How Shakespeare uses literary techniques such as imagery is prominent within this extract. By influencing Roderigo to “follow thou [Roderigo] these wars; defeat thy favour with a usurped beard” in lines 330-331, the audience is convinced that Iago is proposing a ‘war’ between Othello and himself through Roderigo. The sophisticated word choice –“war” here, with connotation alluding turmoil and annihilation by Shakespeare, further outlines Iago’s future destructive intentions -which to an extent described as a “war” with the other characters, mainly Othello and Cassio, later on in the play. At the same time, “war” also suggests death, which may foreshadow to the audience that there will be deaths involved soon after, perhaps caused by the evil Iago –further emphasizes on Shakespeare’s goal to highlight the dramatic effects in Othello.
The use of irony is the chief element in this extract as Iago quotes; “it was a violent commencement, and thou shalt see an answerable sequestration” in lines 334 and 335. Before this extract, Desdemona is granted with permission and blessings from the Duke to accompany Othello to Cyprus. As a newlywed couple, it is seen to be a favourable event to be together, however, this is ironic as viewed from Iago’s perspective, seeing Othello in happiness angers him –as he refers the situation to be a [violent commencement]. The use of irony here is effective as it further emphasizes how he is seen to be kind and honest to the characters throughout the play but in truth, he is a wicked person. In fact, the whole extract shows Shakespeare’s employment of dramatic irony as Iago is revealing all his evil thoughts and future plans to cause chaos among the other characters while they assume him to be a righteous man, especially Othello who repeats himself and address Iago as “honest” Iago several times.
The syntax used in this extract plays an important part in revealing Iago’s wickedness. Making racist remarks of Othello to be an “erring barbarian” in line 343 emphasizes how foul and offensive Iago could be in his soliloquy. In line 349-350, Iago said to Roderigo “I have told thee often and I retell thee again and again, I hate the Moor”, gives a clear view of the use of dramatic irony by Shakespeare as Iago is seen to be loyal and dedicated to Othello throughout the play. How Shakespeare chooses the word “hate” gives a degree of how much Iago despises Othello –emphasizing his two-faced temperament in Othello.
Furthermore, the repetition of the line “Put money in thy purse” said by Iago to Roderigo throughout the whole extract is basically Iago instructing Roderigo to supply money for his diabolical plan even if it means mortgaging or selling all of his assets to destroy Othello –emphasizing Iago to be an ill-minded and cunning materialist. This line is employed by Shakespeare is also to perhaps convey a message to his audience that how twisted-minded a person can be to obtain the desires of his/her heart in the society. At the same time, this situation of Roderigo handing his money to Iago eludes the picture of ‘bargaining with the devil’ –when in the end, he/she will self-destruct with tragic consequences, perhaps foreshadows Roderigo’s tragic death later on in the play as he is killed by Iago, the ‘devil’ himself.
In conclusion, the combined use of literary techniques above clearly allows the extract to depict the true colours of Iago which is filled with malice in his soliloquy. At the same time, shaping the play through the use of dramatic irony allows Shakespeare to epitomize the complexity of humanity and the intricacy of society. Meanwhile it allows him to incorportate true-to-life societal issues where people are pretentious such as Iago and many are blinded by them such as Roderigo.
