How and why Iago
destroys Othello
10/03/2016
1
The reasons why he destroys Othello
are:
 In his own words:

Not being made lieutenant


Othello has made love to his wife


FIND YOUR OWN QUOTE FROM IAGO’S
FINAL SOLILOQUY IN 2.1.
Other possible reasons:


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I do suspect the lusty Moor / Hath leaped
into my seat
Cassio has made love to his wife


I know my price, I am worth no worse a
place
to plume up my will
He hath a daily beauty in his life
That makes me ugly
2
We also need to look at why Othello is so
vulnerable and Desdemona so unable to cope
with him.
 His age
 His colour


His unfamiliarity with Venetian society


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Haply for I am black … or for I am declined
into the vale of years
Iago tells Othello I know our country
disposition well: In Venice they do let God see
the pranks they dare not show their husbands
The short and disturbed time of his marriage (set
sail in different ships on the night they were
married; wedding night interrupted by Cassio’s
brawl; Desdemona is killed the next night)
3
Iago’s Methods
Iago destroys Othello using the
following methods:
 hints and suggestions
 outright lies
 Opportunism
Pairs: Create a brief scene between 2 girls
at the ball. One is trying to persuade the
other her boyfriend is cheating on her.
Use Iago’s methods. KEEP IT CLEAN.
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4
Hints and Suggestions



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Iago pretends there is more on his mind than he is admitting to
when they arrive to see Cassio speaking to Desdemona
 (Find a quote in 3.3 to support this)
he warns Othello not to succumb to the emotion he wants to
arouse in him and he plants suspicions by reminding Othello
he is not aware of Venetian customs
 O beware, my lord, of jealousy!
 Wear your eye thus: not jealous, nor secure.
he says there was something perverted in Desdemona
choosing a black husband
 Not to affect many proposed matches / Of her own
clime, complexion, and degree…One may smell in
such a will most rank, foul disproportion, thoughts
unnatural.
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Outright Lies
Outright lies
 such a handkerchief - I am sure
it was your wife’s – did I today
see Cassio wipe his beard with
 the time he slept with Cassio

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In sleep I heard him say: ‘Sweet
Desdemona, let us be wary, let
us hide our loves’
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Opportunism


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he arranges for Othello to overhear
him talking to Cassio supposedly
about Desdemona, but in reality
about Bianca
when Bianca comes along with
Desdemona’s handkerchief he tells
Othello that this shows the contempt
with which Cassio treats Desdemona
 See how he prizes the foolish
woman your wife: she gave it
him, and he hath giv’n it his
whore
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Essay topics this
information relates to



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Manipulation
Character essays on Iago/Othello
Jealousy
The downfall of Othello
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