Iago - Tragic Villain Act 1

Question 1

Act 1, Scene 1

‘I follow him to serve my turn upon him. We can not all be masters, can not be truly followed’

Answer 1

• Dramatic irony, becomes clear that Iago is the villain and plotting to serve deceit Othello

-Use of Chiasmus to reverse his point and make the argument seem more logical to reinforce the idea that he is correct

Question 2

Act 1, Scene 1

‘I am not what i am’

Answer 2

• Biblical allusion references what God said to Moses, ‘i am that i am’ which used simple language to convey the open and honest nature of the statement, but Shakespeare adds negation with the word ‘not’ to characterise Iago as diabolical
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  -Epanalepsis used starting and finishing with the same clause, which shows his hubris and self assured nature, highlights how he is aware of his own self centred nature
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  -Shows that he is performing to keep up a certain perception by other characters and doesn’t show them his authentic self, exciting for the audience building up a relationship with them,
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  -Dramatic irony, only Roderigo can hear this and he has already been characterised as the fool and wont take note of it

Question 3

Act 1, Scene 1

‘Now, now, very now, an old black ram is tupping your white ewe!’

Answer 3

-EPIZEUXIS of repeating now emphasis that it is happening right now prompting immediate action, continuing to repeat it reinforce how grotesque, awful and constant the situation is

-Zoomorphism adding layers of vulgarity suggesting the relations are animalistic, making it a crude and immoral act

-Diacope of repeating now with very in the middle is emphatic, intensifies the urgency of the situation

Question 4

Act 1, Scene 1

‘Thieves, thieves, thieves!’

Answer 4

-EPIZEUXIS repeating the same word immediately creating a sense of panic and disorder

-Idea of Desdemona being stolen reflections the transactional nature of marriage at the time

-Iago exploiting the social conventions of daughters being their fathers property to create panic and meddle with Brabantio

Question 5

Act 1, Scene 3

‘Thus do I ever make my fool my purse’

Answer 5

-MOCKING TONE establishes Iago’s villainy and seamless manipulation

Question 6

Act 1, Scene 3

’twixt my sheets….he has done my office.’

Answer 6

-motivated by jealousy, POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS highlight Iago’s desire to have complete control of those around him

Question 7

Act 1, Scene 3

‘I hate the moor’

Answer 7

-MONOSYLLABIC DICTION declaring his pure and stark hatred for Othello

-EPITHET introduces the deep-rooted racism in his hatred of an ‘other’

Question 8

Act 1, Scene 3

‘Our bodies are gardens, to which our wills are our gardeners’

Answer 8

-METAPHORillustrating how you can control your willpower and gear it to achieve your goals, and that you can turn your back on morality to achieve what you desire.

-BIBLICAL ALLUSION to the Garden of Edenwhich acts as a warning of why we should avoid temptation, so Iago deliberately luring Roderigo to be lustful telling him to act on his own desires is Iago promoting immorality

subverting the very teachings of the bible which says that the ultimate gardener should be God not humans trying to cultivate their own faith, characterises Iago asan IMMORAL MACHIAVELLIAN with deceptive and cunning nature