Lady Macbeth And Iago's Use Of Manipulation In Othello

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In William Shakespeare’s tragedies Macbeth and Othello, the manipulation of Lady Macbeth and Iago, is the key to the downfall of the plays’ tragic heroes. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, after Macbeth shares with his wife the predictions of three witches her lust for power becomes great and manipulates her husband into killing King Duncan which also leads to destruction of Macbeth. Meanwhile, in Shakespeare’s Othello, Iago, the antagonist vows his revenge against Othello for not promoting him to second in command, and manipulates him into thinking that his wife, Desdemona has been unfaithful which leads to both Othello and Desdemona’s downfall. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth’s use of manipulation results in the downfall of her husband, Macbeth. Lady Macbeth’s hunger for power begins when Macbeth writes to her in a letter the prophecies of three witches; the prophecies include that Macbeth will be the Thane of Cawdor. When she reads the letter she states, “Hie thee hither, that I may pour my spirits in thine ear, and chastise thee with the valour of my tongue all that impedes thee from the golden round which fate and metaphysical…show more content…
Iago becomes bitter with rage when he is informed that Othello promoted Cassio to lieutenant and not him who has been his right hand for years. Iago becomes infuriated and vows to make Othello pay for not having promoted him instead to second in command. Iago’s greed for power becomes great, and he decides to use to his advantage that he is not a “false disloyal knave” and is known by everyone as being an “honest” man to go through with his plan. Iago plants the idea in Othello’s mind that Desdemona has been unfaithful, and cleverly uses reverse psychology. For example, Iago states in a conversation with

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