Power of Persuasion
11 April 2012
The Power of Persuasion
Manipulation and persuasion, two of the major themes in Shakespeare’s Othello that ultimately lead to Othello’s downfall. The power of words and persuasion can cause people to go crazy and do things they normally wouldn’t do. Shakespeare’s character development and background of Othello, Rodrigo and Iago early on in the play gives the reader somewhat of a foreshadowing of the characters that are going to manipulate and be manipulated. The play according to Shakespearean Criticism is “a character driven domestic tragedy of jealousy and deception.” The power of persuasion and manipulation is seen by Othello, Emelia and Desdemona, but mainly Iago. Iago uses persuasion to manipulate others in order to protect themselves, lead another down a path of destruction, and lastly out of greed. Iago seems to have all the answers to everyone’s problems and is the ultimate manipulator in the play.
The main manipulation and persuasion seen in the play is by Iago, “Iago’s consummate, strategic manipulation of an unstable language tempts Othello to his doom” (Christofides). Iago targets the other characters weaknesses in order to manipulate them. The first act of persuasion is seen when Iago realizes how easy it will be for him to manipulate the love-struck Rodrigo into being his puppet. The second Iago realizes that Rodrigo is in love with Desdemona he knows as long as long he promises to get Desdemona to fall in love with him, he’ll do nearly anything for Iago. The fact that Rodrigo is in love makes him easily persuadable. Next Iago targets Cassio, using Cassio’s weakness of alcohol to make him get drunk and get in a fight causing him to loose his job. Iago acts as Cassio’s friend and tells him that it’s okay to drink, the wars over they need to celebrate. Everything seems to go Iago’s way and he ends up at his final target, Othello. Iago uses the fact that Othello is black and much older than Desdemona to manipulate his emotions. Iago
The Power of Persuasion
Manipulation and persuasion, two of the major themes in Shakespeare’s Othello that ultimately lead to Othello’s downfall. The power of words and persuasion can cause people to go crazy and do things they normally wouldn’t do. Shakespeare’s character development and background of Othello, Rodrigo and Iago early on in the play gives the reader somewhat of a foreshadowing of the characters that are going to manipulate and be manipulated. The play according to Shakespearean Criticism is “a character driven domestic tragedy of jealousy and deception.” The power of persuasion and manipulation is seen by Othello, Emelia and Desdemona, but mainly Iago. Iago uses persuasion to manipulate others in order to protect themselves, lead another down a path of destruction, and lastly out of greed. Iago seems to have all the answers to everyone’s problems and is the ultimate manipulator in the play.
The main manipulation and persuasion seen in the play is by Iago, “Iago’s consummate, strategic manipulation of an unstable language tempts Othello to his doom” (Christofides). Iago targets the other characters weaknesses in order to manipulate them. The first act of persuasion is seen when Iago realizes how easy it will be for him to manipulate the love-struck Rodrigo into being his puppet. The second Iago realizes that Rodrigo is in love with Desdemona he knows as long as long he promises to get Desdemona to fall in love with him, he’ll do nearly anything for Iago. The fact that Rodrigo is in love makes him easily persuadable. Next Iago targets Cassio, using Cassio’s weakness of alcohol to make him get drunk and get in a fight causing him to loose his job. Iago acts as Cassio’s friend and tells him that it’s okay to drink, the wars over they need to celebrate. Everything seems to go Iago’s way and he ends up at his final target, Othello. Iago uses the fact that Othello is black and much older than Desdemona to manipulate his emotions. Iago
Cited: Ancona, Francesco Aristide. “’Honest’ Iago and the evil nature of words.” Journal of Evolutionary Psychology 26.1-2(2005):44+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 9 Apr. 2012. “Othello.” Shakespearean Criticism. Ed. Micheal L. LaBlanc. Vol. 79. Detroit: Gale, 2004. Literature Resource Center. Web. 9 Apr. 2012. Christofides, R.M. “Othello.” Early Modern Literary Studies. 15.1 Jan. 2010. Literature Resource Center. Web. 9 Apr. 2012