William Shakespeare’s plays have survived and celebrated through the ages for their extreme drama and attention-grabbing plot. “Othello”, one of his widest know works, is no exception. Othello, an African American man who is married to his love Desdemona, serves as a General and creates conflict with Iago when he passes him up for a promotion to the Lieutenant position and instead promotes an inexperienced soldier, Michael Cassio. Iago turns for revenge from Othello and decides to strike him where he is most vulnerable, his love for his wife. He decides that he will convince Othello that she is unfaithful all the while remaining to be his friend to be close and guide his dark thoughts. Iago’s monologue in Act 2 Scene 1 that loosely explains his plan also reveals how the deranged plot is pushed on through dramatic characters using figurative language and diction.
Iago’s rather explosive and malevolent figurative language is what helps to add so much zest and drama to the play. When speaking about how his suspicion that his wife is sleeping with Othello and how it bothers him, he moans, “Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards,
And nothing can or shall content my soul” (II.i. 297-298). This simile comparing the thought of his wife cheating and a noxious chemical burning into him is rather telling about Iago. It clarifies exactly how melodramatic Iago is by displaying him in such a fashion that makes him seem like he is overreacting by losing his composure over just a hunch that he has. Furthermore, Iago states that he’ll “Have our Michael Cassio on the hip”(II.i. 305), meaning that he’ll have control of him. This idiom also explains a lot about how Iago thinks and perceives himself in such a powerful and dramatic way. By saying that he will have Cassio by the hip, it exaggerates how he believes that he is the superior man and Cassio will succumb to his orders. In addition, Shakespeare has Iago personify evil to show his theatrics will push the plot of the play on. Iago claims “Knavery’s plain face is never seen till used” (II.i. 312), personifying his evil plan and saying that the full extent of it will not be revealed until he is finished. This part of the monologue is especially important as it clearly depicts that Iago is becoming far too dramatic to walk away untouched when his plan is complete. This personification shows that Iago is too confident in his plan through his dramaturgic perniciousness. Iago being a theatrical and pompous man depicted through his strong figurative language clarifies that he is the driving force behind the drama in the play, causing more trouble and more worry than he needs to. Shakespeare, through Iago’s transigent diction, also makes clear that Iago is a key plot moving and conflict forming source. When describing his diabolical plan, Iago claims that Othello’s downfall will “diet my revenge” (II.i. 295), depicting how upset he is about being …show more content…
The figurative language and well chosen diction add to the actual fall of the men. Iago over dramatizes his own life and woes as well as those of others, leading to more action, revenge, love, and hatred occuring in the life of Othello. Iago is a key factor in keeping the storyline moving, without his evil plan, it can be assumed that tragedy of this degree would not
Iago’s rather explosive and malevolent figurative language is what helps to add so much zest and drama to the play. When speaking about how his suspicion that his wife is sleeping with Othello and how it bothers him, he moans, “Doth, like a poisonous mineral, gnaw my inwards,
And nothing can or shall content my soul” (II.i. 297-298). This simile comparing the thought of his wife cheating and a noxious chemical burning into him is rather telling about Iago. It clarifies exactly how melodramatic Iago is by displaying him in such a fashion that makes him seem like he is overreacting by losing his composure over just a hunch that he has. Furthermore, Iago states that he’ll “Have our Michael Cassio on the hip”(II.i. 305), meaning that he’ll have control of him. This idiom also explains a lot about how Iago thinks and perceives himself in such a powerful and dramatic way. By saying that he will have Cassio by the hip, it exaggerates how he believes that he is the superior man and Cassio will succumb to his orders. In addition, Shakespeare has Iago personify evil to show his theatrics will push the plot of the play on. Iago claims “Knavery’s plain face is never seen till used” (II.i. 312), personifying his evil plan and saying that the full extent of it will not be revealed until he is finished. This part of the monologue is especially important as it clearly depicts that Iago is becoming far too dramatic to walk away untouched when his plan is complete. This personification shows that Iago is too confident in his plan through his dramaturgic perniciousness. Iago being a theatrical and pompous man depicted through his strong figurative language clarifies that he is the driving force behind the drama in the play, causing more trouble and more worry than he needs to. Shakespeare, through Iago’s transigent diction, also makes clear that Iago is a key plot moving and conflict forming source. When describing his diabolical plan, Iago claims that Othello’s downfall will “diet my revenge” (II.i. 295), depicting how upset he is about being …show more content…
The figurative language and well chosen diction add to the actual fall of the men. Iago over dramatizes his own life and woes as well as those of others, leading to more action, revenge, love, and hatred occuring in the life of Othello. Iago is a key factor in keeping the storyline moving, without his evil plan, it can be assumed that tragedy of this degree would not