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**er-increasing emotional scene. Thecharacter Iago, Othello’s ancient, is the cause of all the tragedy which comes to passas the play progresses. He is a manipulator, opposing Othello not directly, butthrough other characters whom he tricks. From his actions throughout the play onesees that Iago was gifted at using other people, to further his own schemes.
*Act One, Scene One is the most important because it foreshadows the wholedrama. Iago gives the reader warning that he is not all that he seems when he says,”I am not what I am” (I,i). He appears to help Roderigo, a suitor to Desdemona, whohas run off with Othello, the Moorish general of the Venetian army. Iago hatesOthello for another reason. instead of choosing him to be his lieutenant, Othellochose Cassio.
In the end of scene, Iago and Roderigo have informed Brabantioabout his daughter’s elopement. Then they went to confront Othello with thissituation. *At the beginning of Scene Two of Act One, Iago gives advice to Othello and lets himknow what is about to happen. Shortly after their talk Brabantio confronts Othelloabout stealing his daughter.
Then they all went and saw the Duke. Othello defendshimself and asks if Desdemona can testify on the behalf of him. Othello tells howthat the only “witchcraft” he used were his stories, and how Brabantio used to invitehim up to tell them. Finally, Brabantio disowns Desdemona and she goes to be withOthello.
*Near the end of the first scene of the second act, Iago convinces Roderigo, whowas observing Cassio’s enthusiastic greeting of Desdemona, that Cassio andDesdemona have something going on between them. Thus manipulating Roderigothrough his passion for Desdemona, Iago convinces him to provoke Cassio to anger,so that the lieutenant will be discredited in Othello’s eyes and Iago can take hisposition. *In Act II, Scene III, I ago tricks into a drink, knowing that he has a low tolerance foralcohol, making it easier for Roderigo to provoke him to fight. Cassio departs thescene, and Iago starts to insinuate to the other soldiers is a bit of a lush. Cassiosoon, returns, chasing Roderigo, and when his comrades attempt to restrain him, hestrikes at them as well. When Othello arrives on the scene, Iago makes it seem thathe doesn’t want to discredit Cassio, but his insinuations make Othello discharge hislieutenant.
However, as soon as Othello is gone, he goes to Cassio as a helpfulfriend. When Cassio leaves and Roderigo returns, he shits role again, becomingRoderigo’s friend, and convinces him to stay in Cyprus. *In the third scene of Act III, Othello and Iago observe a meeting between Cassio andDesdemona, which ends with Cassio departing when he sees Othello coming. Desdemona offers Cassio her handkerchief, the special and meaningful handkerchiefthat Othello gave to her, and he accidentally drops it. Emilia picks up thehandkerchief and Iago snatches it from her. In the following conversation withOthello, Iago leads him by insinuation to the conclusion that Cassio and Desdemonaare having an affair.
He appears to be unwilling to say such a thing on account of his”friendship” with Cassio. However, once he has set Othello thinks upon this, all ofhis false protests are unheard by the general. Due to Iago’s manipulation, Othellobecomes angry enough to make Iago his lieutenant and orders him to kill Cassio. Iago had attained one goal in becoming Othello’s lieutenant. He continues tomanipulate Cassio, Rodergio, and Othello because he intends to destroy Othello aswell.
Othello confronts Desdemona about the missing handkerchief and reminds herof its importance. *Iago has Othello hide while he talks with Cassio about Bianca, Cassio’s high-classwhore, after telling Othello that he was going to discuss Desdemona with him. WhenCassio begins laughing and boasting about his affair with Bianca, Othello believingthat he is speaking of Desdemona, becomes filled with rage. Bianca enters andgives back the handkerchief to Cassio. Othello witnessed this and saw that Cassiadid have the handkerchief.
Other now believes Ago about Desdemona giving Cassiathe handkerchief. Finally, Other decides he must kill Desdemona for her unfaithfulacts. Othello wants to poison, but Iago suggests that he should strangle her in thebed that she has contaminated. Later that evening as Emilia is getting Desdemonaready for bed, Desdemona starts singing this “death song. ” *In Scene II of Act IV, Iago once more plays the part of Roderigo’s accomplice, andproceeds to convince him to kill Cassio.
At the beginning of Act V, Roderigoambushes Cassio, who wound him, while I ago stabs Cassio in the leg and runs off. He returns as a dutiful guard to save Cassio and in the process finishes off Roderigo,to ensure his silence. *In the last scene, after Othello has killed Desdemona, all of Iago’s schemes arerevealed by his wife, who was his unknowing accomplice in them. Othello searchesfor his sword and then stabs himself and dies.
Iago flees, but only to be caught andbrought to justice. After reading Othello, the word jealousy runs wild in my mind. This word is displayed two different ways. Frequently, the word means suspiciousor sexual jealousy.
Throughout the drama, jealousy is used in the sense of apossessive love which will not even tolerate the idea of a competitor, which cratesunfounded suspicion. In Othello’s case, suspicion is not unfounded but it is created. ————————————————————–
