). This is most ironic, of course, since Iago is the furthest thing from it. Othello repeats it in his own mind, until there is no doubt. It explores the tragedies and atrocities that exists in society, many aspects unfortunately still relevant… Iago is the play's main antagonist, and Othello's standard-bearer.He is the husband of Emilia, who is in turn the attendant of Othello's wife Desdemona.Iago hates Othello and devises a plan to destroy him by making him believe that his wife is having an affair with his lieutenant, Michael Cassio. The villain Iago from "Othello" is a central character, and understanding him is key to understanding Shakespeare's entire play. Iago’s murder of Emilia could also stem from the general hatred of women that he displays. Iago’s honest … ‘ If Iago used complex language (as he is capable of doing), this technique may have not proved success with Othello who is ‘rude in speech’ and ‘little blessed with the soft phrases of peace’. Iago affects the characters’ lives in a negative way by his honest reputation, his ability to “read” people, and how he “proves” to be Loyal. The techniques are used to affect the characters in a negative way in favor of the villain. Shakespeare uses a number of techniques to express the manipulaton of Iago in this scene. This is when the audience became aware of Iago’s duplicitous nature, at the beginning of the play he speaks of his resentment filled hate “I know my price, I am worth no worse a place. We quickly notice that the villain slips between prose and verse, adapting his style to suit his different audiences and purposes. He is obviously a well educated and intelligent character which makes his manipulation that much more well-placed and influential. There is dramatic irony, parody and use of figurative language (the imagery). Lesson Extensions For further evidence of Iago's successful persuasive techniques, one might also profitably examine Iago's interactions with Roderigo (see 1.3. As Emilia continues to divulge Iago's actions he kills her and flees. Some readers have suggested that Iago’s true, underlying motive for persecuting Othello is his homosexual love for the general. Iago’s crude language is excused as that of a straightforward soldier, with Cassio allowing, 'He speaks home, madam; you may relish him more in the soldier than in the scholar' (2.1.161–62). See if you can complete the grid and finish four points which explain what this speech reveals about the character at this point in the play. But Iago’s use of language is more complicated than this. Twice in Othello Shakespeare uses song as a literary tool. This conflation of honesty with soldierly bluntness disadvantages Desdemona, who can never communicate her honesty in this manner. But Iago’s use of language is more complicated than this. a means of emphasizing Iago's duplicity ? This is evident in his constant repetition of “honest” when talking to Emilia in the final scene. Iago presents himself as an honest and nobleman, but this a front to hide his true colors, and gain the trust of others around him, most notably Othello, whom he despises ("I follow him to serve mine own turn." It is full of compounds, colloquialisms and oaths, befitting a bluff soldier. Therefore it also makes Othello not suspect Iago of any dishonest behaviour. He certainly seems to take great pleasure in preventing Othello from enjoying marital happiness, and he expresses his love for Othello frequently and effusively. His plays have been performed for centuries through various interpretations. Honest Iago of Othello To most of the world William Shakespeare is recognized as the greatest dramatist in history. In essence, Iago appeals to Othello’s quick acting solider nature. Within one single scene, II.iii, Iago is four times called "honest", twice by Othello, once by Cassio, and once by himself. It is so typical of Iago to make sure a comment which absolutely describes his motives but covers it to appear have some moral conscious. 294). Iago’s convincing rhetoric and language techniques clearly reveal what a powerful and dangerous tool language can be, especially when used by the eloquent, but deceitful, individual. Emilia then reveals to Othello Iago's manipulation. The idea of him playing a game is expressed in the words "I play the villain". 297-364 ) and with Michael Cassio (see 2.3.239-302 ). The problem has haunted me somewhat as the knocking at the gate in Macbeth haunted De Quincey, and it challenges investigation. William Empson, in “Honest in Othello”, states that “everybody calls Iago honest once or twice, but with Othello it becomes an obsession”. Othello calls him ‘honest Iago’ as early as Act 1 Scene 3, and trusts him throughout the play. Iago is merely manipulating the other characters’ good nature and using his reputation as “Honest Iago” to avoid being conspicuous. The use of poetic technique in Iago's soliloquy reveals his motive, personality and the true 'light' behind the play based on deceit. Iago has to do little to make Othello believe him. - Iago, Act 1 Scene 1). Language is the source of Iago’s power, but his characteristic idiom is different from Othello’s. Did he regard it as a fundamental structural element of the play ? It is full of colloquialisms and oaths, befitting a cynical soldier. Iago describes the coupling in graphic, racially charged terms. In Othello, the antagonist Iago, plays that role. Language is the source of Iago’s power too, but his characteristic idiom is very different. He is obviously a well educated and intelligent character which makes his manipulation that much more well-placed and influential. Using Paapa’s strategies, we’ve started to look at what Iago's language tells us about him in this Act 1 Scene 3 soliloquy. In “Act 1 Scene 2” Shakespeare’s use of poetical linguistics limits Othello’s views on other characters “honest Iago”. The first such instance is when Iago sings to Cassio in his attempt to get Cassio drunk. Iago is referred to as honest over fifty times in the play, by almost every character. Shakespeare uses irony continuously throughout the play when it comes to Iago. Iago (/ i ˈ ɑː ɡ oʊ /) is a fictional character in Shakespeare's Othello (c. 1601–1604). Iago persuades Roderigo to kill Cassio while Othello smothers Desdemona. In this soliloquy Iago's schemes are becoming a reality and his tone is one of confidence as he continues to play the villain and appear to be honest. In an essay, discuss why honesty-or the reputation for being honest or the lack of honesty-is so important in Shakespeare's Othello. One of the main contrasts of language in Othello is “Act 1 Scene 2”. Iago is most honest (II.iii.7) Othello, unaware of Iago's evil plans, comments on his honesty. His is the longest part with 1,070 lines. It is just a facade, put on to fool those around him into trusting him and letting their guard down long enough for him to trick them. Iago reveals this plan in his soliloquy, “For whiles this honest fool/Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes,/And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,/I’ll pour this pestilence into his ear:/That she repeals him for her body’s lust.” (2.3.320-324). Iago’s character is consumed with hatred and envy. Shakespeare reveals him to be a cunning and conniving exploiter and manipulator of other characters who become caught in his web of lies, deceit and evil schemes. 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