Othello 3
The play Othello by William Shakespeare is based on an Italian story in Giraldi Cinthio's Hecatommithi (Grolier). In Othello we encounter Iago, one of Shakespeare's most evil characters. Iago is an officer in Othello's army and is jealous of Cassio's promotion to Lieutenant. Through deception and appearance, we see unfolded many lies and clever schemes. The astonishing thing about Iago is that he seems to make up his malicious schemes as he goes along without any forethought. Noted writer Samuel Taylor Coleridge describes Iago's plan as "motive-hunting of a motiveless malignity" (Scott 413). Iago seizes every opportunity to further advance his plan to his advantage. Greed plays a major role as a motive for his various schemes and lies. Throughout the story, Iago portrays himself as a Satan figure. In many ways, Iago can compare with Satan. Iago, like Satan, has proved himself to be a master of deception. He lies to everyone taking great care to disguise his own thoughts. For example, in Act 1 scene 2, when he is speaking to Othello about his feelings toward Cassio, he uses very strong language, while at the same time, he lies throughout the whole speech faking loyalty to a fellow soldier and all the while implying that he is r
He uses that scene to convince Othello that Cassio looked mighty guilty when he left Desdemona. This shows that not only can deception be used to create appearance, but that appearance can also be used to create deception. Othello proves this fact further, later on in the play, when he, himself, asks for appearance as proof of Desdemona's fraudulent behavior, too much to the point that he threatens Iago by telling him: As I do now: 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. . . This undoubtedly upsets Othello, thus showing that Iago's craftiness knows no bounds. He made Cassio appear dishonest by lying to Othello. Satan also uses appearance to create deception. We see an example of this when he tempts Eve in the garden. He uses the pleasing appearance of the fruit to deceive her. When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from it's fruit and ate . . . Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." (Gen. 3: 6,13). The appearance of the fruit, to the eyes of Eve, deceives her into taking it and eating of it. Satan also uses the woman to tempt Adam into eating the fruit as well. Satan and Iago, both, have a unique way of twisting appearances into looking like truths. This, sometimes, makes it hard to distinguish between the two evils. Iago and Satan have been compared in many ways. He is called a viper just as Satan is called a serpent. Lodovico asks: "Where is that viper? Bring the villain forth" (V.ii.285). When Satan is in the garden, he is referred to as the serpent. "And the serpent said to the woman . . ." (Gen. 3:4). As we have seen, metaphorically and by example, Iago has proven to be the epitome of evil in that he uses the same tactics that Satan does to get what he wants. Othello demands to see it with his own ey
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Approximate Word count = 1371
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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