Iago’s Use of Language and Villainous Behavior in...

Iago’s Use of Language and Villainous Behavior in Shakespeare’s Othello In Othello, Shakespeare forms the villainous character, Iago through his complex language. Iago shows his evil nature towards Roderigo through his use of demeaning animal imagery. Iago also uses an extended metaphor to try and trick the ignorant Roderigo and (unknowingly to Roderigo), insults him. Lastly, Iago uses repetition to beguile Roderigo to keep paying him. Iago’s slyness is clearly seen through his deceiving language towards the end of Act I. In Act I, scene iii, line 319, Iago addresses the issue of love and lust through an extended metaphor. In this speech, after Roderigo says he wants to kill himself, Iago tries to convince Roderigo not to end†¦show more content†¦Because nettles, hyssop, and thyme can all be referred to as weeds, Roderigo gives a negative tone. However, this is not the only place where it is seen that Iago uses negativity. Iago also uses animal imagery to beguile the ignorant Roderigo. In Act I, scene iii, line 314, Iago uses degrading terms again in his dialogue; he states, â€Å"Ere I would say I would drown myself for the love of a guinea hen, I would change my humanity with a baboon.† By expressing this, Iago is saying that he would rather be a baboon than kill himself for a woman. The terms guinea hen, being a negative term for a woman, and baboon, being a racial label, are both stated with the intent to insult Roderigo. Iago also states, â€Å"Come, be a man. Drown thyself? Drown cats and blind puppies!†(Act I, scene iii, line 334) which infers that Roderigo is weak and juvenile. Iago uses demeaning animal imagery to express his thoughts towards the end of Act I. Lastly, Iago uses repetition in the plot against Othello. In lines 337- 355, Iago reiterates the statement, â€Å"put money in thy purse† to convince Iago not to give up on trying to pursue Desdemona. Iago wants Roderigo to keep his feelings for Desdemona so that he can be successful in his plot and plan accordingly. Iago also uses the statement â€Å"put money in thy purse† for Roderigo to pay him. Iago craftily uses his repetition to assure ignorant Roderigo’s part in theShow MoreRelated Villainous Iago of Shakespeares Othello Essay1841 Words   |  8 PagesVillainous Iago of Othello  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   Who can compare in depth of evil to the villainous Iago in William Shakespeare’s tragic drama Othello? His villainy is incomparably destructive on all of those around him.    Iago’s very language reveals the level at which his evil mind works. Francis Ferguson in â€Å"Two Worldviews Echo Each Other† describes the types of base, loathsome imagery used by the antagonist Iago when he â€Å"slips his mask aside† while awakening Brabantio:    Iago is lettingRead MoreThe Women in Othello Essay1080 Words   |  5 PagesThe women in Othello are synonymous with Venetian societal standards. Only three women are characters in Othello: Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca but the roles these women play give the reader an idea of how women were portrayed, not only in Shakespeares Othello but in society in general. Women were viewed merely as possessions. After the Duke allows Desdemona to accompany Othello to Cyprus, Othello says To my conveyance I assign my wife (I.3.283), this statement implies that Desdemona and a possessionRead MoreEssay on The Character of Iago from Othello4183 Words   |  17 PagesThe Character of Iago from Othello The character of Iago is crucial for the play, and its essence has often been presented as ‘the evil taking a human form.’ What is important to any attempt to understand this play is the mechanism that makes the action moving forward. If this is ‘the force of evil’, represented in the character of Iago, this gives him the most relevant role, the power to forward the entire course of the play in certain direction. A number of fortunate circumstances helps hisRead MoreOthello : William Shakespeare s Othello2542 Words   |  11 Pages3 March 2015 Othello Introduction Shakespeare is the second most quoted writer in the English language – after the various writers of the Bible. Many of Shakespeare’s ideas for the play Othello came from a collection of tales written by Giraldi Cinthio. In Othello the character of Iago acts as the prominent main character throughout the play, even though he plays the role of the antagonist to the other central characters in the comedy Iago is the tragic hero. Shakespeare’s Othello was not just