Iago: Is he a Machiavellian villain?

 

4 character traits of the typical "Machiavellian villain"

1. Secretive

2. Manipulative and cunning

3. Lack of morals

4. Obsessed with goals, willing to do anything to achieve them.

Summer Homework - Iago essay

English: Summer homework Othello essay
 TASK: Compare the language that Iago uses when a) with Roderigo and b) alone on stage.

You will need to show your knowledge of the play, its characters and the differences in the kind of things Iago says when alone in his soliloquies and when he speaks with his friend Roderigo. Aim to use PEE paragraphs.
 • You must use quotes from the Shakespearean side of our Othello booklets
• This will be a minimum of 1 ½ sides typed, (Calibri or Times New Roman, Font size 12)
 • Printed out for when we come back in September or posted on your blog.
 • Tips for what you could include will be posted on the blog at http://dhsenglishmrhoward10.blogspot.co.uk/

• Leave a comment if you have any questions and I will get back to you

Othello help online:

•  • http://www.shmoop.com/othello/iago.html
•  • http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/othello/
•  • http://www.s-cool.co.uk/category/subjects/a-level/english-literature/othello

Lesson 10 - Act 4 Scene 1

New character alert! In Act 3 Scene 4, we meet Bianca - Cassio's lover but also a Cypriot prostitute who has been "keeping him company" while he has been on the island. In Act 4 Scene 1, in a classic misunderstanding ploy, Iago orchestrates it so that Cassio talks about Bianca in less than flattering terms but Othello, listening in secret, hears all the debauchery coming out of Cassio's mouth about "her" and he assumes it is Desdemona he is bragging about - this is just about all the proof Othello needs!

Lesson 9 - Act 3 Scene 3 continued

Carrying on from yesterday with some more notes on the start of A3 S3 (following fire alarm disruption) and we will be aiming to finish this pivotal scene.

Note the change that Iago has caused in Othello: He insists he is not jealous earlier in the scene and demands "ocular proof" (seeing physical evidence) before believeing Desdemona has been unfaithful - yet by the end he is ranting and already planning to murder the "fair devil"

Some 250 lines later...

Lesson 8 - Act 3 Scene 2 (Part 2) and start of Act 3 Scene 3

Lesson 7 - Act 2 Scene 3 (Part 2)

 

Here are some short notes from the second part of A2 S3 - Cassio admitting he is not a big drinker and gets drunk very easily so he tends to shy away ... This would be a problem for Iago's scheming plans so he starts drinking songs, encouraging Cassio to join in the revelling - before long Cassio is wasted, just as Iago wanted!