Use Of Manipulation In Othello

One’s great victory and intelligence, often overshadows the other’s loss of power and status. In the Shakespearean, Othello Iago’s trickery, schemes and manipulation allows him to achieve victory of Othello. It is correct to say, Iago’s plots and schemes is the foundation of the play. Iago’s successful plays on character’s insecurities, his intelligent manipulation and his duplicity, form the play of Othello. Iago’s masterstrokes are observed not the downfall of Othello, as his manipulation and clever thinking form the play Othello.
Iago’s clever use of manipulation, forms the grand plot of the play, thus his triumph with his use of language proves to be the major key in the play. Iago is constantly manipulating other characters, as if he is …show more content…
Iago intelligently plays on the insecurities to achieve his triumph. Othello’s tragic flaw is his insecurity about his skin colour and heritage. He is an outsider and is often described as a “Moor” and “blacker devil”. Thus, lowering Othello’s confidence and self-esteem. As in the Elizabethan era white symbolised honour and black symbolised wickedness. Therefore, it only requires a few deceiving words from Othello to burst and cause “chaos”. Furthermore, the dreadful irony of Othello’s belief he would never “make a life of jealously” is proven to be a lie. His jealously is opened up with the use of language by Iago, conveying his deep rooted insecurities. Othello constantly tries to suggest to himself that he does doubt but he relies on proof, however he still “smothers” Desdemona without seeing her unfaithful. It is ironic, as he stated “I’ll see before I doubt”. Iago’s clever wordplay and Othello’s deep insecurities awake his jealously. Iago cleverly plays on character’s insecurities to make rash judgements. His clever thinking eventuates in his “triumph” which is what is witnessed rather than the downfall of …show more content…
Iago constantly is able to plant seeds of doubt in the mind of Othello. Iago never makes direct accusations, but beats around the bush. He never makes a conclusion, but forces Othello to do so. Iago insinuates on the character of Cassio, and faithfulness of Desdemona. Iago states “Ha! I like not that”, which has multiple undertones literal and symbolic. The frowning tone in “Ha!”, gathers Othello’s attention, and he is curious to what Iago has witnessed. Later on Cassio leaves Desdemona’s room. Iago denies the appearance of Cassio, as he insinuates that Cassio would not “steal away so guilty like”, he forms seeds of doubt of the character Cassio in the mind of Othello. He forces Othello to suspect the character of Cassio of guilt which affects Othello, as left the room of Desdemona. Similarly, Iago consistently feeds on his doubts and suspicions as Iago replies to Othello’s question with a question of his own, “Honest, my lord?” and “Think, my Lord”. His use of innuendo, finely benefits him in his vengeful plots. With his “honest” reputation, Iago also creates empathy with the use of personal pronouns. His negative suggestions build up till Othello cannot take it anymore, and eventually “smothers” Desdemona, resulting in his