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.
322