It could be argued that there are three main characteristics that are associated with portraying a villain.
Detachment – The villain in question must have the ability to separate himself or herself from a situation. They must be able to reduce other people to being ‘resources’, things they can use in order to reach their goal. Some villains actually appear to be dehumanised (or they dehumanise their targets) and simply cannot feel the emotions others do. A total lack of empathy allows the creation of a justification for anything.
Charisma – Oddly enough, most villains are very attractive or have a great force of personality. They can inspire people to follow them even when that person may realise that it might not be the best idea. A successful villain can influence someone, weak or strong, just through force of persuasion or personality.
And quite obviously, a villain can’t and won’t give up. They have to be willing to pursue a goal to the point of obsession and not give up on their target no matter how warped their ideas become.
Oddly enough, a normal person could have these same traits and be perfectly harmless to society. But a villain with these characteristics could be a very dangerous person whose consequent actions have devastating effects on others around them. Everyone has a bit of jealousy in them but most do not allow it to get out of hand. The difference is a villain uses these traits to their advantage, to do something that will be terrible for the target but beneficial to the villain.
Taking into account the dictionary definition of a villain, it is safe to say that Iago is a villain. Now we must determine whether Iago is immoral or amoral.
The Collins Plain English Dictionary defines amoral as ‘mot having any sense of right or wrong’ and immoral as ‘knowing the difference between right and wrong but still choosing to do the wrong deed.’
It is safe to say that Iago is definitely amoral, as he feels no remorse for what he has done.
Ultimately, if Othello hadn’t murdered Desdemona, Iago would have destroyed her life, in fact, he managed most of that while she was still alive, ruining her marriage to Othello and destroying the lives of those she cared about, (e.g. Cassio, Emilia). In the 17th century, when this was set, a woman’s chastity was vital for her reputation. If other people were to have found out about her ‘affair’ with Cassio, Iago would have been blackening her character and essentially, killing her anyway.
A lot of Iago’s characteristics are mirrored in other literary villains.
One character I found whilst searching for literary villains was Steerpike from ‘Gormenghast Trilogy’. He seems to possess all the villainous traits Iago holds. Novelguide.com calls Steerpike ‘cunning, calculating and ambitious.’ Steerpike starts off in the story as a mere kitchen boy where he plots to achieve ultimate control of Gormenghast.
Like Iago, Steerpike is able to manipulate people so that he can use them to get closer to his target. For example, he plays on Fuchsia’s yearning for adventure, exploits the desires of Cara and Clarice and worms his way into the castles daily life. He does all of this by using his gift of manipulation. In time he learns that castles innermost secrets and moves ever closer to gaining control.
Lady Macbeth is also very closely associated with Iago when it comes to villainous traits. She is successful in persuading Macbeth to commit murder when it seemed he would not assassinate King Duncan. It is clear however, that unlike Iago, Lady Macbeth has emotions, as she desperately wants her husband to become King, partly because she herself wants to be Queen, but mostly because she feels that Macbeth deserves it after all he has done for King Duncan. It is because of this, she suggests that they murder King Duncan. She knows her husband very well and thinks he may be ‘to full o’ the milk of human kindness’ to commit the crime. She
manipulates her husband into killing Duncan by questioning his manhood and his love and devotion to her, something that is sure to strike a chord within most men. Regardless of his own conscience, Macbeth commits the murder.
The devious side to Lady Macbeth’s character is visible when she smears Duncan’s blood on the sleeping guards, so as to deflect any attention away from her and her husband. However, it is clear at this point that Lady Macbeth is not totally lacking in emotions and morals because she comments that had Duncan not looked so much like her father while he slept she would have committed the crime herself.
Once again, Lady Macbeth’s cunning is demonstrated when she tells her husband to ‘look like the flower but be the serpent under’t.’
However, it is essential to remember that Lady Macbeth is not pure evil like Iago, as she asks evil spirits to ‘unsex me here’ so that when the time to commit murder came, she would not crumple under the pressure and back down.
It is easy to see that Iago’s primary motivation is jealousy, as is the case with so many other literary villains. Iago is envious that Othello chose Cassio for the sought-after job of Lieutenant and Iago also believes that both Othello and Cassio slept with Emilia, his wife.
“I hate the Moor,
And it is thought abroard, that ‘twixt my sheets,
He’s done my office. I know not if ‘t be true,
But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,
Will do, as if for surety.” Act 1, Scene 3
Iago states here that he only suspects that Othello may have slept with his wife. He is not positive of this but maintains that certainty is not necessary. It could be suggested that Iago is not so much concerned with his wife being unfaithful, but more that, if it is true, it was with Othello whom Iago hates with a passion.
In a soliloquy at the end of the first scene in Cyprus, Iago speaks again of Othello’s supposed ‘affair’ with Emilia. It is eating away at him, consuming his every thought until all he can think of is planning his vengeance. It is now clear to the audience that this must be his primary motive to devastating Othello’s life and that Iago will not be satisfied
“Till I am even’d with him, wife for wife,
Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor
At least into a jealousy so strong
That judgement cannot cure.” Act 2, Scene 1
The first scene is a classic example of Iago’s ability to detach himself from people. He takes great delight in telling Brabantio that his daughter has run off with Othello but as soon as they start to look for Othello, Iago flees. If he stays, someone will ask him to testify against Othello, and that will be useless, because Othello is not about to lose his job. No matter what he has done with Desdemona, Venice doesn't have anyone besides Othello who is capable of dealing with the war that's about to begin in Cyprus. Iago wants to really hurt Othello. Therefore, Iago returns to Othello and pretend loyalty. However, this does not mean that Iago is going to let the matter drop. To make sure that Desdemona’s angry father finds Othello, Iago tells Roderigo to lead Brabantio to the inn.
Another example is when he pressures Emilia into stealing Desdemona’s handkerchief. While he is asking her to steal it, he is pleasant to her, but once he has what he wants, he reverts back to his usual self, and is rude, sexist and arrogant.
Another villainous trait Iago possesses is manipulation. Like any successful manipulator, Iago moves indirectly so that nothing can be traced back to him. He uses Roderigo to get to Cassio, Cassio to Desdemona and Desdemona to Othello. Once the peace has been disrupted and suspicions are high, Iago watches from afar while his plan sets to work.
Every one in the play trusts Iago. Emilia is the only one who has doubts about his motives especially when he continually pesters her about stealing Desdemona’s handkerchief for him. The other characters have faith in his honesty and therefore have no reason to suspect him of spreading vicious lies in an attempt to destroy Othello. In fact, there are several references in the play, made by various character that refer to ‘Honest Iago.’ Showing his ability to be two-faced without anyone realising his ulterior motives.
“And for I know thou ‘rt full of love and honesty.” Scene 3, Act 3 Othello about Iago
At one point in the play, Iago even calls himself honest,
“As I am an honest man.” Scene 2, Act 3
This means that Iago can do and say as he pleases and no one will ever suspect him because they believe him to be genuine and reliable.
Through some very fastidious planning and meticulously thought out words and actions, Iago is able to plant false ideas in Othello’s head, back it up with false scenarios of Cassio and Desdemona together to make it look palpable, then let it simmer, provoking a very jealous reaction from Othello.
The frightening aspect of Iago’s character is that he is remarkably clever. Combine this with ambition, a cunning mind and a lack of mercy for anyone, all traits Iago possesses, and you have a very dangerous man, who in modern times could be classed as a psychopath.
The Plain English Dictionary states that a psychopath is a ‘mentally deranged person with abnormal social behaviour’ or ‘a mentally or emotionally unstable person’. It is apparent that Iago has very anomalous behaviour, but that this is only displayed in private, behind the prying eyes and ears of others. If, Iago is indeed a psychopath, it could also be argued that he may have suffered from a split personality.
Another intimidating feature of Iago is that he takes what most of us see as good and uses it against people, for example, when he sees Cassio kiss Desdemona’s hand in a friendly gesture, Iago turns it all around and uses it to stir jealous feelings within Othello. This is made a lot easier by the fact that Othello is already insecure about Desdemona. He thinks that she is in love with the brave warrior who fights and wins wars not the naïve, older man who has not had much experience when it comes to relationships.
Jealousy is one of the root features to evil. If Iago hadn’t implanted the idea of adultery in Othello’s head, it could be suggested that no one would have died. But Iago was jealous and the only way to cure that jealousy was to destroy the person he envied. Someone with a good job, someone with a high ranking in the army, someone with a beautiful, loving wife and unquestionable respect from the people around him – someone like Othello, the Moor.
In conclusion, it must be apparent to all that Iago is clearly a villain and possibly a psychopath. His jealous tendencies towards Othello led him to be consumed with hatred, and he spread that detestation around to inflict others with it. Roderigo began hating Cassio and Othello loathed Desdemona. I don’t think Iago symbolises evil, I think he is evil. Throughout the play, he exploits the other characters racial prejudices and personal insecurities. He is able to bring out the most unpleasant traits in human nature (especially jealousy) and turn them to his advantage. In reading this play, we can all see the tragic effects of what happens when we allow our emotions to rule our actions.
