The Art of Seduction in Othello
Comments(6) 
An interesting point I would like to make about the play is that one can make the argument that Iago’s manipulation of Othello is actually a seduction. Each well-calculated decision by Iago reflects many of the steps in the controversial book The Art of Seduction by Robert Greene. For example, Greene’s book stresses the following: Choosing the right victim, creating triangles, mastering the art of insinuation, using the demonic power of words to sow confusion, etc.
Most of these steps were used by Iago in the previous acts of the play that eventually lead to the several tragedies at the end of Act V. While seduction is traditionally used to obtain a lover, one can use it to have absolute power over an individual, much like the power Iago has. Iago effectively played his cards right and used Othello’s insecurities (age, moorish qualities, non-christian origin) to turn him into a jealous beast. His words were able to create little triangles in the play and allowed him to insinuate horrible ideas about Desdemona and Cassio into Othello’s mind so much so that he falls into a trance.
“My lord is fall’n into an epilepsy. This is his second fit; he had one yesterday.” (4.1.52-53)
Iago’s seduction of Othello (while terrible) can be seen as a work of art, a masterpiece of manipulation where each move was perfectly timed, a truly flawless victory. Simply by using the right words he gets Othello to not even believe Desdemona in Act IV without proof that she’s lying: “Are not you a strumpet” (4.2.81)
His power has Othello hanging on every word and acting on impulse, while altering his reality with simply his tongue.
Furthermore, Iago is successful as a mass seducer throughout the play, having fooled Roderigo into giving him all his money, Venetians like Lodovico, Casio, and Montano into believing he is “HONEST” Iago, perfectly analyzing each individual character and using them as pawn in his masterpiece.
Ironically, it is his own wife that reveals all of his wrongdoing at the end of the play, who sees through his shroud.
I am convinced Iago is a masterful at the art of seduction, considering he is using words alone to advance his aims. One may say he has a silver tongue like the devil.
On numerous occassions, Iago describes Desdemona’s supposed sexual affairs so vividly that Othello starts to believe these events occurred, a manifestation of words in reality. They are metaphorical with the handkerchief used to wipe Cassio’s beard and then literally telling Othello in the beginning of Act IV to imagine his wife being naked in bed with another.
Honestly, the back and forth between Iago and Othello in Act III was so played out it became tiresome to read as Iago tried different maneuvers to control Othello.
I honestly hate Iago just because he wanted to ruin Othello’s life and had stupid reasons for it. He assumed that Othello slept with his wife, and I wonder where the heck did he hear this from? Or maybe he just hates Othello so much that he just made this rumor up himself? He also was angry because Othello made Cassio lieutenant so he did everything in his power to make Othello take that away from Cassio. Iago makes me so mad because of this. His own jealously destroys everything.
-Medina
I liked Iago because he is so good at what he does. He used every scenario, occasion perfectly to achieve what he wanted, not every character has the power to do such thing. He is great at getting others do what he wants them to do without much work, but just the work and power of language. Although I liked Iago, I dislike the end because I wanted him to get what he deserves.
I see how Iago’s strategy to destroy Othello is similar to seduction. It is interesting how his wife is the one who sees through him and exposes him. Since he is a master seducer, it is ironic that his wife is the one not entranced by him. Perhaps in paying attention to manipulating everyone else and not so much his wife, he failed to include her in his hypnosis of sorts.
I find the idea of Iago as seducer interesting because he seems to only succeed in seducing Othello. His manner of speech and manipulation don’t appear to work at convincing Desdemona of his greatness, let alone his own wife. He manages to keep his plan going for so long, I think, only because of Othello’s stupidity.
I think this is a great way of thinking of Iago instead of just a cruel villian with no established justifications for revenge. The fact that he is able to seduce Othello into changing his perspective illustrates how powerful the language he uses is throughout the play. I wouldn’t go so far to say that Iago loved Othello, which is why I agree with your point that seduction is also a means of taking over someone.