Iago, the Outsider of Shakespeare’s Othello - 1744 Words

In any story with a recurring dark theme there always must be an outsider from humanity who somehow stands out from the seemingly equal community. In the case of Shakespeare’s Othello the outsider from humanity would be Iago for he truly stands out from the rest of society. Although Othello may be physically put out of the community, it seems that on an emotional and egotistical level Iago puts himself out of society further then Othello’s blackness does. He is not merely manipulative, as other villains are; he turns aspects of truth and good qualities, which he does not possess, and uses them as weakness for his own scheme. He deceives people to follow his plans by telling them the truth and what seems to be good advice. By standing on†¦show more content†¦Iago has no conscience and therefore unlike Othello or any other tragic hero asks for no redemption. One of Iago’s astucious qualities is his ability to take the good quality of others and use them ag ainst them. He takes it even further, however, as he has no realization of the evil he has done. Iago suspects Othello may have slept with his wife. He is not positive, but says that surety is not necessary. â€Å"Iago But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor, And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets Has done my office. I know not ift be true, But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, Will do, as if for surety.† (I, iii, 379-381) This shows how Iago isn’t really concerned about Emilia being unfaithful with Othello or anyone for that matter. He just wants to ruin Othello beyond reason. Iago takes what most of us see as good and uses those traits against characters in the play. He is able to take something as pure as Othello and Desdemona’s love or Cassio’s loyalty as a weakness that he can pounce on. â€Å"He holds me well; The better shall my purpose work on him.† (I, iii, 381-382) Iago possesses no good qualities so as a jealous pay back he takes trust and turns it against the trusting and then tries to take it even further for himself. â€Å"Iago Cassios a proper man. Let me see now; To get his place, and to plume up my will In double knavery. How? How? LetsShow MoreRelatedSocial Context of Othello667 Words   |  3 Pagesproduction of William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Othello.† The famous playwright was in the midst of his tragedy period, penning such classics as â€Å"Hamlet,† â€Å"King Lear,† and â€Å"Macbeth.† The story of â€Å"Othello† has its roots in the historical events and cultural atmosphere of the late 16th and early 17th centuries. It was a common practice of playwrights at the time to borrow or lift plot ideas from other preexisting stories, and Shakespeare was no exception to the rule. The plot of â€Å"Othello† most closely resemblesRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Othello As A Tragic Hero1323 Words   |  6 Pagestheir own demise. William Shakespeare’s Othello the Moore of Venice is a play about a heroic individual that goes through a tragic event based on his decisions throughout the play. Many of the characters that Shakespeare presents in his plays reveal attitudes and value that is reflective of both the Elizabethan society in sixteenth century England and William Shakespeare; these values are evident in the context of the Venetian society that Othello takes place in. Through Othello Shakespeare embodies hisRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Othello And Othello Essay1282 Words   |  6 PagesOthello speaks to Iago in Act Three of the play saying, â€Å"certain, men should be what they seemâ⠂¬  (3.3.131). 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