Movie: Othello Essay, Research Paper

Movie: Othello

The movie Othello is full of very believeable and well developed

characters. As it is a tradgedy, thought, we have to have a victim or victims,

in this case Othello, and the cause of their misery, which is Iago. Iago

manipulates Cassio, Roderigo, Emilia, and Othello, useing a variety of methods.

Iago’s plots are skillfully crafted with multiple levels of intrigue. Iago also

pays attention to the smallest detail, proveing his skill as a villian. Thus,

Iago is a masterful villian who manipulates all those around him.

Iago manipultes Cassio, Roderigo, Emilia, and Othello in several ways.

Cassio is manipulated by Iago first getting him fired. Then, under the guise of

friendship, Iago suggests that Cassio ask Desdemona for help in getting

reinstated. This is an ingenius move on as his part, as Cassio must pursue

Desdemona’s help behind Othello’s back. Roderigo is manipulated by Iago’s

telling him to pursue Desdemona, even though Desdemona is already married.

Although this is a blatent lie on Iago’s part, as the viewer sees not a single

hint that Desdemona even acknowledges Roderigo’s existance, it is so cleverly

delivered to Roderigo that he takes as a fact, even when the facts show

otherwise. Iago controls Emilia through her love that she has for him. He uses

her love of him to get her to steal Desdemona’s handkerchief. Othello is

manipulated by suggestion and hints that are carefully worded and said at just

the right moment. Each one weakens his faith in Desdemona a little more. Then

Iago produces ?evidence? to add weight to his innuendos. The evidence is so

believeably delivered and Othello already so incenced by Iago’s words that

Othello does not even question the truth of what he sees. This skillful

manipulation of those around qualifies Iago as a supreme villian.

Iago’s plots are skillfully crafted and contain multiple levels of

intrigue. Iago gets Cassio drunk and disorderly until he starts a fight. Iago

then goes to Othello and tells him that he should not allow such behavior and to

fire Cassio. Then Iago convincea Cassio to pursue Desdemona’s help on the sly.

Finally, Iago uses Cassio’s pursuit of Desdemona on the sly as proof of their

affair. Only a villian of great skill could craft such a plan, as there are so

many variables and chances for someone to stop and question everything or reveal

how Iago was involved in what they did. Iago also plans out his entire sceme

from the very begginning of the play. He does no planning, Iago simply moves

along continuing with his plan through the whole film. It seems as though he

knew exactly how everyone would act to his manipulation and react to the actions

of each other. Iago also leaps upon every opportunity that presents itself

during the course of the movie. For example, Iago plans just for Desdemona’s

handkerchief to be in Cassio’s possesion, but when Bianca storms in and accueses

Cassio of being unfaithful, Iago jumps on this opportunity and even more

thouroughly convinces Othello of Desdemona’s guilt.

Iago pays attention to the smallest details, makeing his manipulation

even more complete. For example, Iago drops hints about Desdemona possibly

being unfaithful, but he does not say anything outright, because that would be

suspicious. Iago only tells Othello of what he ?knows? when confronted about it

and asked directly, and even then after repeated beggings for information on the

part of Othello. If Iago had been more forward with his suspicions, Othello

would not have believed him as much. Also, when Iago accuires Desdemona’s

handkerchief, he does it very carefully. He has Emilia accuire it, then makes

her tell no one that she did and won’t tell her why. If he had gotten it

himself, someone might have seen him, and that would have raised suspiscion.

These small details would have been overlooked by someone who was careless and

less thourough. Iago also removes Roderigo, by convincing him to try to kill

Cassio and then killing Roderigo out of what he claims as self defence. A

lesser villian would simply have let Roderigo go, but he might have talked, so

eliminating him was the only way to gaurantee he wouldn’t. Iago also convinces

everyone not to tell how they know what they know to each other, which is a very

important detail because if any of the other characters had spoken of Iago role

in their actions, his whole plot would have bee thwarted. The great attention

that Iago pays to the smallest details cements him as a master manipulator and

cunning villian.

Iago his an ingenious manipulator and villian who controls everyone

around him. The way he manipulates Cassio, Desdemona, Othello, and Roderigo is

proof of this. His ability to intertwine his plots, play the characters off

each other, and take advantage of every opportunity that presents inself shows

his skill as a manipulator. Finally, Iagos attention to detail, ensuring his

total control over his victims and solidifying him as a true villian. Only a

truely great villian who uses his brain, thinks through every possibility, and

jumps upon every oppurtunity could have done what Iago did in Othello.

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