How Does Iago Corrup Othello in Shakespear’s Othello

Finally, the most ethical way Iago poisons Othellos mentality is by changing the seeance of reality. He will cover it up with lies and Othello will be forced to believe him because he will be too submerged in doubt and suspicion to see the truth. In act 3, dead reckoning 3, when Cassion parts from Desdemona, Iago makes it appear as if Cassio err away so guilty-like(Shakespe argon, act 3, scene 3) because he did not want to be seen with Desdemona. While it appears really bad from Othello point of view, the reality of it is completely different.Cassio, who has been demoted, wishes to gain back his good will with Othello with Desdemonas help. Iago tricks Othello by making him believe that every seemingly harmless encounter between Cassio and Desdemona are actually lies and that they are seeing each other behind his back. To the readers of the play it is quite obvious the nature of their encounter hardly to Othello who judges with eyes clouded by jealousy, he can only see the harm universe d genius. Othello is unable to make a rational decision because he is too deep in madness. Iago has poisoned his mind and ruined his judgement.To further poison Othellos mind, Iago will set up Cassio and Othello. In act 4, scene 1, while Othello is hidden in the shadows Iago approaches Cassio and starts a conversation with him. Othello believes the base of the conversation will be near his wife Desdemona because it is what Iago told him he would do interrogate Cassio closely Desdemona. But the reality of it is different. Iago is actually talking to Cassio about Bianca. Othello is caught up in the illusion he now truly believes that Desdemona is unfaithful towards him. Jealousy clouds ones mind.Othello in able to see that Iago is playing him he is too deep in his own illusions to strike out that he is being used. Because Othellos judgement is clouded, Iago is able to make things appear differently. With his rational thinking gone, Othello is unequal to(p) of differenci ng reality from lies. The more he is poison, the more he degrades. His speech deteriorates, he has epileptic attacks and burst into rage. His actions are proof of his mental state. He is turmoil because of what Iago has make him believe, because of what Iago has made him see.Not only does Iago make scenes appear differently, he himself is an example of appearance vs. reality. Trough out the eyes of the other characters in the play, Iago appears full of love life and honesty Othello even says that Iago is most honest. In Criminal Types in Shakespeare, August Goll cites Iago appears to every one as the clever head, the man who knows the world and sees things clearly, who describes things as he sees them without mincing matters-the free-spoken, honest friend rash and rough for this reason they all seek him in their various difficulties, Desdemona, Cassio, Emilia, Roderigo. (Goll, 218) Iago makes himself appear intentioned to the feeling of others. When they are face with difficultie s he offers them advices. Othello looks to Iago for advice on how to deal with the situation he faces, he asks him to help him in his vengeance. Iago true genius is someone who is egocentric, full of malice. He only thinks about himself. He does not help the Moor with good intention he believes that he cheated with his wife and thus wishes to get his revenge. He does not give advice to Cassio because he feels obliged to help a comrade he does it to fulfill his plan.To conclude, Iago is one of Shakespeare most vile villain. He made Othello fall into despair he made him believe that Desdemona was unfaithful to him when it was nothing but lies. He used many tricks to poison Othellos mind, he became his friend with him and trick him, and he withheld information from him and made things appear differently. With his superior intellect, he manipulated Othello like a puppet. Manipulators are among us. Would you be able to tell if you were manipulated? induce CITEDBROCK, James Harry Ernest, Iago & some Shakespearean Villians, late York, AMS Press, 1973 COE, Charles Norton, Shakespearess Villains, New York, AMS Press, 1972 GOLL, August, Criminal Types in Shakespeare, New York, Haskell House, 1966 NAZARE-AGA, Isabelle, Les Manipulateurs sont parmis nous Qui sont-ils? Comment sen protger?, Montreal, Les ditions de LHomme, 1997 SHAKESPEARE, William, Othello, New York, Washington Square Press, 1993 WEILGART, Wolfgang J. Shakespeare Pschognostic Character developing and Transformation, AMS Press, 1972 Jalousie Illusoir, 2010, http//www.worldlingo.com/ma/enwiki/fr/Delusional_jealousy, consulted on November 9th 2010