How successful is the character Iago in fulfilling his ambitions in Shakespeare's Othello? Use evidence fro the text to support your answers

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Natasha Curley

10EBA

‘Hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light’

How successful is the character Iago in fulfilling his ambitions in Shakespeare’s Othello? Use evidence fro the text to support your answers

Hell and night must bring this monstrous birth to the world’s light’ (Act 1 sc. 3 L.358-6) Iago says this statement in a soliloquy at the end of act 1 sc. 3. It could mean several things. ‘Hell and night’ are both associated with evil in which Othello has been called before at the beginning of scene 1. ‘The devil’ (Act 1 sc.1 L.92). Therefore hell could be Othello, night is also associated with secrecy and how Iago will act to make his plan work. ‘Monstrous’ is also connected with evil, and a monster is seen as a large, frightening animal, but in the context of this text it is a large, frightening plan. ‘Birth’ is personification of Iago’s plan, but it could also be taken as actually giving birth because birth involves pain. ‘World’s light’ Both world and light are contrasts to hell and night. The World and light are good and Iago wants to use the opposite of them to turn them into evil. It can also be interpreted that Iago wants to control people’s sphere of knowledge or power to make his plan work.

Overall the statement shows what his intentions are, in many Shakespearean plays the soliloquy is used as dramatic irony to get the audience involved into the story; it is also used for the character to enlighten the audience with his version of events. The plan could be to ruin Cassio’s life. ‘To get his place and plume up my will in double knavery’ (Act 1 sc.3 L.374) Iago wants Cassio’s job, as Cassio was promoted with the job that Iago wanted to get, but ‘plume up my will’ is an unusual phrase to say, it suggests that Iago wants to have a bit of fun while double crossing Cassio but it could also suggests that he wants to win his prize in double crossing people.

Iago has many intentions toward Othello; one of them is to ruin Othello’s marriage. ‘Framed to make a woman false’ he plans to make Othello think that Desdemona is false, a hoar, doing this would make Othello very jealous of who Desdemona is supposedly having an affair with and very angry. ‘will be led by the nose as asses are’ Iago believes that Othello will believe anything Iago says, Iago will tell Othello all the lies he needs to make Othello think that Desdemona is false, as he will be lead by the nose as donkeys are.

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Iago’s first step towards his intended goal was telling Brabantio about Othello and Desdemona’s marriage. ‘I am one sir, to tell you that your daughter and the Moor are making the beast with two backs’ (Act 1 sc.1 L.115) Iago uses specific words and exaggerations to make Brabantio angry so he will accuse Othello of stealing his daughter. By doing this Iago is trying to split Othello and Desdemona’s marriage or just trying to make complications in their first hours of marriage.

Iago is neither successful nor unsuccessful. ‘My life upon her faith’ (act 1 sc.3 L.290) Iago failed in breaking ...

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