Designed for D. Mitchell's English A1 HL International Baccalaureate class at Socastee High School, this blog offers students key information, blog questions, assignments, and homework related to Part IV and Oral/Written Commentaries. Useful and fun links, as well as other resources, will also be included as time permits.
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Shakespeare uses verbal irony to aid Iago in his craft. Iago and Roderigo are talking in Act I Scene II when Iago tells Roderigo "I am for you" (224). Iago is not lying, he would much rather help Roderigo than help Othello, but Roderigo is simply a pawn in Iago's plan. This enables Iago to play a game which he himself controls completely. Iago tells Roderigo that Desdemona and Cassio "met so close with their lips that their breaths embraced" (243). To Roderigo, this sounds like Desdemona and Cassio have been together and have kissed, when really they were talking. This statement puts the first peg of deceit into the ground; it builds the foundation of Othello's downfall. In Act III Scene III Iago tells Othello "I am your own forever" (270). This is ironic because Iago never directly lies to Othello or loses Othello's faith, yet at the same time Iago is trying to destroy Othello's life. Othello would never think of his faithful servant Iago as the criminal. This gives tribute to Othello's gullibility which ultimately leads to his self-destruction.
ReplyDelete-Lori
The use of verbal irony in Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello gives the audience insight into a character’s true feelings and thoughts of which others onstage are unaware. Iago, the antagonist of the play, often uses this figure of speech to enlighten the audience of his plan. He says the phrase, “I am not what I am” (219), in Act I, allowing the reader to see that he has his own agenda that others do not see. Furthermore, it is almost as if he speaks in riddles so as to confuse those around him, tricking them into believing his villainous lies. Iago adapts his persona to that of whom he speaks saying, “Thus do I ever make my fool my purse” (236). Because he is so deftly able to manipulate others, he controls their emotions, therefore controlling their actions. For example, although Iago’s plans have left Roderigo in financial ruin, Roderigo still continues to finance him; Iago tells people what they want to hear, and thus, they trust and believe in him. However, Roderigo is not the only one fooled by Iago. Ironically, Othello often calls Iago, “Honest Iago” saying “thou art wise…T’s certain” (278). The audience sees that Othello has been duped and that his friend is the mastermind behind the plot to destroy him. Any assertion that Iago is in some way against Othello is soon countered by sly Iago as he sarcastically proclaims his loyalty to the Moor.
ReplyDelete-Matt Scalise
I agree that the use of verbal irony in Othello gives the audience more insight, than the characters on stage, of the character’s true thoughts and feelings. In order for Iago’s scheme to go exactly as he had planned, it is his job to gain the trust of the people of Cyprus, especially the trust of Othello. He leads Othello into thinking that his wife, Desdemona, is having an affair with his ex-lieutenant, Michael Cassio. In Act IV, Scene I, Iago jokes with Michael Cassio of his marriage to Bianca, a subject Iago knows Cassio “cannot refrain from the excess of laughter” (279), but the jokes on Othello as he is lead to believe, by Iago, that Cassio and Iago are conversing over Cassio’s supposed affair with Desdemona rather than Bianca. This conversation fronts Othello’s desire to “chop [Desdemona] into messes” (281) and destroy himself as he commits the crime. As Matt states, he easily tricks the other characters around him to believe his villainous lies.
ReplyDeleteThe use of verbal irony is present throughout the play however specifically establishes an important role in the antagonist Iago as it is a main component of his character makeup. Most everything coming from his mouth upholds some irony as that is the person his is: filled with trickery and deceit. The ongoing reference of Iago as “Honest Iago” (234) primly exemplifies verbal irony as Iago is very far from being honest (however it is true he does not lie). Through Iago’s use of verbal irony, he is able to manipulate Roderigo, Othello and the remaining people of Cyprus into doing whatever he pleases by gaining their respect and most importantly trust (as mentioned by Sara) especially the trust of Othello. Iago becomes the only person Othello is able to trust however while being the least trustworthy person among the people of Cyprus or rather anywhere. One of Iago’s main plans is to destroy Michael Cassio however once asked of him Iago exclaims he would “rather have this tongue cut from [his] mouth that in should do offence to Michael Cassio”(251). A statement of such meaning coming from Iago is filled with Irony as he himself was the one who caused the trouble and suffering of Iago however he claims he does not want to get him in trouble. Shakespeare employs the irony in order to ensure the audience’s understanding of the inner workings of Iago’s mind. He turns everyone against everyone and gets everyone on his side.
ReplyDeleteShakespeare uses verbal irony throughout the play to help characterize his characters and to help drive the overall plot of the play. On page 260 Othello says “For such things in false disloyal knave are tricks of custom; but in a man that’s just they’re close delations, working from the heart, that passion cannot rule.” (III,iii). This is considered verbal irony because Othello discusses how if someone was withholding something from him and if it was a cheating villain who acted like that he wouldn’t think twice about it. This is ironic because Iago, the villain, is withholding information from Othello and is deceiving Othello as Othello described in his speech to Iago showing the incompetence of Othello allowing Iago to easily deceive him. “Men should seem as they appear” (pg 260 III,iii). Iago uses verbal irony in order to lead Othello to believing that Iago is a true honest man who is loyal to him. This helps drive the plot towards Othello’s downfall because Othello believes that he can trust Iago, allowing Iago to tell the Moor whatever he wants being able to easily deceive Othello leading to his downfall.
ReplyDelete-Forrest
Shakespeare constantly uses verbal irony to present the theme of jealousy as well as to reveal Iago’s destructive plot. Shakespeare’s use of verbal irony adds detail into the ideas and actions of the characters as well. Iago is refered to as “honest Iago” by Othello which is ironic because Iago is actually plotting against Othello. Shakespeare’s audience knows of Iago’s plan which is ironic as well. Othello believes that Iago is “full of love and honest” (III.iii) when in fact Iago is the exact opposite. Through the use of verbal irony the audience sees Iago’s destructive plan unfold in front of oblivious characters such as Othello. As a result of Iago’s plan, Othello is deceived into believing Desdemona is unfaithful. Othello is overcome with jealousy and heartache. Jealousy leads to Othello’s downfall; Ultimately Iago leads to Othello’s downfall. Shakepeare uses verbal irony to give insight of the characters and to aid the downfall of Othello.
ReplyDelete-Jon Morgan
Like others who have posted before, the verbal irony does display characters true intentions and feelings, but also adds humor to an otherwise tragic play. Dialogue from Iago or pertaining to Iago are especially humorous instances as “honest Iago[‘s]” (301) intentions are entirely false throughout the play from the beginning and it is made known by him in plain, blatant confession. Such obvious attempts at irony by Shakespeare make this tragedy humorous. Another instance of particularly amusing verbal irony is Emilia’s insulting of some “cozening slave” (287) or “villainous knave” (288) causing the slander of Desdemona. The irony is that the knave is her beloved husband in the very room who replies, “‘it is impossible’” (287) almost sarcastically. There is dual meaning in the irony as well, because of the negative word slave. Iago supposedly serves to benefit many in the play, whether it is Roderigo, Othello, or Cassius, almost as a slave. In actuality everyone is slave to the control of Iago who weaves his plot with deadly efficiency. Again, another instance of blatant verbal irony adds humor when Iago basically confesses the danger in trusting him as he is a “worthy cause [] to fear” (264). Yet, Othello foolishly continues to trust him despite this, to the point of being ridiculous or humorous from another perspective.
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