Othello And 1984 Analysis

Power can be gained in many ways, one of these is through censorship, in these books; Othello, Fahrenheit 451, and 1984, we see this theme of censorship pop up in many ways, whether this be censorship of oneself, or censorship of others to ultimately gain control and power. In Othello, we see this theme of censorship of oneself, as Iago carefully censors what information he tells to which people in order to retain his level of trust he has with other people. This is the result of censorship on a small scale. In Fahrenheit 451, we see a large level of censorship, through the burning of physically attained knowledge by the way of books. This form of censorship is used to create ignorance amongst a group of people. Lastly, in 1984, we see the
highest peak of censorship, monitoring every little bit of information that people take in, in order to have complete control over every person's thoughts and actions. These are the stages of censorship, misdirection, creating ignorance, and at it’s highest form total control. Each book allows a deeper insight into each level of censorship that can occur.
In Othello, Iago is trying to destroy Othello by ruining his life and everything he loves due to him being denied a promotion. He crafts an articulate plan to lie and twist the truth between each person he talks to in order to create conflict amongst Othello and his peers. Iago is not in a high enough power to be censoring other people, however he is able to withhold information from certain people that he will tell others in order to reach his goal.
Iago clearly states in the story that he is manipulating everyone around him when he says “ I am not what I am.”(I,I) Through this he is telling the reader, that Iago is not Iago when speaking to someone, but rather he is able to read the person he is speaking to and know who they do or do not want him to be, and he becomes this person in order to either gain their trust, or cause them pain. Iago’s goal is to be a puppet master, so anything he want’s to happen can and will happen with no issues. In order to do that he first must have everyone trusting him, even enemies among friends. He is able to analyze the person he is speaking to, and know exactly what emotions they can play with without being seen through ( Potter, 61-63).
“Virtue?
A fig! 'Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners. So that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce, set hyssop and weed up thyme, supply it with one gender of herbs or distract it with many, either to have it sterile with idleness or manured with industry, why the power and corrigible authority of this lies in our wills.”(I,III) Here we are able to see exactly what he desires, and that is to be a master gardener. Not literally, but he makes the connection between a gardener planting a seed and it sprouting into a plant, just like how he wants to plant the seed of an idea into Othello’s mind, and then let Othello sprout that seed into a something he truly believe and nothing will change his mind otherwise. Iago is able to do this by telling Othello only part of a truth, but in a damning light. This is because if Othello knows part of a truth, the second someone says it’s true, but tries to put it in context, the only part he hears is that it’s true, and that validates his thoughts even moreso. This allows Iago to gain control over Othello’s emotions which in turn give him control over his actions as well. This is what Iago desired from the beginning, to have control
over
Othello, and he did just that through misdirection and distortion of the truth. Iago acts the same way with Roderigo, but he is a little bit less subtle when it comes to how he deals with Roderigo.
Due to Roderigo not being involved in what Iago is doing it is much easier for Iago to lie to Roderigo, because he knows what lies he can get away with."I grant indeed it hath not appeared; and ones suspicion is not without wit and judgement. But, Roderigo, if thou hast that in thee indeed, which I have greater reason to believe now than ever-I mean purpose, courage, and valour-this night show it. If thou the next night following enjoy not Desdemona, take me from this world with treachery, and devise engines for my life."(IV,II, 208-215) This is an example of him manipulation Roderigo because he knows he can. He knows for a fact that he can’t do this impossible task for Roderigo, but he doesn’t care because at the same time he knows she will be dead by the end of the night if she is not dead already. Cue to Iago’s control in his main plan at this time, it is much easier for him to manipulate someone who is not a part of what he has been trying to accomplish, because he knows what he can and can’t lie about to Roderigo. So everytime he speaks to Roderigo he appeals to what Roderigo wants to hear, and no matter how many times he fails as long as he is constantly reassured, Roderigo wouldn’t leave Iago due to Iago being his only hope at ever having
Desdemona.