Character of Iago
Enigmatic Villain:
Iago is an enigmatic (puzzling) villain in that there is a lack of a clear convincing motive for his actions.
Talent:
It is Iago’s talent for understanding and manipulating the desires of those around him (esp. Othello and Roderigo) that makes him both a powerful and a compelling figure.
He is opportunistic in that he invents elaborate lies often on the spot to further his ends. He believes in cheating and lying for gain.
Iago has enough self-confidence in himself and his ability that he is able to take the handkerchief from Emilia and know that he can deflect her questions, and he is able to tell Othello of the handkerchief and know that Othello will not doubt him.
Possible Motives:
1) He is angry at Othello for having passed him over for the position of lieutenant
2) He thinks Othello may have slept with his wife, Emilia
3) He is racist
4) Some readers have suggested that his motive might be his homosexual love for the general, preventing Othello from enjoying marital happiness, while expressing his love for Othello lavishly and often.
Good Reputation:
Iago has a reputation for honesty, for reliability and direct speaking. Othello and others in the play constantly refer to him as "honest Iago."
Othello, whose military judgment is excellent, has taken him as ancient (captain) because of his qualities.
Either Iago was always a villain who set up a false reputation for honesty, or else he used to be honest in the past but has decided to abandon this virtue.
Evil Nature:
At the start of the play, Iago says: "I am not what I am," which can be interpreted as: "I am not what I seem." He admits to being a villain from the start.
He is portrayed as diabolic (Devil-like) in nature: he is a liar, he makes false promises, and leads people to their destruction.
He does all this not for any good reason, but for love of evil. He clearly enjoys the pain and damage he causes.
He treats others as fools and has no time for tender emotion, yet he is a married man and presumably once loved his wife.
Iago is a man with an obsession for control and power over others who has let this obsession take over his whole life.
He is surrounded with bitter irony: he is not as he seems, his “good” is “bad” for others, people repeatedly rely on him, and he betrays them.
Iago’s murder of Emilia could also stem from the general hatred of women (misogyny) that he displays.
He cares for no one and devotes his whole life to revenge.
Appearance versus Reality:
Iago’s actions and comments are often funny, especially in his scenes with the foolish Roderigo, where he demonstrates his manipulative abilities.
He seems almost to wink at the audience as he revels in his own skill.
As a brilliant liar, Iago easily manipulates all of the play’s characters because he can inspire trust in them.
For all his brilliance, he reveals a streak of cowardice in the final scene when he kills his own wife.
Enigmatic Villain:
Iago is an enigmatic (puzzling) villain in that there is a lack of a clear convincing motive for his actions.
Talent:
It is Iago’s talent for understanding and manipulating the desires of those around him (esp. Othello and Roderigo) that makes him both a powerful and a compelling figure.
He is opportunistic in that he invents elaborate lies often on the spot to further his ends. He believes in cheating and lying for gain.
Iago has enough self-confidence in himself and his ability that he is able to take the handkerchief from Emilia and know that he can deflect her questions, and he is able to tell Othello of the handkerchief and know that Othello will not doubt him.
Possible Motives:
1) He is angry at Othello for having passed him over for the position of lieutenant
2) He thinks Othello may have slept with his wife, Emilia
3) He is racist
4) Some readers have suggested that his motive might be his homosexual love for the general, preventing Othello from enjoying marital happiness, while expressing his love for Othello lavishly and often.
Good Reputation:
Iago has a reputation for honesty, for reliability and direct speaking. Othello and others in the play constantly refer to him as "honest Iago."
Othello, whose military judgment is excellent, has taken him as ancient (captain) because of his qualities.
Either Iago was always a villain who set up a false reputation for honesty, or else he used to be honest in the past but has decided to abandon this virtue.
Evil Nature:
At the start of the play, Iago says: "I am not what I am," which can be interpreted as: "I am not what I seem." He admits to being a villain from the start.
He is portrayed as diabolic (Devil-like) in nature: he is a liar, he makes false promises, and leads people to their destruction.
He does all this not for any good reason, but for love of evil. He clearly enjoys the pain and damage he causes.
He treats others as fools and has no time for tender emotion, yet he is a married man and presumably once loved his wife.
Iago is a man with an obsession for control and power over others who has let this obsession take over his whole life.
He is surrounded with bitter irony: he is not as he seems, his “good” is “bad” for others, people repeatedly rely on him, and he betrays them.
Iago’s murder of Emilia could also stem from the general hatred of women (misogyny) that he displays.
He cares for no one and devotes his whole life to revenge.
Appearance versus Reality:
Iago’s actions and comments are often funny, especially in his scenes with the foolish Roderigo, where he demonstrates his manipulative abilities.
He seems almost to wink at the audience as he revels in his own skill.
As a brilliant liar, Iago easily manipulates all of the play’s characters because he can inspire trust in them.
For all his brilliance, he reveals a streak of cowardice in the final scene when he kills his own wife.