Iago’s scenes with Roderigo serve as a showcase for his ability to exploit the weak and vulnerable. Roderidgo is a pathetic, naive and jealous character, who wishes to win the affections of Desdemona. He therefore turns to Iago for help and being rich and inexperienced he gives his money to Iago in exchange for the vague but unfulfilled promises of success and love. Iago explicitly delights in his villainy, always tipping the audience off about his plotting which is clearly evident in act 1, “I follow him to serve my turn upon him.” From the uttering of this statement Iago’s duplicity immediately becomes apparent.
There is a great deal of dramatic irony surrounding the character of Iago, the audience is forced into a position of feeling intimately connected with Iago’s villainy. Iago has the ability to create tension and an unnerving atmosphere as he informs the audience of his true intentions. There is a detect of verbal irony in Iago’s repetition of the word ‘love’, the irony here is that the true love of Othello and Desdemona is gradually destroyed by Iago. This is event in Iago’s soliloquy when it is clearly stated that he will use Desdomona’s ‘goodness’ to “enmesh them all.” This statement gives a true picture of Iago, an un scrupulous, manipulative character. Innocent Desdemona is dragged unknowingly into Iago’s plan and he very much enjoys using her to bring around Othello’s demise.
As the play continues, Iago’s utter contempt for both morality and honesty is revealed, his loyalty is to himself and himself alone. We see that Iago does not trust anyone, as he would depict this as a weakness or character flaw. However ironically as aforementioned many of thee characters for example Othello, both confide and trust Iago entirely. He himself states that he is, “an honest man” , such statements are inserted into conversations with Othello, “ I am your own forever” and Roderidgo which influence this characters to believing what Iago says is the truth.
Shakespeare presents Iago as a man who is strong in language. Iago’s language is well structured and clever. He uses language as the best weapon in his arsenal to persuade and convince the characters in the play that he is acting justly in his actions, he is the one to trust and doing his will is the right thing to do. Iago’s language continually changes throughout depending on to whom he is speaking. At different points in the play Iago slips between prose and verse, allowing him quickly change in order to suit different characters and purpose thus displaying his true conniving nature. This is evident in Iago’s blunt prose when speaking with Roderigo conveying an immoral character. Also Iago’s conversations with Roderigo in particular make elaborate use of vegetable metaphor. Some examples are: “Our bodies are our gardens, to which our wills are gardeners; so that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce...” Characters in this play seem to be the product of certain inevitable, natural forces, which, if left alone, will grow wild. Iago understands these natural forces very well. Iago engages in frequent soliloquies through out the play, allowing the audience to get a key insight into his feelings, motivations and giving the audience a key chance to empathise with his character. These soliloquies heighten the drama and highlight his increasing confidence and arrogance.
Iago is a master at manipulating language and imagery. Iago’s constant references to poison, animals and the images created of jealously highlight what is also happening physically, the more he poisons Othello’s mind, and the more Othello’s language begins to resemble that of Iago’s.
There are many reasons to be explored for Iago’s manipulation and destruction of Othello, one being jealously. However on a more profound level we see that Iago’s true motive is his blatent love of evil. Iagos motives for his actions, jealousy, anger, revenge can be seen as mere excuses to perpetrate evil. To Iago the complete and utter destruction of Othello and those around him is a game,” If thou canst cuckhold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a sport.” Iago expresses his for destruction quite openly and bluntly, “Pleasure and action make the hours seem short.” What gives him particular pleasure is in the spoiling of anything good or beautiful? He recognises Othello as having a “constant, loving and a noble nature”, Desdemona as ”fruitful” and states that Cassio “hath a daily beauty in his life that makes me ugly” , Iago can’t bear to let such character traits exist, he therefore must destroy love, trust and loyalty among these characters. The success of Iago can be attributed to his ruthless motivation fuelled by his motions. From the outset, Iago has set up his plan and motivations. Even when flaws begin to appear in his plan he still goes along with it, “the moor may unfold me to him-there I stand I in much peril’. This in a way undermines his own success because he does not no where to stop, he can not see that his own destruction is coming. Throughout the play the imagery of a spider drawing his net to catch his prey is constantly used, “I shall ensnare them all”. So just like a spider, Iago has set his web and nothing can stop him now.
Although Iago is caught out in his ruthless actions as the play draws to a close, he still appears to hold authority over each character. As he has indeed succeeded in his original intent, to “enmesh them all” and cause Othello’s destruction. However Iago refuses to justify his actions, “Demand me nothing; what you know, you know”, which is indeed ironic and Iago remains some what inscrutable.
Overall Shakespeare has presented a character of extreme wit and intelligence while also presenting a character capable of extreme deceit and manipulation. We as an audience can even find ourselves victims of his manipulation however through his language and wit we find ourselves on his side. Although there is lack of convincing motivation, his language and his ability to influence the characters and the audience, make it seem otherwise. Although an extremely heinous character, in my opinion Iago is admirable for his intelligence, quick improvisation and is in fact a genius in his actions. A perfect construction by Shakespeare, that shows us character flaws in ourselves and therefore a great deal of empathy can be build up with the character of Iago.