Why is Iago's manipulation of Othello successful?

Authors Avatar

Why is Iago successful in his manipulation over Othello?

Shakespeare’s ‘Othello’, at first, seems to be centred around a black man in a position of power in a white European society. ‘Othello’ therefore would seem the obvious and most suitable title. He is the tragic hero; it is the change in him and the aspects of his nature which bring about the fatal consequences. However studying the play in more detail you become increasingly aware of Iago being the main focal point throughout the play. Shakespeare gives more lines to Iago than Othello, and allows us into his thoughts using soliloquies. He does not do this with any other character even the main one, Othello.

However, saying this, Othello still contributes to the overall tragic end. Othello’s character is used by Iago to make him vulnerable to his manipulative tactics. Various parts of Othello’s character are shown through the play both to the audience and Iago which then get used against him.

One characteristic that is an example of this is his attitude to having either all or nothing. He shows this when talking about Desdemona ‘When I love thee not chaos is come’ explaining that if he does not love her it would be a total disaster. He consolidates this idea later on in the scene saying, ‘Away at once with love or jealousy’ that there is only room for complete love or complete jealousy, he cannot compromise. Iago, knowing this would want to turn him to complete jealousy so as not to love Desdemona, therefore ultimately causing chaos.

Othello being a solider also contributes to Iago’s successful manipulation of him, as soldiers are used to fighting, a thing Othello is very good at, he will be a man of action and once told of his wife’s supposed adultery, will have to act on it. This also coincides with his Christian beliefs believing he is an agent of justice in killing Desdemona he is a respectable person and believes he has a duty to do it.

Othello’s good qualities are turned against him, one of these being his ability to trust and believe that honesty is important in a person. He shows this to Iago questioning Cassio’s honesty with ‘Is he not honest?’ Iago then uses this to make sure Othello believes he is honest and trustworthy so that Othello tells Iago he is ‘full of love and honesty’

Join now!

Iago also uses Othello’s bad qualities including his temper. This is used to make Othello become more vulnerable and lose control of himself. Iago does this by avoiding Othello’s questions and posing more of his own, suggesting to Othello that maybe Iago is hiding something.

Iago also uses the differences between Othello and Desdemona to persuade him that it is possible that his wife has cheated on him. The fact that he is black and she is white, as well as the large age difference comes up when he suggests that she would go for someone ‘of her ...

This is a preview of the whole essay