Shakespeare Monologues #2

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.
• Put my money in thy purse. This definitely has a negative effect on women as it is demeaning as he is saying go get what is yours. 
• How does the metaphor related to Rodrigo becoming more proactive in his pursuit of Desdemona?
• He is trying to persuade Othello to go get your and not to be hesitant or nervous.
• How does Iago Othello characterise Othello ('the moor')?
• As a person who is unwanted and undesirable.
• How does Iago describe Rodrigo being passive? What will he do to himself if he doesn't act?
• He describes him as a person who is violent and is heading no where in is life because of his actions ''He will drown himself with cats and 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 favor 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.