Iago

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Iago serves as Othello's ensign. When Othello promotes Cassio instead of him, Iago feels wronged and plans revenge against both men. He manipulates Cassio into tarnishing his own reputation and persuades Roderigo to attempt to kill Cassio. When this plot fails, Iago kills Roderigo to avoid being exposed. He convinces Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful and manipulates him into murdering her. Subsequently, Iago kills his own wife, Emilia, and is arrested by Cassio at the play's conclusion.

Iago is a seasoned soldier with extensive battle experience, having fought alongside Othello in both Rhodes and Cyprus. He is also one of Shakespeare's most notorious villains. A master manipulator, Iago expertly influences the actions of other characters to serve his own ends. He understands what drives them and uses this knowledge to his advantage. For instance, he exploits Roderigo's desire to be with Desdemona to manipulate him. Cassio, concerned with maintaining his public image, readily follows Iago's advice to seek Desdemona's help in restoring his rank. Iago also takes advantage of Desdemona's kind and generous nature, knowing she will eagerly try to reconcile her husband with his lieutenant. Finally, he preys on Othello's jealousy and insecurities to convince him of Desdemona's infidelity. Emilia, however, remains immune to his manipulation, likely because she knows him too well.

Iago's scheme involves getting Cassio demoted from his position as lieutenant and then suggesting that Cassio ask Desdemona to plead with Othello on his behalf. Desdemona does so, which fuels Othello's suspicions. Othello's distrust begins when Iago points out that Cassio left hastily as they approached. Iago also reminds Othello that Desdemona deceived her father when she eloped with Othello, indicating her capacity for deceit. Furthermore, Iago highlights the differences in color, age, and social status between Othello and Desdemona. He also uses the handkerchief Othello gave Desdemona as a love token to suggest her guilt, a situation orchestrated by Iago.

Iago provides several hints to the audience regarding his motives. Primarily, he resents not being chosen as Othello's lieutenant. He expresses this to Roderigo:

Preferment goes by letter and affection,
And not by old gradation, where each second
Stood heir to th' first. Now, sir, be judge yourself
Whether I in any just term am affin'd
To love the Moor.
(I.i.36-40)

He is frustrated about being overlooked for a promotion and sees an opportunity to retaliate against both Othello, who has wronged him, and Cassio, who represents that slight. Additionally, he suspects that Othello has been unfaithful with his wife, Emilia. He references this suspicion twice: "I hate the Moor, / And it is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets / He has done my office" (I.iii.388-390), and

I do suspect the lusty Moor
Hath leap'd into my seat; the thought whereof
Doth (like a poisonous mineral) gnaw my inwards;
And nothing can or shall content my soul
Till I am evened with him, wife for wife.
(II.i.299-303)

Iago is evidently so troubled by the idea of Emilia being with Othello that he has accused her of the act. Emilia, as usual, dismisses the accusation as ridiculous (IV.ii.145-147). In their baseless jealousy, Iago and Othello share a significant similarity.

Iago and Othello share another common trait. At the play's conclusion, when Othello is detained and Iago is brought before him, Othello remarks, "I look down towards his feet; but that's a fable" (V.ii.287). He is checking to see if Iago has cloven feet like the devil he now believes him to be. Despite Iago's hatred for Othello and Othello's newfound disdain for Iago, they are quite similar in feeling excluded from the elite Venetian society. When Othello calls him "honest, honest Iago" (V.ii.155), it implies more than just honesty in words. Iago is the only one who directly addresses Othello's sense of inadequacy, a feeling Iago might also share. At the play's end, after killing Roderigo and Emilia and confessing his actions, Iago is captured.

If anything, Iago is an even more formidable character than Othello. Unlike the internally conflicted Moor, Iago is confident and unwavering in his actions and self-assessments. For practical reasons, Iago pretends to be what he is not—a loyal supporter of Othello with limited ability to aid his "friend." But unlike any other character in Shakespeare's works, Iago openly admits to being a villain driven solely by hatred for his superior. It is Iago's unyielding, maniacal obsession that gives his lines, like his casual remark, "I am a very villain else" (IV.i.126), their sharp impact. Before piecing everything together, Iago's wife comforts a distressed Desdemona, who is reeling from her husband's inexplicable outburst:

I will be hang'd if some eternal villain,
Some busy and insinuating rogue,
Some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office,
Have not devis'd this slander.
(IV.ii.130-133)

Iago's wife, who knows him best, provides the most accurate description of him. She declares that the person behind Othello's fury is an "eternal villain." Despite his vast ability to create evil, he is ultimately a small-minded individual driven by petty resentments.

No matter how much Iago is responsible for Othello's downfall, he remains one of Shakespeare's most notorious villains. He is variously seen as a clever opportunist who seizes available chances, a personification of evil, or a typical "devil" or "vice" figure. Iago's true motivation is a subject of much debate. Throughout the play, he offers various reasons for his actions—anger at being overlooked for promotion, suspicions about Othello and Emilia, and a desire for Desdemona. Yet, his plans seem oddly incomplete, as if he is inventing both his schemes and motivations on the fly. The renowned 19th-century writer and critic Samuel Taylor Coleridge described this as the "motive-hunting of a motiveless malignity." For many readers, Iago's actions are simply evil, defying explanation or understanding. Others see no need for explanation, viewing Iago as a typical dramatic villain. However, many scholars consider Iago a more fully developed character, both emotionally and psychologically complex. These critics argue that his pride, desire for power and control, brilliant scheming, and jealousy make Iago a captivating, multi-dimensional figure.

Expert Q&A

What judgments does Iago make about women in his conversation with Desdemona and Emilia?

In his conversation with Desdemona and Emilia, Iago expresses misogynistic views, portraying women as deceptive and hypocritical. He accuses them of being outwardly charming yet wild and insincere at home, suggesting they pretend to be domestic while being driven by sexual desires. Iago's remarks reflect the sexist double standards of Elizabethan society, where women were expected to be silent and chaste, while men had more freedoms. His judgments reveal his disdain for women and foreshadow his treachery.

In Othello, why does Iago want Roderigo to "put money in thy purse"?

In Othello, Iago urges Roderigo to "put money in thy purse" with dual intentions. Firstly, he manipulates Roderigo's love for Desdemona, suggesting that with more money, Roderigo could win her over in Cyprus. Secondly, Iago uses Roderigo as a pawn in his plot to ruin Othello, promising that Desdemona will be his once Othello is out of the picture. This advice, however, leads to Roderigo's financial ruin and eventual death.

How is betrayal depicted in Othello and why does Iago betray each character?

Betrayal is shown in Shakespeare's Othello through the character of Iago, Othello's trusted ensign. Iago betrays other characters because he's jealous of Othello and Cassio. He manipulates Othello and other characters by provoking and inflaming their jealousy towards one another.

In Othello, what does Iago's soliloquy imply about his plans?

"So will I turn her virtue into pitch; / and out of her own goodness make the net that shall enmesh them all."

Iago's soliloquy in Act 2, Scene 3 of Othello implies that he plans to ruin Desdemona's reputation. By manipulating her goodness, Iago intends to convince Othello that Desdemona's pleas for Cassio are driven by lust. This will lead Othello to believe she is unfaithful, thereby ensnaring and destroying Othello, Desdemona, and Cassio in his malicious plot.

What does Iago mean by "Cassio's a proper man. Let me see now:/ To get his place and to plume up my will/ In double knavery"?

"Cassio's a proper man. Let me see now:/ To get his place and to plume up my will/ In double knavery."

Iago's quote means he plans to exploit Cassio's good looks to convince Othello that Cassio is having an affair with Desdemona, thereby getting Cassio's position and enhancing his own status. "Cassio's a proper man" acknowledges Cassio's handsomeness, making the lie believable. "To get his place" refers to Iago's ambition to replace Cassio, and "plume up my will" means glorifying himself through this deceit.

Provide examples of Iago's two-faced behavior in Othello.

Iago's two-faced behavior is evident throughout Othello as he lies to nearly every character while revealing his true intentions only to the audience. He feigns loyalty to Othello and others, manipulating them with charm and persuasiveness. This duplicity requires an actor to balance Iago's deceit with a guise of sincerity to make his manipulation believable and the other characters' trust in him plausible.

How might Iago from Othello be described as "Machiavellian" and what does "Machiavel" mean?

Iago from Othello is described as "Machiavellian" because he uses manipulation, lying, and trickery to achieve his goals, believing the ends justify the means. In Elizabethan culture, a "Machiavel" was seen as a Satanic figure who manipulated others for selfish reasons, often with destructive intent, driven by pride, selfishness, and evil.

Why does Iago believe he should have Cassio's job in Shakespeare's Othello?

Iago believes he should have Cassio's job because he has more military experience and loyalty to Othello. He feels overlooked as Othello chose Cassio, who lacks battlefield experience and is a Florentine, not a Venetian. Iago's resentment and perceived slight by Othello contribute to his deep-seated hatred and eventual revenge against both Cassio and Othello.

What are five adjectives that describe Iago in Othello?

Five adjectives that describe Iago in Othello are devious, duplicitous, discontented, malicious, and misogynist. He is also described as cunning, vicious, envious, bold, and audacious. Iago's devious and duplicitous nature is evident in his manipulation of Othello, while his malicious actions and misogynistic views further reveal his complex and dark character.

Why did Iago want Cassio to seek Desdemona's help in restoring Othello's faith in him?

Iago manipulates Cassio into seeking Desdemona's help to restore Othello's trust to further his own scheme of revenge. By involving Desdemona, Iago sets the stage for Othello's jealousy, insinuating Desdemona's infidelity with Cassio. Iago harbors resentment toward Cassio for taking the lieutenant position he desired and towards Othello due to his belief that Othello has been involved with Iago's wife, Emilia. This manipulation serves Iago's goal of causing chaos and destruction.

Why does Iago suggest Roderigo kill Cassio?

There are several reasons as to why Iago wants Cassio dead in Othello. One reason is that Iago hates anyone or anything that is pure and good, and Cassio is pure and good. Additionally, Cassio was promoted by Othello to the position that Iago wanted. Another reason is that Cassio, should he live, might reveal that he has not been having an affair with Desdemona, and this would unravel Iago's scheme against Othello.

Why does Iago speak in prose generally, but in verse when addressing Othello?

Iago speaks in prose to reveal his true, coarse nature and manipulative intentions, but switches to verse when addressing Othello to maintain the appearance of a loyal servant. This contrast highlights his control over himself and others, using verse to symbolize power and prose to expose his deceit and relaxed demeanor in certain situations.

In Shakespeare's Othello, was the character Iago gay?

In Shakespeare's time, expressions of strong friendship between men were common and not linked to homosexuality. In Othello, Iago's jealousy of Othello is primarily due to professional rivalry, not sexual attraction. While some critics suggest Iago may be interpreted as gay based on textual clues, this is not a universally held view. Iago's main motivation is revenge, driven by Othello's promotion of Cassio over him and suspicion of an affair with Emilia.

Who first realizes Iago's villainy in Othello?

Roderigo is the first to realize Iago's villainy in Othello, recognizing it with his dying words after being mortally wounded by Iago in Act 5, Scene 1. However, Roderigo never fully comprehends the extent of Iago's treachery. Emilia, Iago's wife, is the first to truly understand his wickedness in Act 5, Scene 2, when she exposes his lies about Desdemona's fidelity, leading to her own murder by Iago.

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