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Essay: Good vs Evil in Shakespeare’s Othello: How Iago Takes Advantage of Othello’s Jealousy

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  • Published: 23 March 2023*
  • Last Modified: 22 July 2024
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  • Words: 1,409 (approx)
  • Number of pages: 6 (approx)
  • Tags: Othello essays

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In Shakespeare’s, Othello, the reader is put into a battle between Good and Evil. The forces of evil lead to the demise of Othello, a noble venetian moor, known as an honourable soldier and leader. Othello’s demise results in him murdering his wife Desdemona. Desdemona represents the “good” in nature. Being “Good” is defined as forgiving, honest, innocent and unsuspecting. The “evil” in Shakespeare’s Othello is represented by Iago. Iago is cunning, untrustworthy, selfish, and plotting. He uses his traits to his advantage by laying back and watching his peers go downhill. Iago succeeds by taking advantage in the weaknesses of the other characters. For example, Iago uses Othello’s jealousy to get closer to Desdemona.

From the start of the play, Iago’s scheming ability is shown when he convinces Roderigo to tell about Othello and Desdemona’s elopement to Desdemona’s father, Brabantio. Confidentiality Iago continues his plot successfully, making fools of others, and himself being rewarded. Except Roderigo, no one is aware of Iago’s plans. This is because Iago pretends to be an honest man loyal to his superiors. The fact that Othello himself views Iago as trustworthy and honest gives the evil within Iago a perfect unsuspecting victim for his schemes. The opportunity to get to Desdemona through Othello is one temptation that Iago cannot refuse. He creates the impression that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio in order to stir the jealousy within Othello. It is this jealousy and the ignorance of Othello that lead to the downfall of Desdemona; the one truly good natured character in the play. When the play begins we are presented with the hostility that Iago has against Othello. Iago was given the position of a servant to Othello instead of the more prestigious title of lieutenant given to Michael Cassio. This makes Iago feel betrayed because he considers himself more qualified than Cassio to serve as lieutenant. Iago then foreshadows his plans for Othello to Roderigo, “O, sir, content you. / I follow him to serve my turn upon him” (Act I, Scene I)”. Iago realizes that Othello thinks of him as an honest man. Using this to his advantage Iago tricks Roderigo into doing his “dirty” work. Roderigo never suspects that he’s being used for Iago’s personal gain.

As the play shifts from Venice to Cyprus there is an interesting contrast. Venice is a respectable and honourable town that is overshadowed by the war torn villages of Cyprus. It could be said that Venice represents the good or specifically Desdemona. Then Cyprus represents the evil in Iago. Desdemona has been taken from her peacefulness and brought onto the grounds of evil. Iago commits his largest acts of deceit in Cyprus, fittingly considering the atmosphere. Ironically, the venetians feel the Turks are their only enemy while in fact Iago is the man who destroys their stable state. Act II Scene III shows Iago’s ability to manipulate characters in the play. Iago convinces Montano to inform Othello of Cassio’s weakness for alcohol hoping this would bring dissatisfaction to Othello. Then Iago pretends he didn’t offend Cassio when telling Othello about the fight Cassio was involved in, but Iago only wants the worst to come of Cassio’s situation without seeming responsible.

Cassio is relieved of his duty as lieutenant, giving Iago the opportunity to manipulate Othello. By controlling Othello, Iago would be able to control Desdemona. To reach Desdemona directly is unforeseeable for Iago considering that Othello is superior to him. It is for this reason that Iago decides to exploit Othello. If Iago can turn Othello against his own wife then he will have won. Act III Scene III, is very important because it is the point in the play where Iago begins to establish his control over Othello. Cassio feels that it is necessary to ask Desdemona for help in order to regain his position of lieutenant. Iago and Othello enter the scene just after Cassio leaves, and Iago wistfully tries to make it look like Cassio left because he does not want to be seen in the courtship of Desdemona. Iago sarcastically remarks “Cassio, my lord? No, sure, I cannot think it That he would steal away so guilty-like, Seeing your coming”. (Act III, Scene III)

When Desdemona leaves, Iago takes the opportunity to strengthen Othello’s views of honesty and trust towards him by saying ironically, “Men should be what they seem; / Or those that be not, would they might seem none! ” (Act III, Scene III). This cleverness by Iago works upon one of the tragic flaws of Othello. Iago wonders why someone would pretend to be something they are not, while in fact that is the exact thing he represents. Finally, after hearing the exploits of Iago and witnessing the events surrounding Cassio, Othello for the first time is in conflict about what is the truth. This is the first stage of Iago’s scheme to control Othello. As Emilia becomes suspicious about Othello’s development of jealousy, Desdemona defends her husband by blaming herself for any harm done.

This once again shows Desdemona’s compassion and willingness to sacrifice herself for her husband. Othello begins to show his difficulty in maintaining his composure “Well, my good lady. O, hardness to dissemble — How do you, Desdemona?” Act III, Scene IV. Iago takes advantage of this by being blunt with Othello about his wife Desdemona. Iago suggests that she is having sexual relations with other men, possibly Cassio, and continues on as if nothing has happened. This suggestions put Othello into an emotional state of turmoil that he is lost in a trance. Iago’s control over Othello is so strong now that he convinces him to consider getting rid of Desdemona and even suggests methods of killing her. Iago, so proud of his accomplishments of underhandedness “Work on. My medicine works! Thus credulous fools are caught, And many worthy and chaste dames even thus, All guiltless, meet reproach”. (Act IV, Scene I) Othello in this state commits his first act of violence against Desdemona by hitting her. This as a result of Desdemona’s mention of Cassio. This shows now Othello’s other tragic flaw. He made himself susceptible to Iago and the jealousy within him begins to lead to the demise of others. By his actions Othello has isolated himself from everyone except Iago. This gives Iago the perfect opportunity to complete his course of action. Iago does not tolerate any interference in his plans, and he first murders Roderigo before he can dispel the evil that Iago represents.

Finally, Othello, so full of the lies told to him by Iago murders his wife. Desdemona, representative of goodness and heaven as a whole blames her death on herself and not Othello. Iago’s wife, Emilia, becomes the ultimate undoing of Iago. After revealing Iago’s plot to Othello, Iago kills her. This is yet another vicious act to show the true evil Iago represents. Othello finally realizes after being fooled into murder : “I look down towards his feet — but that’s a fable If that thou be’st a devil, I cannot kill thee”. (Act V, Scene II) Iago says “I bleed, sir, but not killed”, this is the final statement by Iago himself that truly shows his belief in evil and that he truly thinks he is the devil. That is the destruction of all that is good. Hell over heaven and black over white. Iago, as a representation of evil, has one major motivational factor that leads him to lie, cheat, and commit crimes on other characters. This motivation is the destruction of all that is good and the rise of evil. This contrast is represented between Iago and Desdemona. Desdemona is described frequently by other characters as “she is divine, the grace of heaven” (Act II, Scene I), while Iago in contrast is described as hellish after his plot is uncovered. Iago uses the other characters in the play to work specifically towards his goal. In this way, he can maintain his supposed unknowingness about the events going on and still work his scheming ways. Iago’s schemes however at times seem to work unrealistically well which may or may not be a case of witchcraft or magic. Iago’s major mistake, ironically, is that he trusted his wife Emilia and found that she was not as trustworthy as he thought.

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