Outline/Discuss the argument tha tIago uses to comletely change Othello's thougthts from absolute love to distrust. Based on your own media experiences, determine how plausible this scenario might be.
Also, Iago says to Othello, "Men should be what they seem" (line 126)
a) how dangerous might it be to operate on such an assumption? In your experience does this statement hold true?
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Iago is very good at what he is doing! He begins by asking Othello if Cassio and Desdemona had known each other as Othello and Desdemona were beginning their relationship. As they continue to speak, the statement that Cassio once carried messages between Othello and Desdemona was stated, leading to the question - by Othello - whether or not Iago thought Cassio was honest. But, Iago being who he is, said nothing in response, only repeating the things Othello was saying before him. In Iago's silence, Othello began to think that there may have been something that Iago knew about, however, he wasn't saying.
When Iago states that "men should be what they seem", he is trying to say to Othello that if a man is honest, he should appear honest, however, if a man is not honest, he shouldn't appear honest. As Othello thinks back to what Iago had stated before - Cassio guiltily ran away from Desdemona when Othello arrived - Othello begins to think that Iago is hinting that because Cassio had appeared guilty in that situation, he therefore is guitly.
To end his comments, Iago states that in order to marry Othello, Desdemona was able to lie to her father, well enough to make him think Othello had to use witchcraft. He then makes Othello believe that if she's capable of this, she is most certainly capable of cheating, as she is still very young, not knowing what she is doing.
I think we talked about this in class last week or so about how women at this time were not really consulted for their opinions or what not because they were just required to "belong" to the husband. I think that could possibly be why Othello changed his views so quickly on Desdemona.
Im not really familiar with how close Iago and Othello are but, maybe he was just taking into consideration what his "friend" was telling him and has now gotten paranoid with what Iago is putting into his head. I know from my own experiences that you can sometimes get a little carried away with ideas when you arent completely sure of the situation.
If you look at the quote "Men should be what they seem" literally, then it can become very dangerous. All of us, men and women have done or said things in the past that arent necessarily what we meant or truely felt.
I think Iago is by far playing on Othello's emotions towards Desdemona. If Iago can get Othello to believe a portion of his lies, it make him angry or upset enough to start believing more and trusting Iago's judgement. Jealousy is a strong emotion and Iago knows that and is using Othello's to his advantage. Iago is very good with his choice of words. He seems to hit the right buttons in Othello's mind that trigger a sequence of thoughts. Iago starts making Othello question Desdemona's faithfulness, then his trust towards her begins to decrease as Iago comes up with very "valid" points about why she could be cheating. And i agree with Adam in saying that Iago states that men should be as they appear. Iago is saying that if a man has a particular trait, then he should act accordingly. Therefore, he uses Cassio's retreat as a weapon in saying that Cassio was guilty of something that he didn't want Othello to see.
Iago is a very intelligent man. He knows exactly what he is doing. He knows how to manipulate people into doing what he wants, making them think what he feels that they should be thinking. Over all he's a man who enjoys control. Iago is trying to get Othello to believe that Cassio and Desdemona are having an afair. He wants him to think that she is unfaithful so that he will leave her in some way or another, so that he Iago can become more powerful. How Iago did this was by repeating everything Othello said, by agreeing with him instead of trying to convince him of Cassio and Desdemona's wrong doings. He wanted Othello to figuir it out on his own, Iago didn't want to be held responsible if something wen wrong. When Iago states that "men should be what they seem", what he is truly trying to say to Othello is that men shouldn't hide who they are, they should come out and say what they are wanting to say. When Cassio acts all shy and guilty when leaving after speaking with Desdemona, Othello thinks that he is guilty in something, possibly in beding Desdemona. Iago is great in his ways of scheming he knows what he wants and goes for it.
I agree with aaujla in how women were not really seen as person with individual rights and freedoms and seen more as objects for marriage and children. Iago does an impressive job in using reverse psychology and mind games with Othello, influencing his decision on Desedmona. I could not believe how Othello changes his opinion on Desedmona and Cassio because of the words of Iago. Iago is now seened as someone who has power and inside information on everything that Othello wants to know and uses in his decisions.
When Iago states, "men should be what they seem," he is trying to point out that if a man is honest, he should act like so. This is Iago making a point on himself to Othello to gain more support for Othello. This quote also means the opposite, if someone lies, they are in appearance of guiltiness. Another point Iago is making reference to Cassio and how he "cheated" with Desedmona.
I have to agree with adam on this one, Iago is really good at making manipulating people to his needs. He's very stealthy and he said just the right amount to lay the seeds in Othello's mind without having to say too much. In reference to the statement "men be what they seem", Iago also does well at making sure that he makes himself not seem guilty by the same means as he makes Cassio and even Desdemona seem guilty thus gaining Othello's trust. I do believe that living on such an assumption can be somewhat dangerous, since quite a lot of people have a sort of mask( not litterally) that can make them hide their true emotions. Though covering ones emotions up is not necessarily a good thing we all do it at some point or another, whether it be to hide something in our past or cover up an issue in our lives that is maybe better left private. On another note: Sometimes I just want to slap shakespearean characters for being so ignorant, its like a soap opera some of the time.
Iago, like many others here already said, is not saying much to Othello but he is saying the perfect things to start Othellos imagination about Desdemona and Cassio cheating on him.
Iago must know people and especially Othello very good to be able to use words like he does.
I wonder why Othello trusts Iago in so many ways. And why he trusts him so much that he doesn't even ask his wife and good friend about all that what Iago says. And important part is, like "aaujla" said and i agree with, is that a wife in Shakespeare's time was more seen as property and a "true mans" word would count more than the opinion of a wife. But even in that time Othello should at least make sure that what Iago is talking about is true.
With the statement " Men should be what they seem " he means Cassio should, if he is an honest man that deserves Othello's help and friendship, tell Othello everything about his affair with Desdemona. Like this he wants to take all the remaining trust in Cassio from Othello and make him totally open for Iagos stories. Also he prevents that if Othello talks to Cassio and he says he did not d o anything Othello believes Cassio.
Iago is very skilled in manipulation and really knows how to get into Othello's mind and make him think certain ways about situations. I can't understand how Iago was able to get Othello to trust him so easily and believe everything that he says but he has clearly done so. I think that Iago is very creative in how he makes up reasons for why Othello should not trust Desdemona. Iago can make a situation seem much more extreme than it is. Iago is discreet but obvious in what hes telling Othello about desdemona and Cassio. He makes things seem as they are not. "Men should be what they seem" was a very clever way of telling Othello that Cassio is guilty. I agree with adam in that if a man is honest he appears honest then he is honest and if he appears dishonest or guilty(like Cassio) then he is dishonest or guilty. I think that this quote is very dangerous because Iago is getting deeper into his deceitful ways and Othello is trusting Iago more and Cassio and Desdemona less and less.
The game that Iago is playing is completely warped and twisted, but its working. He seems to be 2 steps ahead of everyone.
As for the argument he is using... I absolutely believe that this has happened in the real world. For example. A woman has been dating a man for a certain amount of time and she has learned to trust him as much as she possibly can. But there is this other woman who wants her man. So she says "Hey i just saw (fill in name) in the car with your man. I mean... why would she be there? Oh dear, I hope nothing is happening. I mean, i dont think there is, but i hope not." Of course the other woman is going to question the man!
Seriously... who wouldnt? I know i would. A very serious confrontation would be in order. Even though it could be as harmless as he was giving her a lift somewhere. You just never know. And it is human nature for jealousy to happen.
So I believe that this situation is extremely plausible.
As for the line "Men should be what they seem", for the first time in the play, i actually agree with what Iago is saying. But it doesn't just apply to men. I am a big believer in honesty, and even though Iago is using this statement in a manipulative way, it is still true. People should be what they seem. They just should.
Iago is pretty much a genious. he knows perfectly well what he is doing. first he won Othello's trust by outing Cassio (seemingly reluctant) about getting drunk. he used the trick of telling half of the truth. yes Cassio was drunk, but he didn't provoke the fight, which is what Iago led Othello to thinking. so now Iago is Othello's BFF and Cassio is on the outs. this would put Iago in a better positon to be trusted by Othello.
Iago easily manipulates Othello's emotions he is already on his good side for "proving Cassio's flaws" and to all other characters seems to have honest intent. Iago merely hints at the idea of Desdemona's betrayal but by letting Othello put it all together Othello is sure to feel more powerfully hurt by it seeing it with his own eyes feeling as if he is only first realizing Desdemona's worth.Othello only seems to have fallen in love with the Idea of love but as the story unfolds it is clear he rushed into something he did not expect and now his mind is left to wonder what the true mess he has gotten himself into.
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