5 Page Othello Research Paper

A couple of months ago my parents hired a magician for my little brothers birthday party. Ivan the Incredible specialized in optical illusions with cards and coin tricks, which was a little hard for the group of eight year olds to attain but most entertaining for myself and several adults. When I began reading Shakespeares Othello, Iagos antics reminded me of Ivan the Incredible and how mortal can trick you to believe something is true when it re eachy isnt.Appearance versus human race plays a huge role in Othello, and constantly surfaces as a main theme in Iagos magnificent ability and beat in deceiving fellow characters causing an extra twist to the plot. Iago is the main publicipulator of reality to change the style of a situation into something that benefits him. This is seen when Iago tricks Othello into believing Cassio and Othellos wife, Desdemona are having an affair. Iago tricks Roderigo into cut downing Casio through his manipulation of reality.Also, Iago thickens t he lie by planting a gift from Othello to Desdemona in Cassios house and also pretends to have a talk close Desdemona with Cassio while Othello look on but can non hear. Which of course, are all actions needed to be taken for his master plan to work out correctly. Shakespeares play, Othello tells the audience the myth of a very winning General of Venice, Othello and how has was deceived by someone he believe to be an clean man, Iago, his ensign. The plot speeds up chop-chop Othello promotes Cassio instead of Iago.Iago vows r pull downge and slowly convinces Othello of Desdemonas infidelity with Cassio, the lieutenant to whom Othello had given the part Iago had sought. Iago also chances Roderigo to swear out him in his evil plan by telling him that he can have Desdemona if he helps get rid of Cassio. Oblivious to Iagos master plan Othello is ultimately a victim of his own naivete. It all starts when Iago plants a little seed of suspicion into Othellos mind just somewhat D esdemona. Iago states, I speak not yet of proof.Look to your wife observe her well with Cassio Wear your eye thus, not jealous nor secure I would not have your free and noble nature, out of self-bounty, be abused look tot I go to sleep our country disposition well In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks they dare not show their husbands their best conscience is not to leavet undone, but keept unknown. (III. iii. 196-204) For the rest of the play all of Othellos suspicions about innocent Desdemona are built upon this bug Iago has planted in Othellos ear.Eventually, Othello con scarered Desdemona and Emilia (Desdemonas companion) about the situation Iago informed him of but it was already too late because his mind was already made up. However, he genuinely believe his ensign would never do such a thing, as he stated, I think thou dost and, for I know thourt full of love and honesty (III. iii. 117-118). Instead of Iago just glide slope to Othello and saying, Cassio is sleeping wi th Desdemona, he made it more(prenominal) believable by pretending he really didnt indispensableness to tell Othello of his suspicions and acted as if he was trying to protect Othello from jealousy.Of course, Iagos actions only increased Othellos proneness to know what Iago thought which worked perfectly for Iagos plan. Iago knows very well that trust and deceit go together in order for him to complete his master plan. So the whole time he plans Othellos downfall he is continually trying to get his undoubting trust. Slowly but surely he poisons wads thoughts, creating ideas in their heads without implicating himself. Iago even says himself that the advice he gives is free and honest which makes people believe him even more Another one of the main people Iago deceives is Roderigo.Throughout the play, Iago tells him that he hates Othello and that Roderigo should make some money so he could give gifts to Desdemona, who Roderigo admires from afar. Without even a second thought, Rod erigo sells his land and uses all his savings to buy gifts for Desdemona. However, Iago is actually belongings the gifts that Roderigo plans to give Desdemona for himself. Eventually, Roderigo begins to catch on to the act and confronts Iago, but he falls right into Iagos jam again when he tells him that killing Cassio pull up stakes help him win over Desdemona because Desdemona is falling more in love with Cassio.Roderigo is then led to his death by the hands of Honest Iago when he draws his sword hoping to kill Roderigo while Roderigo is fighting Cassio. The next incident which furthers Iagos plan is when Othello sees Cassio walking away very readily after conversing with Desdemona. To make sure Othello does not get suspicious, Iago whispers, I cannot think it, that he would steal away so guilty like. (lll,iii,42) Othello then replies, I do believe twas he. (lll,iii,44) Othello believes what he sees to be the truth even though he didnt hear what was said.This instance is on ly the beginning of the lies that he sees from afar. However, Iago does not term of enlistment there because he cannot predict every time the two will meet. Therefore, he decides to manipulate Othellos feelings for Desdemona again. There are a few people who know of the handkerchief Othello gave to Desdemona when they began courting. In fact, Cassio was there when she real it and Desdemona promised to never leave it out of her sight. But, that all changed when Othello yelled at her the first time and she dropped it.Emilia, (her companion and Iagos wife) picked it up and brought it to her husband which only furthered Iagos horrible scheme and little does she know, Emilia is just other pawn in his game (Polymath). Iagos deception depends on the image of the handkerchief in Cassios hand, and he achieves this image not only through description, but by directing the actions of Cassio and Bianca by wake that the handkerchief is no longer in Desdemonas self-discipline (Smith 33). Once Iago had the handkerchief in his possession he planted it in Cassios home hoping Othello would find it or Cassio would use it in front of Othello.Iago tells Othello he will start a conversation with Cassio about Desdemona and all the proof he will need shall be there. Iago places Othello where he can see but cannot hear. Iago then starts a conversation with Cassio about Bianca. However, it appears to Othello that Cassio is talking in a sexual way about Desdemona. In reality, Iago places Cassio in a position to talk about how he really feels about Bianca. Othello sees this from afar and says in shock, Crying, O dear Cassio, as it were, his gesture imports it. (lll,i,155) Othello believes the appearance of the conversation, which for him is all the evidence he needs. Now, since Othello trusts Iago, he believes everything Iago says to him and trusts his opinions, even though they are in reality, lies.Iago supports everything he has led Othello to believe and never wavers from his thou ghts or offers the benefit of the doubt because he doesnt want to make Othello doubt him especially after he gained his trust. Because he wants material proof, he equates love with a handkerchief which in its very aterial certainty is most subject to chance. Thus the plot ironically emphasizes that his desire for certainty renders him most subject to chance, operating on the most trivial levels, as well as to Iagos malevolent manipulation of it (Stockholder 256). In the end, Othello kills Desdemona because he couldnt take the thought of her being with another man and lying to him when she was really truthful. Then Emilia tells Othello the truth behind the handkerchief and how her husband, Iago is evil before she is killed by Iago.Roderigo also dies from his wounds inflicted while fighting Cassio and unknowingly fighting Iago. Othello then kills himself when the realities of all those appearances are brought to the light. Appearance versus reality is a recurring theme throughout the play. By jumping to conclusions and not getting both sides of the story Othello and Roderigo fall to their own demise. If they would have for one second thought, Honest Iago to not be entirely honest the events of the play surely would have been different.