Shakespeare monologue speech Lago

TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2011

Othello (Act I sc iii) - Iago

Summary: In this section of the play, the villain Iago is motivating Rodrigo to act upon his feelings for Desdemona and even though she is committed to Othello ('the Moor'). Iago wants to take down Othello without actually doing it himself.


Highlight where the following persuasive techniques are used:

• repetition
• alliteration - none
• extended metaphor

Answer the following questions using quotes where applicable:

• What extended metaphor is used in this speech? Is this metaphor positive or negative towards women? Explain.

The metaphor continuously expanded on by "Put money in thy purse," and the metaphor means

• How does the metaphor related to Rodrigo becoming more proactive in his pursuit of Desdemona?
• How does Othello characterise Othello ('the moor')?

He characterized him as a moor which is a black guy which back in those times were given little respect

and were often slaves

• How does Iago describe Rodrigo being passive? What will he do to himself if he doesn't act?

Lago talks about Rodrigo killing and drowning himself and he threatens to break up Rodrigo and
Desdemona up, "to be drowned and go without her." 

IAGO

It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission of

the will. Come, be a man. Drown thyself! drown

cats and blind puppies. I have professed me thy

friend and I confess me knit to thy deserving with

cables of perdurable toughness; I could never

better stead thee than now. Put money in thy

purse; follow thou the wars; defeat thy favour with

an usurped beard; I say, put money in thy purse - metaphor. It

cannot be that Desdemona should long continue her

love to the Moor,-- put money in thy purse,--nor he

his to her: it was a violent commencement, and thou

shalt see an answerable sequestration:--put but

money in thy purse. These Moors are changeable in

their wills: fill thy purse with money:--the food

that to him now is as luscious as locusts, shall be

to him shortly as bitter as coloquintida. She must

change for youth: when she is sated with his body,

she will find the error of her choice: she must

have change, she must - repetition: therefore put money in thy

purse. If thou wilt needs damn thyself, do it a

more delicate way than drowning. Make all the money

thou canst: if sanctimony and a frail vow betwixt

an erring barbarian and a supersubtle Venetian not

too hard for my wits and all the tribe of hell, thou

shalt enjoy her; therefore make money. A pox of

drowning thyself! it is clean out of the way: seek

thou rather to be hanged in compassing thy joy than

to be drowned and go without her.