Why does Iago hate Othello and Cassio?
Using subterfuge and outright fabrications, Iago is able to inspire in Othello the same negative emotions about Cassio that he has. So Othello hates Cassio because he suspects that his lieutenant is bedding Desdemona. However, one can argue that Othello may never have come to despise Cassio if it wasn't for Iago.
What does Iago accuse Othello of doing?
What does Iago suspect Othello of? Left alone onstage again, Iago explains his actions to the audience in a soliloquy. He secretly lusts after Desdemona, partially because he suspects that Othello has slept with Emilia, and he wants to get even with the Moor “wife for wife” (II.
Is Othello more evil than Iago?
Ultimately, actions speak louder than words. Iago is evil in his actions towards Othello, but between the two, Othello is the most evil for reacting to lies in the most violent of ways. The evil in Iago becomes visible from the very beginning of the play.
Why does Othello believe Iago?
This is mainly attributed to Othello's high regard of Iago as a friend, as well as Iago's manipulation of Othello's insecurities involving both his place in Venetian society and within his marriage. His didactic view of women also place further reason for Othello to trust Iago over Desdemona.
How does Iago die?
They are joined shortly by Montano, Lodovico, Cassio, and Iago, who is being held prisoner. Othello stabs Iago, wounding him, and Lodovico orders some soldiers to disarm Othello.
Who dies at the end of Othello?
Specifically, we learned that by the end of Othello, there are four dead bodies: Desdemona, Emilia, Roderigo, and Othello himself.
Why is Iago not killed in Othello?
Iago's triumphs don't last long because Emilia, Desdemona's maid, reveals the truth. In revenge, Othello wounds Iago, but his regret is strong enough to cause Othello to kill himself. Iago survives Othello's attack, but he cannot get rid of the burden for his actions.
Does Iago get caught in the end?
As she dies, Emilia tells Othello that Desdemona loved him. Othello realizes, too late, that he had been tricked and manipulated. Iago is caught and brought back. Othello and Cassio demand to know why he did it, but Iago refuses to explain and says he will never speak again.
Why does Iago remain silent at the end?
He had done everything he set out to do so there was no point in doing anything else. Save your time! Finally, Iago had stayed silent because of the death of his wife Emilia and the life of punishment he was waiting. We see this occur on page 124 of act 5 scene 2 when Emilia says “Moor, she was chaste…
Who kills Cassio?
IagoIn the street at night, Iago directs Roderigo to ambush Cassio. When Cassio approaches, Roderigo attacks unsuccessfully and is wounded by Cassio. Iago, from behind, stabs Cassio in the leg and runs away while Cassio cries murder.
What was the fate of Iago at the end of the play Othello?
In a vain attempt to prevent his scheme from being revealed, Iago stabs and kills Emilia, and is then taken prisoner while Othello, lamenting the loss of his wife, kills himself next to her. Notably, Iago is left wounded but alive at the end of the play.
Is Iago a sociopath or psychopath?
In Shakespeare's play Othello, the character Iago is a psychopath. This can be determined by the number of characteristics he shares with those who are clinically defined as psychopaths. Firstly, Iago is extremely manipulative, finding every way possible to use and twist people to his own advantage.
What is the famous line in Othello?
Let heaven and men and devils, let them all, All, all, cry shame against me, yet I'll speak. I kissed thee ere I killed thee: no way but this, Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.
What were Iago's last words?
As those familiar with the play know, speech is the medium of Iago's villainy: he furthers his designs through dialogue rather than action. I have always been struck, therefore, by his last speech: 'Demand me nothing; what you know, you know. / From this time forth I never will speak word.
What were Othello's last words?
'Soft you, a word or two before you go': so begins Othello's last major speech before he stabs himself. His last words, famously, are 'I kiss'd thee ere I kill'd thee'.
How is Iago punished?
From this time forth I never will speak word." Following Othello's suicide, Cassio, now in charge, condemns Iago to be imprisoned and tortured as punishment for his crimes.
What happens to Cassio at the end of Othello?
Roderigo attacks Cassio but Cassio stabs him. Iago stabs Cassio in the leg from behind then runs away. Othello hears Cassio's yells and says 'Iago keeps his word'. Thinking that Iago has killed Cassio, he continues on to kill Desdemona.
Who dies innocently in Othello?
DesdemonaDesdemona, one of Shakespeare's more naive and innocent character, was killed by her own husband in the end. She can be labeled as the only pure figure in Othello. Her innocence is what makes her so immune to seeing where Othello's jealousy is really coming from.
Did Othello slept with Emilia?
One of the reasons Iago gives for his hatred of Othello is the rumor that “'twixt my sheets he has done my office,” I surprisingly polite way for Iago to say that Othello slept with his (Iago's) wife, Emilia.
Who killed Roderigo?
IagoIn the dark streets of Cyprus, Roderigo attacks Cassio, who, uninjured, stabs Roderigo. Iago then wounds Cassio in the leg. Othello, hearing Cassio cry out, thinks that Iago has killed him, and departs to murder Desdemona. Iago then kills the wounded Roderigo.
Why did Iago murder Emilia?
Iago’s murder of Emilia could also stem from the general hatred of women that he displays. Some readers have suggested that Iago’s true, underlying motive for persecuting Othello is his homosexual love for the general. He certainly seems to take great pleasure in preventing Othello from enjoying marital happiness, and he expresses his love for Othello frequently and effusively.
What is Iago's characteristic?
Possibly the most heinous villain in Shakespeare, Iago is fascinating for his most terrible characteristic: his utter lack of convincing motivation for his actions. In the first scene, he claims to be angry at Othello for having passed him over for the position of lieutenant (I.i. 7–32 ).
What is Iago's talent?
It is Iago’s talent for understanding and manipulating the desires of those around him that makes him both a powerful and a compelling figure. Iago is able to take the handkerchief from Emilia and know that he can deflect her questions; he is able to tell Othello of the handkerchief and know that Othello will not doubt him; he is able to tell the audience, “And what’s he then that says I play the villain,” and know that it will laugh as though he were a clown (II.iii. 310 ). Though the most inveterate liar, Iago inspires all of the play’s characters the trait that is most lethal to Othello: trust.
Who is Iago willing to take revenge on?
He is willing to take revenge on anyone—Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, Roderigo, even Emilia—at the slightest provocation and enjoys the pain and damage he causes. Iago is often funny, especially in his scenes with the foolish Roderigo, which serve as a showcase of Iago’s manipulative -abilities.
Why doesn't Iago explain himself?
Continue Reading. Iago doesn't explain himself because Shakespeare had no explanation for Iago’s behaviour.
What makes Iago a great character?
One of the things that makes Iago a great character is that he is so open to interpretation. His soliloquies are inconsistent about his motivation , which makes him arguably unique among Shakespeare’s characters. Soliloquies are usually treated as truths: speaking to the audience, you have no reason to lie. If Iago is lying even to the audience, what could the truth be? What does it even mean? Is he lying to himself? Or is he truly so beyond redemption that he is trying to manipulate the audience, from the other side of the fourth wall?
What is the play Othello about?
The play isn't really about race at all. It's about jealousy, manipulation, and trust. You could literally edit out the racial aspects entirely. The play would lose an element, but only an element, not its heart. The real story is about men and women, not blacks and whites. Othello even has a moment of tragic redemption at the end, while the white Iago is presented as utterly irredeemable, fit only for torture and death.
Is Othello a good general?
Othello himself is not always an admirable figure. He is a great general but he's also a jealous husband. Jealous husbands are common in Shakespeare. We don't think of Merry Wives of Windsor as despising white people because Ford is jealous of his wife. It's a character flaw in both, and it's a personal flaw, not a racial flaw. You'd need to start with a racist reading to say, "Othello does a bad thing, therefore all black people are bad." It's absurd.
Does Iago feel passed over for promotion?
That's an excellent question. The story gives several possible answers, including that Iago feels passed over for promotion and Iago has the hots for Desdemona, but really, you get the feeling those are merely justifications.
Is Iago a villain?
Iago might be the "purest" Shakespeare villain in the sense that he isn't motivated by anything in particular. Lady Macbeth wants power, Claudius wants the throne, but Iago is the embodiment of pointless, purposeless malice. He's Shakespeare's Joker; he just wants to see the world burn. I am suspicious of any of the motivations he offers for his malevolence. He's just a bad dude. He does what he does because he can.
Is Iago alive in Othello?
Iago is alive at the end of Othello, but one gets the impression that it won't be for long, as he is handed over to the civil authorities to be punished for his crimes.
How does Iago destroy Othello?
Iago decides that the way to destroy Othello is by convincing him that Desdemona is being unfaithful to him. He will kill two birds with one stone and make Othello believe that the man she is being unfaithful with is Michael Cassio.
What is the plot of Iago and the Othello?
Iago & The Othello Plot. The action centers on his plot against Othello. As it advances the other characters are drawn in. Othello, a black man, has gained the love of Desdemona, the daughter of a wealthy citizen. They marry in secret and although that is frowned upon by the city authorities Othello is a military hero and Venice is in deep trouble.
Is Iago in love with Desdemona?
Iago is not in love with Desdemona. He tries to understand why he wants to destroy Othello beyond an irrational hatred of him. He suggests that Othello has slept with his wife at one point. At another point, he bemoans the fact that he has been overlooked for promotion, and he briefly considers that he may be in love with Desdemona but dismisses that very quickly.
Why does Iago kill his wife?
At the climax of the play, it is Iago’s wife, Emilia who exposes him. After Othello has strangled Desdemona and the Venetian councilors are trying to understand what has happened Emilia accuses Iago. He tells her to be quiet and go home but she becomes even more vociferous. Iago takes out his sword and kills her.
Does Iago die, and who kills Iago?
Iago does not die in the play . While his main victims die he survives. He is taken back to Venice and imprisoned.
What is Cassio's weak point?
Knowing that Cassio’s weak point is that he reacts badly to alcohol, Iago makes him drunk in a pub and Cassio becomes aggressive and violent. Othello intervenes and demotes Cassio. Cassio appeals to Desdemona to ask Othello to reinstate him. Iago pretends to be Cassio’s friend and advisor in that. Cassio in Othello’s mind.
What are Iago's symptoms?
Iago’s symptoms, if one can talk about his character in that way, are that he is devoid of any conscience and any antipathy. He sees other human beings only as objects that can be maneuvered, moved around according to where he wants to place them.
Who was chosen over Iago?
Cassio was chosen over Iago as Othello’s lieutenant. According to Iago, Cassio has only an understanding of theory in war but is not a weathered veteran. Iago fought with Othello in Rhodes and Cyprus. This likely created a brotherly bond often seen among warriors, which makes Othello’s choice more hurtful for Iago. This same bond contributed to Othello’s trust in “honest Iago,” whose manipulative and near sociopathic nature is clear to the audience but hidden from Othello. Later in act 1, Iago reveals he suspects Othello has slept with his own wife, Emilia.
Who wrote the tragedy of Iago?
Remie Arena (BA ’20, @remiearena) originally wrote “The Tragedy of Iago” in Professor Bella Mirabella’s Interdisciplinary Seminar, “ Shakespeare and the London Theatre ,” in Spring 2020.
What happens in act 5 of Othello?
In act 5, viewers face the terrible moments of recognition, reversal, and suffering. Emilia returns to Desdemona’s chamber to find her on the brink of death. Othello, wretched, makes his claims to her infidelity and Iago’s part in its supposed revelation. Othello reveals his proof in Cassio’s possession of the handkerchief and Emilia realizes her fatal part in her husband’s plot. Iago discerns his machinations are revealed and kills Emilia. Othello then kills himself. These wasteful deaths create a spectacular scene in both dialogue and portrayal. In the 1995 movie of Othello, directed by Oliver Parker, the deaths occur one by one, with Othello dragging his dying body across the bed to lie with Desdemona. Iago ends on the death bed as well, surrounded by his work and facing a future of torture. Aristotle writes,
What is Iago's prop?
Iago’s design is especially clear when following the handkerchief. Iago acts the “honest Iago,” friend of all, throughout the play, and the handkerchief is his prop. In act 3, scene 3, Emilia gives Desdemona’s dropped handkerchief to Iago upon his repeated request and refuses to tell Emilia why he needs the token. Once she leaves the room, Iago reveals to the audience that he will plant the handkerchief in Cassio’s home.
What act does Iago first show his anger towards Cassio?
Iago explains his motivations early. They are purely emotional. He first presents his anger towards Cassio in act 1.
Who is Cassio's courtesan?
While talking privately with Othello, and making more cautious claims at Desdemona’s infidelity, Cassio emerges followed by a courtesan named Bianca. She brings the handkerchief Cassio left with her, claiming he is sleeping with another woman behind her back. This moment, and the importance of the handkerchief, solidifies Othello’s decision to murder Desdemona. Iago devises his every action. He has an understanding of human nature and those he manipulates.
What is the effect of tragedy?
Tragedy is an imitation not only of a complete action, but of events inspiring fear or pity. Such an effect is best produced when the events come on us by surprise; and the effect is heightened when, at the same time, they follow as cause and effect. The tragic wonder will then be greater than if they happened of themselves or by accident; for even coincidences are most striking when they have an air of design. 2
How does Iago end the play?
The play ends in a spectacle of tragic violence: Emilia intercepts Othello after he’s murdered Desdemona and reveals Iago’s treachery. Her revelation is corroborated by information from Cassio and a letter found in Roderigo’s pocket. In a vain attempt to prevent his scheme from being revealed, Iago stabs and kills Emilia, and is then taken prisoner while Othello, lamenting the loss of his wife, kills himself next to her. Notably, Iago is left wounded but alive at the end of the play. Cassio is charged with determining Iago’s punishment, and urges “the time, the place, the torture, oh, enforce it” (5.2.).
Why does Othello see himself as an outcast?
The comparison might suggest that Othello, as a result of his crimes, now sees himself as an outcast who deserves to die in the same way, or it might imply that by voluntarily punishing himself for his crimes, he acts in a way that is consistent with his previous military valor. Either way, Othello asserts an autonomy and control over his destiny that contrasts sharply with the way he has been manipulated throughout most of the play.
What does Cassio's ending mean in the play?
The ending symbolizes the culmination of the violent forces put in motion by Iago at the start of the play.
What is Othello's final speech?
In his final speech, he explains how he hopes to be remembered, saying “When you shall these unlucky deed relate / Speak of me as I am” (5.2.).
Who killed Emilia in the movie?
In a vain attempt to prevent his scheme from being revealed, Iago stabs and kills Emilia, and is then taken prisoner while Othello, lamenting the loss of his wife, kills himself next to her.
