What more do we learn about the nature of Iago in act 2? What is the effect of having him share his thoughts and plans with us through his soliloquies? Pay attention to the language used in Iago's soliloquies. What sorts of descriptive language does he use? How does it contribute to the picture of Iago that Shakespeare is drawing?
In Act 2 of Othello, Shakespeare reveals the side of Iago that was already seen, but in more depth to the audience. Iago's deceptive ways give him a specific tone in the play. His words are sharper than the rest, instead of flowing, Shakespeare gives him choppy dialogue with more punctuation to create a more dramatic affect on the audience and reader. While reading, the reader is able to create a specific voice for the character that differs form the others in their soft and pure attitudes. Shakespeare revealed Iago's plan to the audience (reader) by saying "[he would] turn her virtue into pitch, and out of her goodness make the net That shall enmesh them all," (act 2, scene 3), therefore shaping his villainous plan and expressing one of Iago's strongest tools in his attack, deception through other characters' good qualities.
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Rachel Lord
12/1/2013 10:36:52 pm
In Act II of Othello, Iago's villanous plan to destroy all the other characters of the play is becoming more and more evident to the reader. To continue this effect, Shakespeare uses much more dark and haunting word's and phrases for Iago's monologues and soliliquies such as "a jealousy so strong" (page 43), "poisonous mineral" (page 43), "what violence" (page 41), and "most potent" (page 46). This creates a much more sinister tone for the nefarious character, showing his true character to the reader further.
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Someone
9/13/2015 08:45:46 am
Not reader - audience! Remember Shakespeare's plays were written to be performed!