James Campbell
June 12, 2002
English
My essay is about the defencies in Iago's character.
Iago
William Shakespeare, the greatest writer of all times, portrays a fictional tragedy in the novel Othello when the truth about the characters prevails. Shakespeare’s unique style of perceptive writing has been superior enough to override all existing writers, especially when he depicts an essence of the 16th century lifestyle. During that period, reputation, respect, and honesty were highly valued more than any other aspects. Iago, the villainous protagonist, manages to show that these values are of negligible importance to him when his perfidy towards characters that trust him is evident. He is simply motiveless for all the actions he undertakes, showing that the real devil lies within him. All Shakespeare’s characters, ranging from the purest sinless characters to the wicked evil ones, have been directed to a catastrophic fate. Iago’s horrific destiny has been shown to be a well-deserved one since his sinful traits have led to the end of numerous characters. Iago’s heinous devil-like characteristics that facilitate the reason for his agonizing fate are jealousy, revenge, and miscommunication with harmless characters.
Iago’s evident growing jealousy embarks from the beginning of the play. Othello, the captain of many battles, has chosen Cassio - his best friend - over Iago to be his lieutenant. Iago turns bitter about this since Cassio is an inexperienced fighter, while he has been in a battle of war before. “One Michael Cassio, a Florentine…that never set squadron in the field, nor the division of a battle knows more than a spinster, unless the bookish theoric, wherein the togged consuls can propose as masterly as he is…” (pg 5). Iago angrily mocks Cassio about how he has never tasted a battle of war and only reads in books about them, unlike him. He envies both of Cassio's positions, in the military and with Othello's service. He explains why he deserves this position and readers watch as the green-eyed monster eats him with jealousy. This initial jealousy is the essential catalyst in arousing the tragedy of the death of several characters, since his ambition is to gain Cassio’s position. To do so, he schemes to fill Othello with false accusations about Cassio for his personal gain. “In following him [Othello], I follow but myself. Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty, but seeming so, for my peculiar end” (pg 7). He intends to create a strong sense of jealousy in Othello by setting up the mirage of an affair between Desdemona and Cassio. “Ay, smile upon her, do…if such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenantry, it had been better you had not kissed your three fingers so oft” (pg 65). Although his jealousy leads to attempting to strip Cassio from his position, it also provokes him to have revenge on Othello, who selected Cassio in favor of him.
