Examples Of Machiavellian Characters In Othello

Words: 606
Pages: 3
Open Document
Iago’s display of machiavellian characteristics ultimately leads to the cessation of multiple characters within the play, this successfully seizes the readers interest over the jealousy fuelled events of the infelicitous Othello. Niccolo Machiavelli was an Italian renaissance political philosopher and statesman who acquired the reputation of an atheist and an immoral cynic. In the Aristotelian tragedy of Othello, Shakespeare has created the ultimate villain, Iago, who displays similar characteristics as those seen in Machiavelli including manipulation, false facades and power. These characteristics combined with Iago’s immoral motives result in a series of events that detrimentally lead to the downfall of Othello.

Iago’s manipulative schemes …show more content…
During the first scene, Iago reveals a truth in relation to himself when he says to Roderigo, ‘I am not what I am’. This line is reminiscent of an extract from the Bible in which God says: ‘I am that I am’. Iago’s confession of himself is the palpable opposite of this extract, thus Iago is indirectly referring to himself as the opposite of God: the devil. This revelation of Iago’s character foreshadows the events that are to come as a result of his false exterior and devilish qualities. Throughout the play, save for the last scene, Iago is known for his honesty and the characters regard Iago as incapable of telling untruths. Othello says, ’Honest Iago, My Desdemona must I leave to thee…’, the use of irony in the referral of Iago as ‘Honest Iago’ further cements the truth that the characters cannot see through Iago’s deceptions and facades. The readers are aware of Iago’s false nature as he reveals his true intentions in many soliloquies. He says, ‘till I am evened with him, wife for wife: or failing so, yet that I put the Moor at least into a jealousy so strong that judgement cannot cure’. Iago states that he plans to subjugate Othello into a downhill spiral leading to his destruction. This epiphany of Iago’s intentions captures the readers interest as readers are aware of his erroneous nature while Othello remains oblivious, in this sense the readers share a covert truth with
Show More

Related Documents: Examples Of Machiavellian Characters In Othello

Othello essay

Albert Gerard describes the character of Othello as lacking in nobility and intellect of other Shakespearean tragic heroes. In Gerard’s view, Othello is presented as an “erring barbarian and credulous fool”. Paying particular attention to act III scene III, how do you respond to the presentation of Othello as a tragic hero. Word Count = 1,628 Aristotle - "A man cannot become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall." Othello is widely referred to as a ‘tragic hero’ - According to Aristotle…

Words 1703 - Pages 7