Throughout the play Iago is very scornful of love and women. He never refers to sex as an act of love but in a way that makes it sound disgusting. “Your daughter and the Moor are making the beast with two backs.” This is obviously because he is a very twisted person who has been hurt by love and now resents it and anyone who falls into it. When Iago is talking to Brabantio he describes Othello and Desdemona’s relationship by saying, “An old black ram, is tupping your white ewe.”
Iago’s language in this quotation is fantastic; he depicts sex it in such a crude manner that it makes it seem to Brabantio that the relationship is ‘disgusting’ and that it should not be allowed. The image of an ‘old black ram’ tupping a ‘white ewe’ is not very pleasant. Iago hopes that by using this language he will make Brabantio feel anger towards the relationship and possibly end it. He wants to create chaos for Othello.
Iago is incredibly sexist and does not rate women as equal to men. This has a lot to do with the era the play was written in that the women were classed as second to men. One of the reasons why he despises Othello is because he allows a woman to rule him and because he is so in love with her he will do anything that she says. “Our general’s wife is now the general.”
He believes that it is a weakness to be in love with someone as you have to devote yourself to their needs. He is too selfish to be able to take part in a loving relationship. He does not understand love, therefore he is not willing to accept it.
The starting point of Iago’s evil plan is when he manages to force Cassio into fighting Roderigo. He uses his immense powers of persuasion to get Cassio drunk, then he tells Roderigo that Cassio is getting too close to Desdemona. When Roderigo confronts Cassio a fight breaks out, Cassio chases Roderigo and during the scuffle Montano; the Governor of Cyprus who steps in to break up the fight gets injured. Othello is awakened and informed of what has happened by none other than Iago who very discreetly tells him that Cassio was to blame. He does it in such a way that Othello feels he has no other choice but to relieve him of his duties. “I would rather have this tongue cut from my mouth that it should do offence to Michael Cassio.”
This quotation is the embodiment of Iago’s behaviour and guile. He acts as though he loves Cassio and would do nothing to harm his reputation. We know this is a lie thus dramatic irony is created. Iago’s language in this quote allows him to look innocent. He skilfully deflects any attention away from himself on to others, in this instance Cassio. This is imperative if he is to sustain his impression of ‘honest Iago’.
One of Iago’s main tactics to create disorder is his use of language in describing events. He tells Othello the opposite of what he wants him to do or think. He drops little hints and then pretends that he has said nothing. The first hint he drops to Othello is just after Cassio has conversed with Desdemona and he is walking away, he says “Ha! I like not that” just as Cassio exits. Then, when Othello inquires why he said that he dismisses it. This clever use of language draws Othello in because of his jealous side, he always wants to know what Desdemona is up to, there is a slight hint of distrust from the beginning of the play.
He then uses the reverse tactic by saying “Cassio, I cannot think that he would sneak away so guilty-like” this plants the seed of doubt in Othello’s mind that maybe he is sneaking away not wanting to be seen. Then later when Othello and Iago are talking about Cassio’s honesty he avoids answering the question, which insinuates that he is not honest. “Cassio, I dare be sworn I think that he is honest.” The keyword in this quote is ‘think’ because he does not say he is honest he ‘thinks’ he is. All these things are playing on Othello’s mind and he is beginning to believe in his head that maybe something is going on between Cassio and Desdemona. This has all been planted and created by Iago.
Iago does not just manipulate Othello and Roderigo; he has cast his ‘mesh’ over most of the characters in the play. After Cassio has been dismissed from his post he holds a conversation with Iago in which Iago instructs Cassio to ask for his job back. He tells him to do it through Desdemona as Othello is so in love with her he will do anything she asks. ‘Confess yourself freely to her’
Cassio listens intently to this statement and believes that he has been ‘advised well’. Little does he know that it is just a mere dab in the grand artwork of Iago’s plot to destroy Othello.
Iago then tells Othello that if Desdemona starts to put forward the idea of Cassio’s reinstatement that there maybe something going on between the two. ‘ Note if your lady (Desdemona) strain his (Cassio’s) entertainment. Much will be seen in that’.
He knows that Desdemona will put forward Cassio’s defence because he told Cassio to go to her for help. When Desdemona starts inquiring about Cassio’s reinstatement Othello is going to become very suspicious, this is exactly what Iago hopes to achieve.
This is incredibly audacious, as it is all lies, if Othello had decided to talk to Cassio for any reason Iago’s plan would have been in pieces, he contrives for this not to happen by creating suspicion amongst the characters. No one really trusts anyone except ‘honest Iago.’
Iago has spun the web of deceit with himself as the central thread that everyone in the play turns to for help and advice.
On top of that Iago tells Othello to “Beware of jealousy!” he says this to insert in Othello’s mind that maybe there is something to be jealous about. We know there is nothing to be jealous about and that it is just Iago playing games with Othello. This keeps the audience in anticipation, as they do not know whether Othello will be ‘ensnared’ in Iago’s net, or will he be virtuous and stand true for his loving wife?
Iago also tells Othello to “hold her free” this means, “think her innocent” which insinuates that she might have something to hide. All of these intelligent things Iago has said to Othello are working away at his tragic flaw; his jealousy. Everything that has been said to Othello is eating him up because he doubts his wife’s innocence.
Othello is not totally convinced by Iago’s accusations, he asks for proof of his wife’s disloyalty “Give me a living reason she’s disloyal” Iago is able to provide ‘proof’ that Desdemona has not been honest. It is a lie but Iago makes up a story that Cassio, in his sleep proclaimed his and Desdemona’s love and how they should hide their love “Let us be wary, let us hide our loves.” Iago then torments Othello even more by describing very graphically how Cassio ‘grasped’ and clung to him, kissing him all over. He does this using very physical images; it is very sensual and sexy. He uses such vulgar language to provoke Othello and enrage his anger and jealousy.
Iago also manipulates his wife, the one woman who is truly devoted to him. He has such power over her that she steals Desdemona’s (her mistress) handkerchief. The very one that Othello gave to her to signify his love. Emilia does this because Iago has such a strong grip over her and she is so eager to make him act like a husband and treat her with a little respect that she would stoop to anything, even steal from her mistress. Emilia is not a stupid woman and she is partly aware of Iago’s treachery and dishonesty but she tries to forget them as she wishes to please him. The fact that Emilia is so in love with him, deters Iago as he cannot understand love ,which I have already established.
After placing the handkerchief in Cassio’s domain he asks Othello about the handkerchief that he gave to Desdemona. He then explains how he saw Cassio “wipe his beard” with it. He then says “If it be that (handkerchief) it speaks against her with the other proofs.” This quote is very powerful; he tells Othello that if Cassio is sporting the same handkerchief that Othello gave to Desdemona it proves that she has been unfaithful. I think the most brilliant piece of Iago’s trickery is portrayed in this next quote “Patience, I say: your mind perhaps may change.”
Iago after attempting to overpower Othello is now telling him to ‘calm down’ because you ‘may change your mind’. He does this to deflect attention from himself. He makes it appear to Othello that he is honest and that he only wants good things to happen to him. He knows that by doing this he is convincing Othello even more that Desdemona is guilty.
At the end of Act 3 Scene 3 Othello makes Iago his lieutenant and asks him to perform the murder of Cassio. He agrees but again asks for the forgiveness of Desdemona. Iago has achieved what he set out to gain. He has twisted everybody and convinced Othello to make him lieutenant. But he doesn’t stop here, he continues to antagonise Othello by setting up a meeting, which proves to him that Desdemona must be killed. Iago is so driven by revenge that he feels he has to do this.
The final stage of Iago’s plan is to totally convince Othello that Cassio has been sleeping with Desdemona. He does this by setting up a false meeting with Cassio in which he jests with him about the woman who is in love with him. It is Bianca but the jealous Othello who is secretly listening assumes they are talking about Desdemona. Iago’s use of language in this scene is marvellous because he manages to avoid using Bianca or Desdemona’s name thus being able to trick Othello. This is the final straw for Othello and he asks Iago to kill Cassio and he will take care of his wife. Iago has managed to twist Othello’s mind so much that he is now willing to take his wife’s life because he is so jealous that he believes she has been unfaithful to him.
Iago has succeeded in his goal to destroy Othello and has the chance to rid himself of Cassio. However he chooses to use Roderigo once more, he persuades him that getting rid of Cassio will give him a certain chance of courting Desdemona. Roderigo again falls into Iago’s trap and agrees to kill Cassio. Roderigo cannot even perform this task, he bungles the murder of Cassio and gets stabbed himself. Iago has to think quickly, he stabs Cassio and then murders the wounded Roderigo. This cuts off any chance of Roderigo revealing Iago’s plan. His use had run out and Iago no longer needed him therefore he was disposed of.
The last scene is very emotional; Othello so overpowered with jealousy, inflicted upon him by Iago that he smothers Desdemona. When Emilia discovers that her mistress has been murdered because she was unfaithful she cannot believe it. Othello explains that Iago informed him of this treachery, Emilia finally realises what her husband is up to and that he is pure evil. In the couple’s final scene together Emilia stands up to Iago and disobeys him. She informs the officials who are in the room of Iago’s dishonesty and how he begged her to steal the handkerchief from Desdemona. Iago seeing his plans unveil in front of his eyes becomes angered; he runs at his wife and fatally wounds her. She admits that she has wronged and begs her soul to be forgiven. Othello then stabs Iago for his crimes and Lodovico requests that he is tortured for his atrocities. Othello then gives a long and beautiful speech to the audience and stabs himself. Iago has not only driven Othello to murder his wife he has influenced him so badly that he punishes himself by taking his own life.
Throughout the play Shakespeare allows the audience to see what Iago is really like, he does this by using soliloquies at the end of scenes in which Iago explains how he is going to bring the downfall of Othello. This allows the audience to see what is going on in Iago’s mind. It helps us to see how twisted and self-obsessed he has become. At the end of Act 1 Scene 3 Iago describes in a soliloquy how he will “make his fool his purse” This allows the audience to see that he is using Roderigo purely for his money. It also begins to introduce the concept of his hatred for the Othello. “I hate the Moor. He’s done my office” This quote says that he believes that Othello has slept with his wife (Emilia). This is all in Iago’s mind as no such event has occurred. This introduces the idea that perhaps Iago is starting to believe some of the things that he has made up. He is turning crazy with his ambition.
By allowing the audience to see Iago’s true colours it adds a sense of dramatic irony to the play. Iago has built up such a false pretence of himself that everyone believes him to be ‘honest’. Most of the characters in the play address him as “honest Iago” the audience however know what he is really like therefore creating the irony. There is also a sense of irony when Iago pretends to help all the characters; all the characters come to Iago for advice when we know that he is the last person they should come to.
In conclusion it is clear to see that without Iago’s ability to alter events and other characters minds, the events in the play would have been very different. Through his role as ‘honest Iago’ he manages to influence the decisions of the majority of the characters in the play. He makes them behave in the way he wants them to behave, as if they are puppets and he is the master, controlling them at his will.
Iago’s plans started out as mere jealousy, he was angry that he had not been picked as Othello’s lieutenant. Because he believed in his own superiority his jealousy and bigotry turned into an obsession to destroy Othello. During the play Iago demonstrates many tendencies of a psychopath, this could explain why he pursued his jealousy to the extremes of murder.
I believe that Iago is the most interesting character in the play because he uses his intelligence and guile to drive events. He leads all the other characters and has control over everyone’s actions. Even though this can be deemed as psychotic I respect him more than any of the other characters. He strength shows up over their weaknesses,
Iago seems to be driven by ‘thwarted ambition’. He strives to avenge the people he is jealous of.
Overall Iago’s plan worked very successfully. He managed to effect everybody using strong and influential language to get across his meanings. Unfortunately he took his revenge too far and ended up ruining everything that he had worked so hard for. In the end he gained nothing as his plans were discovered and was arrested to be tortured.
