We are given early signs of Iago’s manipulative character very early in the play. He manipulates Brbantio, by telling Rodrigo to inform Brabantio of Desdemona and Othello’s secret marriage. “call up her father, rouse him, make after him”. this suggests that Iago is a mean and crude person for wanting to do something like this. The play seems to evolve around Iago in these early stages in the play. Even when Iago speaks to Brabantio, the tone and the words he uses to describe Othello “Beast with two backs” are very crude and can be very disgusting to listen to.
White men were seen as trustworthy, respected people and arrogant, like Iago for example. He is trusted to be telling the truth as what ever he tells Brabantio and Rodrigo, they both believe, showing that Iago was by others as a trust worthy person. However Black men during the times of Shakespeare were abused and seen as unwanted people among their white environment. They were easily mislead, and some were even unaware of the racial abuse only they were suffering and not anyone else. Most are very gullible like Othello.
Othello is the only black man in a white society this gives the clue of the theme racism, being explored by Shakespeare. Othello is racially abused by other character, especially Iago. “I hate the Moor”. this is a racist comment made by Iago, who seems to dislike Othello very dearly. Although we are never quite told as to why he hates so much. We are only given clues for his rage with Othello. For example Iago tells Rodrigo in the opening scene of the play that “I have chosen my officer and what was he? Foorsoth, a great arithmetician. One Michael Cassio a Florentine.” this is the only reason we are given as to why Iago has chosen to seek revenge on all. Even at the end of the play when Iago is asked “ what you know you know, from this time forth I will never speak word.” he does not reveal why he hates Othello or why chose to do what he did.
Othello’s characteristics make him an easy target for Iago. Othello is gullible as most black “Moor” s were, and can easily deceived because of his dignifying kind characteristics.
Iago is very persuasive, even when he speaks he uses repletion to persuade others into believing him. “even now, now, very now an old black ram is tupping your white ewe.” he repeatedly uses the word ‘now’ to almost force the person to believe him, this skill of being persuasive is very important for Iago, because if he wasn’t persuasive then people would not have believed him and he would not have been able to manipulate them. Therefore his revengeful scheme not work.
When Iago speaks of others in the play, he is very descriptive. “a great arithmetician, one Michael Cassio a Florentine” here as I said before as well, Iago is describing Cassio to Rodrigo, the tone at which he says this particular dialogue is important, in these early stages Iago begins to show his two faced character. Iago uses the word ‘Florentine’ meaning foreigner. Iago did not have to mention this but because he did, he is showing us that he might have something against foreigners. This suggests to the audience already knows that Iago is a very devious person; this characteristic makes him eligible to manipulate others.
Iago especially describes Othello with horrible words. “Beast with two backs”. he uses comparative language. He refers to Othello as a ‘beast’ this is ironic of him as later in the play we find out that Iago is friends with Othello, so for him to say something like this behind his in the beginning of the novel is important as it builds up the tension and makes the audience think ‘what else will he do?’ so in some ways this helps Iago’s revengeful scheme.
Rodrigo’s character seems part good part bad, he is under the influence of the crude, deceptive and evil Iago. He also hates Othello for marrying Desdemona and racially abuses him “what fortune does the thick lips owe”. He pays Iago to try and get Desdemona for him, and he mistakenly thinks that Iago is his friend, but only the audience know that Iago has no friends. This creates tension because it makes the audience more involved and gives them an advantage over the characters, this is a good use of dramatic irony. This makes Rodrigo another victim of Iago’s revengeful scheme.
All this early deception is vital for the play as all the action in play mainly takes place in the last and is the most dramatic act. In Scene One Act 5 Rodrigo and Cassio fight, “villain thou deist” this creates tension in the audience because they are left uncertain whether someone might be killed or not. Rodrigo is again under the influence of Iago’s deception, and has made Rodrigo do his dirty work for him. However this scene would not be as effective if Iago had not provoked the pair of them. During their fight Iago slyly wounds Cassio in the leg and kills Rodrigo then pretends to help him, this also creates tension in the audience because they are left almost on the edge of there seats wondering what will he do next?
Overall I think that the Shakespeare’s play was very successful, in using Iago’s character to express the main themes and morals of the play. His manipulative, two faced character has made him and his revengeful scheme work, Shakespeare might of wanted to show that there were a lot of people like Iago himself around during his time.
