In Shakespeares text Othello,

Shakespeare expresses the

ideas and values of his time
through the use of different
language choices and character
development, emphasising on
the different expectations that
society had for individuals.
. As the characters Iago and
Othello are introduced and
developed throughout the play,
the audience is able to take a
glance at the contextual values
of Shakespeare and his time.

When Othello is introduced in
the beginning of the play, he is
shown and perceived as a man
of great pride and nobility. He
is considered as the
representation of a perfect
male in his times but he soon
deteriorates into a cynical
murderer.
As Othellos character is
corrupted throughout the play,
him falling into jealousy, his
obvious flaws are presented to
the audience.
As Brookshire tells us, Othello
is so easily deceived because he
is insecure he is new to the
love game shows Othellos
obvious flaw being insecurity
and inexperience, which allows
an opening for Iago to
manipulate and control.
Also, in Act 3, Scene 3, it is
shown through Othellos tone
in the quote Ill see before I
doubt; when I doubt, prove;
/And on the proof there is no
more but this / Away at once
with love or jealousy.
Expresses his slight belief in
Desdemona but there is still a
sign of doubt in his speech, as
he asks for more proof from
Iago. In turn, this shows
Othellos jealousy and his flaw
as a character which links to
the historical context of their
time.
. Following on from this point,
as Othello is seen as an
individual with power, Iago has
a strong envy for this, as he
seeks power and craves for
power. Through his
manipulation tactics and
deception, he is able to gain
power.
Described as the devil, Iago is
seen as one of the most cynical
and sociopathic villain in
Shakespeares texts as his lack
of empathy is prevalent
throughout the play. He is
continuously described as a
psychopath who is just playing
a game of chess, emphasising
his lack of empathy.
As Osherow describes him as
him being a devil, it shows
that Iago is considered to be
the anti-thesis of the
Elizabethean period in which
Othello takes place.
Also, in Act 3, Scene 3, Iago is
shown implying the possible
affair between Desdemona and
Cassio to Othello as they watch
the conversation from afar,
That he would steal away so
guilty-like/Seeing you coming
is Iagos way of implying an
affair between them.
. Another quote in the same
scene, O beware, my lord, of
jealousy/It is the green-eyed
monster is said by Iago where
he pretends to be innocent and
shows his true manipulative
ways to the audience and
allows the other characters to
perceive him as good.

In Act 4, scene 1, Iago directly
tells Othello to commit a
murder after gaining his trust,
fully knowing that Othello will
listen to him as he is honest
Iago. Do it not with poison,
strangle her in her bed,
even/the bed she hath
contaminated.
shows us how Iago not only
wants Desdemona dead, but
also wants to see Othello
convicted, as strangling would
be a more risky method of
murdering and shows us Iagos
deceitful ways.
. This shows us Iagos lust for
power and his attempt to
compensate for his social status
and links to the historical
context of their time. Although
Iago is a sociopathic mess who
has no real reason for his
manipulation, he is first shown
as a character that is jealous of
Othello and his supposed
relationship with his own wife.
This is shown in Act 1, scene 2
in the quote I hate the
Moor;/And it is thought abroad,
that twixt my sheets
expresses Iagos hate for
Othello and the possible motive
for his actions. This also shows
that Iago has a sense of
jealousy which is a prevalent
theme throughout the play.

In conclusion, Shakespeares
use of themes and language
choices in Othello shapes our
understanding of Iago and
Othello as two opposite
characters. Iago, being the
devil and the manipulative,
deceitful individual that lusts
for power, uses underlying
tactics to control Othello and
the other characters in the play
Throughout the transformation
of Othello from a noble and
great man, to a cynical
murderer, it shows us that Iago
has been successful in
corrupting Othello. Through the
different language techniques,
we perceive Iago as a
sociopathic maniac with no
empathy
throughout the whole play and
Othello being an honest,
insecure and vulnerable man
who is turned into a cynical
murderer after encountering
jealousy and doubt through his
first encountered love.