ENGLISH COURSEWORK
Explore the presentation of Iago as a villain
Iago = machiavellian character - manipulates, opportunistic
First Impressions (how he treats Brabantio, Roderigo - duplicity, puppet master)
• Look at his 3 soliloquies (p.45, 65, 87) and pick out elements of his language and behavior - "blank verse" language not "rhymed couplets"
Page 45 - Monologue (intimate, confession, pity)
367 - derogatory
370 - irrational (implying Othello has also slept with his wife)
372 - "He holds me well" - reassuring the plot will work/Othello trusts
380 - knows exactly what he's doing
384 - lead him by the nose like a donkey
385 - knows he's being evil/optimistic
Page 65 - Soliloquy (generally admiring Othello)
272 - slight ardor/lust?
284 - rude about Roderigo
Page 87 - Vulgar language, praises people, gives details of plan
312 - not good!
327 - "pitch", collates himself with the devil (tempt people)
329 - "all", revealing to Othello that Desdemona is pleading for him because she wants to persist committing adultery
• Focus on Act 3 Scene 3: what are the means he uses to tempt Othello?
Techniques Iago uses to doubt Othello's minds about Desdemona's celibacy:
Uses reverberate questions, "Did Michael Cassio... know of your love?", "Honest, my lord?" - Insulting things about Cassio & pretending to be suppressing intelligence/advice/guidance
Throw away lines, alluding to Cassio & Desdemona, "Ha! I like now that" - Galvanizes suspicion but pretends to be reluctant to share his view
Uses heavenly imagery and professes dangers of speaking honestly, "are you a man with soul and smell, oh grace!" - involves God (justified, good reason for)
"I am your own for ever", - mocks language of love and marriage
Gives Othello instructions, "look at her", switched/reversed roles
• Where does his plan begin to go wrong?
Ironic - unmasked by woman who he thought of as inferior
• Look at his fate at the end of the...