Theme: Deception

Concept: Iagos deception is .

Progression

- Iago manipulates the people around him by taking advantage of their flaws
- He deceives Brabantio by taking advantage of Brabantios xenophobic attitudes especially
towards marriage
- Constant dramatic irony as Iago hides his character behind his mask
o Janus: two faced God
- Iagos jealousy prompts him to deceive Othello, taking advantage of Othellos jealousy and self-
doubt
- His deceptive technique heightens leading to the ultimate demise of Othello

Iago's ability to read a persons character allows him to find the flaws in each
of his victims ...especially Othello , who opened himself to Iago's plotting and
scheming.

He creates an impression of honesty and truth only to win Othello over and
the be trusted wholeheartedly by the General. Iago learns of Othello's
weakness, being his wife Desdemona, and uses this to plant doubt that leads
to anger and hatred to the point of murder.

Iago draws Othello in by pretending in his presence to be true to the Moor and
by so doing, gains Othello's trust. He 'implies' to Othello what he learns in the
hope that Othello falls for his deceit. He wins by convincing Othello of his
loyalty and the fact that he wishes not to 'cause doubt', yet that was his sole
purpose. Othello buys into the pretense and allows Iago to manipulate his
thoughts against his wife Desdemona.

He cleverly sets both Desdemona and Cassio up for the bait, and Othello
being so trusting , sees into this eluding as a betrayal by his adored wife with
his newly promoted lieutenant.

The rest is left to Othello to 'find out' and come to a conclusion about. and all
Iago does is sit back and watch the ball in play as the anger envelopes
Othello and his hatred over powers the otherwise calm and calculated general
he is...