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

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 extended metaphor is used in the speech is the repeated stating to be "drowned" or "put money in thy purse" have negative connotations suggesting 

• How does the metaphor related to Rodrigo becoming more proactive in his pursuit of Desdemona? As the speech goes on emphasis is placed on the other man Othello describing him as being "an erring barbarian" and how he is not suitable for Desdemona.

• How does Iago characterise Othello ('the moor')? Lago characterizes Othello as being "an erring barbarian" giving him negative connotations through the use of describing him as being a "barbarian"

• How does Iago describe Rodrigo being passive? What will he do to himself if he doesn't act? Lago describes Rodrigo as to be drowning himself and destroying himself and others if he does not act upon his feelings "drown thyself! Drown cats and blind puppies"..

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. 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: 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.