In Othello, what technique does Iago primarily use to incite Othello's jealousy?

• A. Metaphor
• B. Dramatic Irony
• C. Hyperbole
• D. Allusion

Answer: (B)

Dramatic irony is the technique at work. Iago pretends to be perfectly honest while slyly feeding Othello insinuations about Desdemona’s faithfulness, presenting no real proof but implying there is “proof” in hidden ways. The audience sees through Iago’s deception and understands that Desdemona is loyal, yet Othello takes the hints as truth. That gap between what the audience knows and what Othello believes is what fuels his jealousy, because he interprets vague suggestions as concrete evidence. The effect is to provoke and intensify jealousy through hidden motives and manipulated perceptions, not through literal comparisons, exaggeration, or external references.