Othello Close Reading - Fitzpatrick 1 Allison Fitzpatrick...

Fitzpatrick
Allison Fitzpatrick
Dr. Stephen Karian
English 4167: Shakespeare’s Tragedies
May 7, 2015
Rhetoric and Literary Techniques Behind Iago’s Manipulation in Shakespeare’s Othello
William Shakespeare’s Othello is a tragic drama in which the main character,
Othello, faces the horrific consequences of manipulation and deception. Othello, a
general in the Venetian army, is given the opportunity to choose a Lieutenant to serve by
his side. Othello chooses fellow character, Cassio. Othello’s other right-hand man, Iago,
becomes enraged and jealous because he wanted to be appointed the position. From there
on out, Iago commits to revenge himself against Othello and Cassio. As a way to obtain
vengeance and authority, Iago formulates an attack against Othello and Cassio. Iago’s
main source of dominance when manipulating and deceiving Othello comes from his
specific and evil language. In act three scene three, Iago uses rhetorical devices and
literary techniques in order to manipulate Othello into believing his wife, Desdemona, is
having an affair with Cassio. Throughout the scene, Iago transforms Othello into a
jealous and enraged spouse. It is within the language and rhetoric that Iago uses that
unknowingly forms Othello’s suspicions. As the scene progresses, Othello become more
reliant on Iago for his input. Unfortunately, Othello does not realize that his honest and
loyal perception of Iago is wrong. It is not until it is too late that Othello is able to
recognize the effect Iago’s manipulation and deceit had on him and Desdemona. In the
end, Othello is unable to come to terms with his jealousy and rage against Desdemona,
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and ultimately he barbarically ends her life. Still, at that point, Iago uses language and
rhetoric to empower myself over the rest of the characters.
In the beginning of scene three Cassio comes to Desdemona in regards to his
position as Lieutenant. Cassio explains his case to Desdemona and she assures him that
she will speak with her husband on Cassio’s behalf. When Othello enters, Cassio
becomes uneasy with the situation and leaves the stage. When Desdemona harmlessly
brings up Cassio to Othello, she provokes Othello’s jealousy. After Othello tells her to let
him and Iago be, the two are left there to discuss Cassio privately. This is just the moment
Iago has been waiting for. He is now given the opportunity to deceive Othello. As Othello
questions Cassio’s integrity to Iago,
[Othello] O, yes, and went between us very oft./[Iago] Indeed?/[Othello] Indeed?
Ay, indeed! Discern'st thou aught in that?/Is he honest?/[Iago] Honest, my lord?/
[Othello] Honest? Ay, honest./ My lord, for aught I know (iii.iii.102-110)
Iago sets the tone for his deception by answering with rhetorical questions. Oxford
English Dictionary states that a rhetorical question is just that, “designating a question
asked only to produce an effect or make a statement, rather than elicit an answer or
information” (OED, rhetorical, adj, 2.4). Iago intentionally repeats Othello’s questions