The.Art.of.Persuasion


 * The Art of Persuasion **

In Act 3 Scene 3 Iago persuades Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful, to have her spied upon, and then to kill her all within 400 lines of dialogue. This has been critiqued in the past however considering all of the persuasive techniques Iago uses, it becomes more believable. There are 34 techniques mentioned on the document… Here are 4 examples:
 * 1) Seed-sowing = “Cassio, my lord? No, sure I cannot think it that he would steal away so guilty-like, seeing you coming” (Act 3, Scene 3, 38-40)
 * 2) Implying questions = “Did Michael Cassio, when you woo’d my lady, know of your love?” (Act 3, Scene 3, 93-94)
 * 3) Implication/choice of a certain word = “That cuckhold lives in bliss who certain of his fate loves not his wronger” (Act 3, Scene 3, 169-170)
 * 4) Fake reluctance = ”though I am bound to every act of duty, I am not bound to that all slaves are free to. Utter my thoughts! Why, say they are vile and false?” (Act 3, Scene 3, 135-137)

Othello trusts Iago because he has been described as “honest” throughout the play. Everyone trusts him as he seems “candid” with everyone. It is this trait that allows him to be so cunning. He manipulates everyone!

He leads Othello through all the emotional stages... puzzlement, curiosity, anxiety, fear, frustration, anger, self-righteousness, conviction Repeated words are “kiss”, “honest”, “bed”, “foolish”, and “man”. The repetition of these words basically conjure up the idea of physical sex and obviously in the context they are repeated with another man, Cassio.

In Act 3 Scene 3 Iago is the 'devil’s advocate'.